Opposition to Enbridge's proposed $5.5-billion pipeline is growing as more First Nations declared Thursday they will not allow the project to proceed.
The Save the River Gathering of Nations, which includes First Nations from north-central B.C. to those located at the mouth of the Fraser River, stated they would not allow the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline or similar Alberta tar sands projects to cross their traditional lands or watersheds. Their opposition includes the ocean migration routes of Fraser River salmon.
While some of the 61 First Nations that were part of the declaration, including the Saik'uz and Nadleh Whut'en west of Prince George, have stated their opposition earlier, dozens of the First Nations were declaring publicly their opposition for the first time.
Jackie Thomas, chief of the Saik'uz First Nation located just south of Vanderhoof, said she is personally willing to put her life on the line to stop the project.
"I have grandchildren who are not born yet. The risks are not worth it for them," she told The Citizen.
Central and southern B.C. First Nations - including the T'exelc near Williams Lake and the Musqueam at the mouth of the Fraser River - joined northern First Nations, which are closer to the pipeline route.
"The Enbridge pipeline would risk an oil spill into our rivers and lands that would destroy our food supply, our livelihoods and our cultures," said Nadleh Whut'en chief Larry Nooski, whose community is near Fraser Lake.
"This project isn't going anywhere," said Nooski, who didn't say exactly what his community is prepared to do to stop the 1,170-kilometre pipeline, but added, "just watch us."
He said the key concerns around the pipeline are environmental. It risks harm to the river and estuaries from a spill, devastation from a spill during salmon migration and long-term effects of a spill.
Thomas and Nooski took part in a news conference in downtown Vancouver Tuesday morning, the same day the group released a full-page ad in the Globe and Mail newspaper, which declared, "We will protect our rivers from Enbridge oil."
The latest declaration follows one made earlier this year by a coalition of Coast B.C. First Nations concerned about a tanker spill related to the pipeline project.
The Northern Gateway pipeline, which would pass just north of Prince George, is meant to open up new markets for Alberta oil sands crude in Asia via export from Kitimat.
The Union of B.C. Municipalities also recently passed a pair of motions opposing the pipeline. Environmental groups have lined up to oppose the project, and both the federal NDP and Liberals are advocating a ban on oil tanker traffic on B.C.'s coast which would stop the project.
Enbridge issued a statement Tuesday in response to the latest First Nation opposition, saying that oil pipelines can be operated safely.
"Enbridge has significant experience crossing important waterways all across North America, that expertise will be applied to Northern Gateway," the company said in a statement released by Theresia Lee.
Enbridge spokesperson Gina Jordan said the project does have First Nation support but would not provide any specifics.
She also said there are First Nations interested in discussing a 10 per cent ownership stake in the pipeline but would also not provide any specifics.
The company says it has signed protocol agreements with First Nations, which she characterized as showing a willingness to engage with the company. She would not say the protocol agreements amounted to support for the pipeline.
Both Nooski and Thomas said they had no interest in taking an ownership stake in the pipeline, stressing the environmental risks are not compensated by any potential economic benefits.
"We don't want more money, we want more salmon," said Nooski.
