CHN PRESS RELEASE: NORTHERN GATEWAY PROJECT DEAD AND MORATORIUM COMING

We are very pleased to see the government turn down the Northern Gateway Pipeline.  It comes at a cost:  Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain Expansion and Line 3.  There is still more work to be done.

Please see the new Press Release from the Council of the Haida Nation on Trudeau’s announcement.  According to CHN President Peter Lantin:

“There has to be a better government-to-government consultation process to deal with these projects before they get rolling,” said Lantin. “Avoiding this type of confrontation through frank dialogue will result in more common ground. Protecting the coast and the waters surrounding Haida Gwaii is paramount for our Nation. But within this framework there is room to develop practical solutions and resolve issues nation-to-nation and to do that we have to talk.”

CHN PRESS RELEASE: ACCUMULATING IMPACTS: HAIDA HAVE GOOD REASON TO OPPOSE LNG & ENB MEGAPROJECTS

The Council of the Haida Nation have made available a press release detailing the strategies LNG and Pipeline companies use to pursue ‘social license.’  On their own position, the CHN states:

“There are many good reasons to oppose these projects and few to support them. The perceived

benefits in no way trump what we know we will lose. Our Nation has done its due diligence; we have spoken

to BC and Canada, we have looked at the environmental, social and legal impacts of these projects and are not

convinced that shipping LNG or oil from the west coast is a good idea. These projects will further pollute the

Earth and no good will come of them.”

To view the full press release, please see: CHN_LNG_ENB_Final

British Columbia Supreme Court Decides That The Province Cannot Abdicate Its Authority

[Originally published on mondaq, February 23, 2016]

Recently the British Columbia Supreme Court (“Court”) released its reasons for judgment in Coastal First Nations v. British Columbia (Environment), 2016 BCSC 34. The BC Environmental Assessment Office (the “EAO”) had entered into an equivalency agreement (the “Agreement”) with the National Energy Board (“NEB”). The Agreement allowed for the EAO to rely on an environmental assessment from the NEB related to Enbridge’s Northern Gateway project (the “Project”). The   Court found that the Province of British Columbia had abdicated its statutory duties and breached its duty to consult with the Coastal First Nations when it signed and failed to terminate the Agreement that provided the NEB with sole jurisdiction over the environmental assessment decision-making regarding the Project.

Ride the Tide 2015 Gets the No Tanker Message Out

On Friday July 3rd, Haida Gwaii came together on Masset inlet to show their support for a Tanker-Free ocean, and rode the tide from Gaauu (Old Massett) to Masset harbour.  Part of Pull Together’s “Week to End Enbridge,” the ‘Ride the Tide’ event shaped up in true Haida Gwaii style with Christian and Candace’s Haida Canoe alongside paddle boarders and kayakers from across the islands.  There was a crush of people, naaniis (grandmothers), youth and spectators all along the shore following the action and cheering on the paddlers.

A huge thank you/haw’aa to Christian White and Candace Weir for bringing the canoe out.  As well to Guy Kimola for documenting the event so well, and Jim Hart and his crew for coming out to show their support.  Haw’aa to Harmony and Old Massett Youth Centre for providing rides.  A big haw’aa/thank you to all who came out to paddle and take show that Haida Gwaii stands unified in protection of our waters!

 

No Uncertain Terms: A CHN Letter to Enbridge

Please read the latest letter from the CHN presenting the affirmation by Haida Hereditary Chiefs, Band Councils and citizens stating the continuing role of the Council of the Haida Nation in representing all Haidas, and their continuing opposition to the Enbridge Northern Gateway Project.

Read the letter here:  Enbridge Letter 2015-06-28-FB

Council of the Haida Nation: AN OPEN LETTER TO THOSE RELIANT ON SALMON

Please read this open letter from the Council to the Haida Nation regarding the efforts companies like Enbridge are making to buy people off from First Nations communities in order to push their pipeline through.

Download:  AN OPEN LETTER TO THOSE RELIANT ON SALMON