National voices on Wet’suwet’en issues

Members of the Wet’suwet’en Gidimt’en Clan first spoke up, from coast to coast, in a guest column in National Post, released by the Wet’suwet’en First Nation council at their request:

  •  Opinion: We are Wet’suwet’en and the Coastal GasLink pipeline protesters do not represent us: http://ow.ly/BrtP50H5jOg

It said in part: “We are deeply hurt and angered by the conduct and statements of some of our community members and others who claim to be defending our lands and laws against the pipeline.
“Our concerns are not about the pipeline itself. Some of us support it, some of us do not and some are neutral. Our issue is that our traditions and way of life are being misrepresented and dishonoured by a small group of protesters, many of whom are neither Gidimt’en nor Wet’suwet’en, but nonetheless claim to be acting in our name to protest natural gas development.”

After we emailed our newsletter to subscribers, these related stories and posts appeared elsewhere:

  • National Post View: ‘Listen to First Nations, not the mob. We are doing a disservice to Indigenous people by allowing a vocal minority to control the narrative.’ ow.ly/F7ku50H8tSy
  • JP Gladu in The Globe and Mail: Using Indigenous peoples as political pawns in resource development is simply wrong: http://ow.ly/wYWz50H9H4t
  • Chris Sankey spoke on these issues on CKNW radio. The segment starts at 9:41 here: ow.ly/ozX950H8M0e

‘Amazing progress’ on LNG in BC

In our latest online Outreach session, Chief Councillor Crystal Smith of the Haisla Nation (at left in the picture above) talked progress and positives after a visit to the LNG Canada site at Kitimat:
‘It is absolutely amazing the progress that both  Coastal GasLink and LNG Canada are making in regards to the construction portion of their projects . . . about 50% complete.”
“I couldn’t help it, but as we were driving around, to take notice of  the amount of membership that we have there. Not only our Haisla members but First Nations people that I recognize from other communities (and) seeing other Nations’ joint-venture partnerships that have been also included and are participating in the construction phase of this major project. So it is quite busy in all of Kitimat. . . .”

Our next session is shaping up for January 26. We’ll post more info on our social-media streams as it becomes available.

  • The Alliance is also beginning work on a series of videos about the benefits of LNG projects and associated pipeline development. Have you got a story to tell about how these have benefited you, or your community, or your company? Can we share it in a little video? Please let us know, by email to outreach@fnlngalliance.com

ALSO IN THE NEWS

  • No matter what CBC says, Indigenous people support and are helping shape the Coastal GasLink project. And it’s a climate solution: http://ow.ly/PSyH50H3Cj3
  • How LNG firms support communities — donations of $8.5 million from Coastal GasLink and parent TC Energy, and over $4 million from LNG Canada: http://ow.ly/Lfv450H1y5q
  • Australian hydrogen developer signs MoU with Lheidli T’enneh First Nation in BC (and two others in Canada): http://ow.ly/grgV50H4kmN
  • How FortisBC will meet or exceed safety standards in the gas pipeline that will serve Woodfibre LNG: http://ow.ly/cimn50H1XEG
  • Expansion of FortisBC’s Tilbury LNG facility in Delta has given business to some 57 Surrey firms, with >$13 million spent in Surrey and >$100 million with suppliers across BC. http://ow.ly/cMBl50H1Yey
  • Canada’s Pembina Pipeline calls it quits on plan for Jordan Cove LNG export terminal in Oregon. (Which would have competed with BC LNG for overseas customers.) http://ow.ly/bPbJ50H1yx9

DATES

  • Reminder: The United Way of Northern BC and Coastal GasLink, and CGL contractors, join forces to support non-profit agencies in northern BC. Deadline for funding applications is Dec. 20. http://ow.ly/W9R150GLqmB
  • Registration is open for the two-day hybrid (in-person and online) conference of the First Nations Major Projects Coalition, April 25-26, 2022. Early-bird tickets are available until Jan. 15. You can register here (free for Indigenous communities): ow.ly/5OoP50GKXKA
  • Brian Cox of the Canadian LNG Alliance will be a panellist in the 19th annual BC Natural Resources Forum, a virtual event Jan. 18-20: http://ow.ly/QHBN50H5zBW

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First Nations LNG Alliance Newsletter