'No oil on Wet'suwet'en soil' was the slogan displayed on the banner of protesting members of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation during last week's public meeting held by Enbridge Inc.
Wet'suwet'en councillors as well as local community members gathered in support behind Wet’suwet’en Chief Karen Ogen, who proceeded to read out a letter addressed to John Carruthers, president of Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc., during the meeting.
Declaring Enbridge officials as trespassers on the traditional territory of the Yinka Dene people of the Wet'suwet'en First Nation, Chief Ogen said she would speak for more than the 30 second time limit given to local residents to ask questions, regardless of requests otherwise.
At the beginning of the meeting Doug Ford, an independent contractor hired by Enbridge Inc. to facilitate the meeting said that anyone asking questions would have to limit them to a period of 30 seconds, while Enbridge officials would be required to answer within the allotted two minutes answering time.
A red and yellow card system was used to indicate when the question or answer time was up.
Chief Ogen said, "Despite your company's indication to us in a letter that you intend to respect our protocols and ways, you have convened this meeting on our territory, without our consent or involvement and without proper notice. This is unacceptable to us and it shows a deep disrespect for our protocols."
She went on to say, "In December of 2010, our Nation and 60 other Indigenous Nations and communities agreed to the 'Save the Fraser Declaration'. This declaration records and witnesses our collective decision, as Nations of the Fraser watershed from the headwaters of the Endako right down the coast, that the transportation of tar sands oil through our territories is contrary to our laws. Our laws state that we have a responsibility to ourselves, our ancestors, our descendants and to all the people living in our territories and elsewhere to defend the health of our lands and waters."
Morgan Gates, director of Aboriginal relations replied by saying he more than understood First Nations protocols and traditions.
He went on to say, "If it is the Fraser River your are concerned about, which I assume it is by the presentation of the Fraser Declaration - to protect the Fraser River, I want to let you know that the Northern Gateway Pipeline project doesn't cross the Fraser River, however the already existing Kinder Morgan pipeline does, several times, but that is not our pipeline," he said.
Gates went on to say, "Only six of 40 First Nation's communities located near our pipeline have indicated their opposition, more are working with us. I think you are presenting the declaration to the wrong pipeline company."
Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chief Madeek asked Gates exactly how many First Nations communities are on board and who they are.
"There are six First Nations communities in this area and Nee Tahi Buhn is the only one that is not opposed," Chef Madeek said.
"We have conditional interest from a majority of the First Nations communities, but this is very conditional and depends on environmental practices, cultural practices and long term benefits. I can not tell you who they are. I can't provide to third parties details about private commercial agreements," Gates said.
Wet'suwet'en Coun. Carla Lewis said, "Your pipeline will not go through."
"First Nations people across the Nation are not for Enbridge. We are going to see to it that the project doesn't go through. Hereditary Chiefs are the people who have the say and we work with them 100 per cent," said Chief Ogen.
Lewis said to Lakes District News that Enbridge consistently say they have 'conditional' support from a majority of First Nations, however this is not the case.
"A growing number of First Nations are in strong opposition to the pipeline, there is a huge majority that are not in support," she said.
Many local residents had questions for the Enbridge officials, including George Janzen who asked the panel, "If Enbridge say they care so much about the community, why is the pipeline routed through a residential area of Burns Lake?"
Ray Doering, manager of engineering for Enbridge Inc. said that Burns Lake is not the only community that the pipeline will run in close proximity too.
"It is not uncommon, the pipeline will be several hundred metres from most of the housing in the area," he said.
Doering went on to say that pipelines are common in Canada. "There is nothing to be afraid of and you won't even know it is there as it is an underground line. Property values won't change. The pipeline also runs close to the communities of Bear Lake, Whitecourt and Kitimat and all design requirements are fully respected and committed," he said.
Local community member, Gwendolyn Nicholas asked the panel why it took 14 hours to respond after the first alarm in Kalamazoo, Michigan late last year.
"A total of 20,000 barrels of oil spilled, it was a very humbling experience for us. We responded promptly to the alarm, however the exact time is unknown and is currently under investigation by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. Once we get the results we will certainly share them the public and learn from it. The investigation is still continuing and it is a very serious investigation," Gates said.
The four hour community technical meeting also included a three hour meet and greet, the ability to collect information sheets on specific aspects of the project, including marine emergency preparedness, pipeline routing, the joint review panel process, tankers and pump stations and ask questions.