Wet’suwet’en Chief Karen Ogen is starting a First Nations liquefied natural gas (LNG) alliance to gather more supporters of LNG pipeline agreements.
In December 2014, Wet’suwet’en signed a $2.8-million agreement with the province to support the Coastal GasLink Pipeline project.
Although Ogen strongly believes this agreement will bring great economic benefits to Wet’suwet’en First Nation, she has faced continuous opposition from Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs.
“Despite our careful approach, we have been attacked by critics within our community and beyond,” she said. “Public supporters have been hard to find, even though there are many First Nations signing economic agreements with government and industry throughout the province.”
“I have long believed it is short sighted to turn down projects such as this before understanding the true risks and benefits; that is just an easy way to avoid dealing with complex issues; I also know it is a path toward a life of continued poverty,” she added.
Ogen explained that the LNG alliance will help people understand how like-minded First Nations can collaborate to raise the bar on environmental protection. She said the LNG conversation takes a different tone when “people have all the facts.”
“Environmentalism must mean more than just saying no,” she said. “I believe environmentalism must mean working hard to establish a higher standard.”
Ogen said the forest industry has had a much more damaging effect to the environment than LNG pipelines ever would.
“Wet’suwet’en people have been engaged in the resource economy for a long time through forestry activities,” she said. “In my people’s territory, forestry has had more negative impact than a natural gas pipeline ever will; that is not something I say lightly; it is a conclusion based on a careful analysis of the facts.”
“There is no doubt sustainability means protecting our environment,” she added. “But sustainability also means ensuring our people have access to real opportunities and a decent standard of life.”
The agreement with Coastal GasLink includes key provisions such as $30 million for an environmental stewardship initiative under which Wet’suwet’en people will conduct environmental work in partnership with the provincial and federal governments. Ogen added that the agreement will mean important revenues and opportunities for Wet’suwet’en people.
“This agreement will help to ensure we can stand on our own two feet,” she said. “For the first time in my memory, our community will have more good-paying jobs than it has people.”
She added that she is confident the Coastal GasLink Pipeline project will meet Wet’suwet’en’s standards for environmental protection.
“We must put our trust and our faith into First Nations to manage the effects of these projects in their respective territories,” she said. “Whether it be fracking, pipeline or terminal issues, First Nations are overcoming a systemic exclusion from these opportunities and are rising to the challenge of what it takes to conduct a proper assessment.”
“We are balancing environmental protection with economic opportunity.”
Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of TransCanada PipeLines Limited, proposes to develop a natural gas pipeline from Northeast B.C. to the west coast of B.C. to serve export markets.