5 Quotes from Indigenous Leaders for the Coastal GasLink Pipeline
5 Quotes from Indigenous Leaders for the Coastal GasLink Pipeline
“The fact is all 20 First Nations whose territory runs along the pathway of the Coastal GasLink pipeline — including the Wet’suwet’en — have each signed agreements with the company. Professional protesters and well-funded NGOs have merely seized the opportunity to divide our communities for their own gains, and ultimately will leave us penniless when they suddenly leave.’”
5 Indigenous Leaders in Support of the Coastal GasLink Pipeline
1) Rene Skin – Chief, Skin Tyee Nation, Wet’suwet’en
“We’ve always been in support of the pipeline. We voted together. Lots to do with jobs, up-and-coming housing, people will be able to start their own companies. For years to come there will be a lot of benefits. $620 million in conditional contracting and employment opportunities, and another $400 million in contracting opportunities for local and Indigenous businesses.”
2) Derek Orr – Former Chief, McLeod Lake Indian Band
“This is one of the biggest projects in Canada, who wouldn’t want to be a part of it? You can talk about the millions, but it’s really the people on the ground who are employed, feeding their families, buying clothing for their kids. They’re being part of the economy; they can make money and live a good life.
3) Dan George – National Coalition of Chiefs
“I had our community vote on Coastal Gaslink and most of my community – 80% – voted in favour of the gas line, so that gave me my marching orders to do what I needed to do to negotiate the best deal I can for my people in my reserve. There is few economic opportunities in northern B.C. There’s a huge mountain pine beetle that has devastated all of the pine in northern B.C. and most of us First Nations have been loggers at one time or another throughout our lives, and there’s not very much logging. There are very few opportunities now and this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
4) Crystal Smith – Haisla Nation
“I’ve seen the impacts firsthand. I’ve felt the impacts firsthand. The focus for us is long-term careers. For the first time ever, we’re funding culture and language programs. We’re also expanding existing programs. This independence is what we want. This is what we need more of in our community. We need to heal our people. No other government… has been able to heal our people the way they need it. At every First Nations table I sit at, or to the other First Nations leaders in the room… I want to see your people come to Kitimat. There is enough opportunity, we’re not going to be able to fill it all. That opportunity is LNG Canada and Coastal GasLink.”
5) Chris Sankey – Former Elected Councillor, Lax Kw’alaams Band
“British Columbia’s LNG sector is an emerging success. It is set to attract billions in investment to our province, while producing tens of thousands of good-paying jobs. It will be environmentally sound, producing some of the lowest emitting LNG in the world. And it is working to ensure meaningful participation with Indigenous peoples, with more than a billion dollars in Indigenous procurement spending and benefits already negotiated with Coastal Gas Link, Kitimat LNG and Woodfibre LNG. Indigenous communities, rural and urban municipalities, businesses and workers throughout B.C. are calling on the provincial and federal governments to fully support our resource development industries and help us ensure a strong recovery. I hope these calls don’t fall on deaf ears. We can no longer afford it.”
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