Enbridge Pipe Line-Tough Sell To Natives

By Ben Meisner

The Enbridge Pipe line proposal faces an uphill battle if it hopes to see a pipe line cross BC into the Kitimat area. The lines are slowly being drawn by the Native Bands whose territory the line must cross, in particular the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council territory which covers about one third of the distance of the line.

Enbridge has taken a very different approach on this occasion in trying to muster enough support to see the line reach Kitimat. Conversely the eight bands within the Carrier territory are saying there is too much risk involved to allow the project to go ahead.

Native bands from Kitimat, Cheslatta, and other communities with in the planned route see a possible repeat of the Kitimat Kemano project that they say scares the hell out of them. Land was flooded, the fishery, the wildlife was destroyed and native people were displaced at the will of the company.

They point to the downfall of the Stewart River Sockeye, the Sturgeon and see as they say, Alcan written all over it. David Luggi, the Tribal Chief says "We gave them all for some beads and a few dollars.  That will not happen again."

In spite of the efforts of Enbridge to try and sell the idea to the Natives of BC, so far they have not received a passing grade, and the project from the start faces a major battle, all the Natives need to do is secure support from the rank and file in the province and the deal is dead.

I’m Meisner and that’s one man’s opinion.

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