Statement of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs
![](http://www.cpcml.ca/images2019/Environment/File/180320-BurnabyStopKinderMorgan-CoastProtectors.jpg)
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs
(2nd from right) in
March 20, 2018 protest at the Trans Mountain facility on
Burnaby Mountain.
In spite of today's [June 18] federal cabinet approval
of
the controversial project, Indigenous leaders from across BC
remain staunchly opposed to the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion
(TMX) and have vowed that it will never get built. The federal
government was forced to redo consultation with First Nations
after a unanimous Federal Court of Appeal quashed a 2016 approval
"falling well below the mark" on meaningful consultation set by
the Supreme Court of Canada.
A report issued last year from the world's leading
climate
scientists issued a dire warning that there are only twelve years
left to stem the impacts of global warming and keep the maximum
temperature increase to 1.5C globally. We have a dozen years to
undertake dramatic, urgent and unprecedented changes to our
economies, and how we interact with the natural world. Earlier
this week, the Government of Canada passed a motion declaring
there is a climate emergency, and declaring that climate change
is an urgent crisis that affects the health and security of
Canadians, as well as it impacting the Canadian economy.
Today's announcement demonstrates a lackadaisical and
irresponsible approach to combatting climate change and
recognizing the human rights of Indigenous peoples.
![](http://www.cpcml.ca/images2019/WorkersEconomy/Energy/File/180830-VancouverJudyWilsonSpeaksonCourtDecisiononKM-UBCIC-01cr.jpg)
Kukpi7 Judy Wilson speaks, August 30, 2018,
following court decision
overturning first approval of the Trans Mountain pipeline.
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"This decision is disappointing, but not a surprise.
Tsleil-Waututh again engaged in consultation in good faith, but
it was clear that the federal government had already made up
their mind as the owners of the project," said Chief Leah
George-Wilson of Tsleil-Waututh Nation. "Unfortunately, this
feels too familiar -- Canada repeated many of the same mistakes
from last time. We will review the decision carefully with our
team, and we will consider our legal options to ensure our rights
are protected."
"The Title and Rights holders of our Indigenous Nations
have
not provided their consent," said Kukpi7 Judy Wilson, Chief of
the Neskonlith Indian Band and Secretary-Treasurer of the Union of BC
Indian Chiefs (UBCIC).
"The approvals of Indian Band Governments, under financial
duress, do not meet the standards of a nation-to-nation
relationship. Until such a time that our right to free, prior and
informed consent are recognized and implemented, as set out in
the human rights standards of the United Nations Declaration on
the Rights of Indigneous Peoples, we will continue to oppose
these projects and stand in defence of our lands.
"Our lands are burning and flooding. Our fish are dying
and
our people are suffering. Now is not the time to recklessly
pursue environmentally devastating projects while our territories
suffer," said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the UBCIC. "We
will actively and continuously resist
the pursuit of short-term gains, in order to ensure the quality
of life and the well-being of our children and our children's
children. We are immensely disappointed by today's announcement,
but we are also prepared. We do not accept Canada's pre-meditated
decision, and we are prepared to continue to oppose this project
through any means possible."
Khelsilem, Squamish Nation Spokesperson, stated, "The
Squamish
Nation met with federal officials as they conducted their
court-ordered Phase III consultations with First Nations. What we
experienced was a shallow attempt at consultation that resulted
in a failure to address our concerns. The failure to meaningfully
engage with rights holders means this government is either not
serious about building this pipeline or not serious about
respecting Indigenous rights."
This article was published in
![](http://cpcml.ca/Tmlw2019/Articles/Logo-TMLWeeklyIP-Small.jpg)
Volume 49 Number 23 - June 22, 2019
Article Link:
Statement of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
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