Gitxsan Chiefs' Weekly Update Mar 3, 2011

Want it, but don’t want it

I noticed in last week’s paper that some native groups are beginning to change their stance with the Enbridge proposed pipeline. The Gitxsan had never slammed the door on Enbridge because they know many are suffering in Gitxsan country. Our general practice is to hear people out in any case. We tell Enbridge up front that we will die on the hill for water. The standards we expect for safety precautions have to be good. In that area they are making real efforts to improve design with regards to monitoring stations and surveillance. They also give real assurances not to use old ships in the inland channels on the coast. That they will be tethered with tug boats should there be failure with mechanics on board. At some point they will meet the Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs to convince them all important water will be safe guarded beyond the call of duty.

The ongoing money infusion will be very significant. It sounds like a 10% ownership to all native nations that come on board by a certain date. Once the oil starts flowing, dividends will be forthcoming and the language is in the millions. Some of this is a guarantee of a significant work force sector to be of native decent. We say to Enbridge that we are not alone here and there needs to be some consideration to the community as a whole. The Hereditary Chiefs have put in effort to infuse dollars to get plans together for a new ice arena. There is a deadline to be met, and we expect to hear when they may want to meet with the Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs.

The reality on the reserve is my disabled friend cannot find funding for a pickup load of wood. He has to heat his house with an electric oven. There are many stories like this out there. This is why I say “want it but don’t want it?”

In any case Enbridge knows they have a tall order to satisfy safety in the area of oil spills,whether on land or on water. The other is to be a good corporate neighbour on an ongoing basis. They have gone away, seeing what they can do to satisfy Gitxsan concerns that are primarily oil spills and measures for water protection. We will have to wait a little here and see what happens as a result of this upcoming meeting.

Art Wilson