Native groups form 'wall' to block oil exports

Thursday, December 01, 2011

BC Local News

More than 130 B.C. aboriginal groups say they now have created an "unbroken wall" of opposition to oil sands exports through their territories.

The groups say they're fighting exports of tar sands crude via either Enbridge's proposed new pipeline across northern B.C. or Kinder Morgan, which already ships oil through Metro Vancouver and onto tankers out of Burrard Inlet and wants to more than double the capacity of its existing Trans Mountain pipeline.

The Union of B.C. Indian chiefs has endorsed the Save the Fraser and Coastal First Nations declarations by aboriginal groups that claim to prohibit the movement of oil sands crude by pipeline or tankers in B.C.

"North or south, it makes no difference," said Chief Jackie Thomas of Saik'uz First Nation. "We have banned oil pipelines and tankers using our laws, and we will defend our decision using all the means at our disposal."

The groups say they believe the federal Conservative and BC Liberal governments are poised to push through B.C. pipeline projects to deliver jobs and allow more Canadian oil to flow to Asia rather than the U.S.

More from this campaign