Indigenous leaders are preparing to escalate their frontline opposition in the face of the federal purchase of the Trans Mountain pipeline.
“This is the moment in history where Justin Trudeau has revealed that he never cared about Indigenous rights or reconciliation,” said Will George, Tsleil-Waututh member and spokesperson for the Coast Salish Watch House. “The cost that they did not calculate in their $4.5 billion purchase is that Indigenous frontlines will stop this pipeline.”
“The Watch House will continue to stand in the way of pipeline development, and I will continue to meet the responsibility passed on to me by my ancestors to protect the water and land,” continued George.
After months of escalating action at Kinder Morgan’s construction sites, the company issued a deadline to the federal government to contend with the growing on-the-ground resistance to the project. Water protectors and land defenders are celebrating their collective power in forcing Kinder Morgan to back away from the doomed pipeline, and now Indigenous leaders are urging the federal government to stand down and begin meaningful strides toward respecting Indigenous Title and Rights.
“Despite all this insanity that Justin Trudeau is speaking, the answer is still no, we will never allow a pipeline to come through British Columbia and harm our Inlet,” said Tsleil-Waututh Elder Ta’ah Amy George.
Over 200 people have been arrested since March for opposing the pipeline and defending the water, land, and climate. Indigenous leaders and grassroots organizers expect that number to grow exponentially if the federal government attempts to ramp up construction. Outrage at the federal decision has spurred urgency among residents to take direct action against the tar sands project, with over 25,000 people pledging to do “whatever it takes” to stop the pipeline.
There will be a rally today at Science World in Vancouver at 5:30p.m., where the following speakers will appear in the order listed below:
- Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson
- Ta-ah Amy George: A Tsleil-Waututh elder and grandmother. Ta’ah has been fighting Kinder Morgan for 8 years. She is the daughter of Chief Leonard George, and the mother of Rueben George.
- Khelsilem: Recently elected councillor and spokesperson for Squamish Nation. Activist, artist and fierce opponent of colonialism. He has been fighting for Indigenous language rights and started a Squamish language revitalization program at SFU.
- Rueben George: A leader in the fight against Kinder Morgan for the last 10 years in his community of the Tsleil-Waututh. He is a Sun Dance Chief, and the Coordinator for the Tsleil-Waututh Sacred Trust.
- Melina Labaoucan-Massimo: Facing the firsthand impacts of the Alberta tar sands in her home community, Little Buffalo, Melina has been a vocal advocate for Indigenous rights and environmental justice and has worked on social, environmental and climate justice for the past 15 years.
- Chief Ian Campbell: Xalek Sekyu Siyam is one of 16 Hereditary Chiefs of the Squamish Nation.
- Cedar Parker George: A Tsleil-Waututh Nation and Tulalip Tribe youth, who has been organizing his communities on both sides of the colonial border to stand up against the Kinder Morgan pipeline.
- Chief Judy Wilson: Secretary Treasurer of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC which represents more than half of all nations in British Columbia.
- Oceann Hyland: A Tsleil-Waututh youth who is learning her language in defence of her land.
- Roxanne Charles-George: A mixed media artist of Strait Salish and European descent. She is an active and proud member of Semiahmoo First Nation in Surrey, British Columbia where she promotes art, language, and culture.
- Clayton Thomas-Muller: Member of the Pukatawagan Nation in Northern, Manitoba. He is an activist for indigenous self-determination and environmental justice. Based in Winnipeg, Treaty 1 Territory he works as the Stop-It-at-the-Source Campaigner for 350.org.
- Tzeporah Berman: The Deputy Director of Stand.earth, an advocacy organization that works on climate change and aboriginal rights. Tzeporah served as the co-chair of Premier Rachel Notley’s Oil Sands Advisory Group and was arrested in Clayoquot Sound.
- Ronnie Dean Harris: A Stō:lo/St’át’imc/Nlaka’pamux multimedia artist based in Vancouver, BC. He got his start with professional graphic design at the age of 14. He is an advocate for Indigenous rights, language, and stopping fossil fuels from coming through Indigenous lands.
- William George: Tsleil-Waututh member and spokesperson for Kwekwecnewtxw-Protect the Inlet. Swaysǝn translates to when he speaks, people will listen. Will George has been living at the Coast Salish Watch House for the last 12 weeks, leading active blockades, cultural and spiritual practices.
