[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]U.S. Tribal representatives will speak alongside First Nations at press conference and before Canadian National Energy Board [/perfectpullquote]
VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA – Indigenous people of the Salish Sea region will speak at a press conference and testify before the Canadian National Energy Board (NEB) on Wednesday, November 28, explaining how the proposed Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion project will harm their culture, treaty rights, and way of life.
Four U.S. Coast Salish Tribes — the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, Tulalip Tribes, Lummi Nation, and Suquamish Tribe — will share their concerns alongside Canadian First Nations as part of a Canadian federal government review of the proposed pipeline expansion project.
The Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion would dramatically increase the number of oil tankers moving crude-oil shipments through the Salish Sea, greatly increasing the risk of oil spills. An oil-tanker disaster could unleash toxic pollution into a sensitive marine environment that would be catastrophic for struggling Southern Resident Killer Whales, which hold great cultural significance for Tribes. The project also threatens to violate Tribal communities’ treaty-reserved fishing and shellfishing practices.
TESTIMONY
What: Unique opportunity to hear and report on traditional oral testimony delivered by U.S. Coast Salish Tribes
When: U.S. Tribes are scheduled to present Oral Testimony from 3-6pm on Wednesday, November 28, 2018. The session will follow testimony from the Tsawout First Nation and the Tsartlip First Nation.
Where: Delta Hotels Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort, 100 Harbour Road, Victoria, BC, Canada
Online: All testimony will be livestreamed (audio only) and can be downloaded a day later at https://www.neb-one.
gc.ca/pplctnflng/mjrpp/ trnsmntnxpnsn/rcnsdrtns-eng. html
Our thoughts and hearts are with the First Nations tribes who are best equipped to be the leaders on how to steward and protect the Salish Sea. We need to give them our full support and stand with them.