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Treaty-Announcement

Indigenous nations from across the country signed a "continent-wide Indigenous treaty" to oppose five oil pipelines awaiting approval across the country.

The First Nations and Native American tribes from Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario, the Prairies, British Columbia and the U.S., made the announcement in joint press conferences Thursday.

Under the treaty, the signatory First Nations would jointly opposeKinder Morgan's Trans Mountain Pipeline, Enbridge's Northern Gateway and Line 3 pipelines along with TransCanada's Energy East pipeline and Keystone XL pipeline which could face a resurrection following the outcome of November's U.S. election.

All the proposed pipelines would ship Alberta-mined bitumen to the West and East Coasts and down to the Gulf Coast.

"We have the right and the responsibility to stop these major threats to our lands, our waters and our peoples," said Kanesatake Grand Chief Serge Simon, whose community is famously known for its central role in the 1990 Oka Crisis. "For example, from Quebec, we will work with our First Nation allies in B.C. to make sure that the Kinder Morgan pipeline does not pass, and we know they'll help us do the same against Energy East."

The recent temporary victory by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in South Dakota in their battle against the Dakota Access Pipeline has emboldened Indigenous resistance to similar energy projects across the continent, said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs.

"Indigenous people have been standing up together everywhere in the face of new destructive fossil fuel projects, with no better example than at Standing Rock," said Phillip, in a statement. "We know that infrastructure that expands the tar sands is both incompatible with reducing Canada's emissions and completely irresponsible."

Standing Rock is also one of the signatories to the treaty.

The First Nations in Canada also want to send a message to the Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

"We want to work with the Prime Minister and the government to develop a sustainable economy that does not marginalize our people," said Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Derek Nepinak, in a statement. "This is a time of great spiritual awakening for our peoples as we reinvigorate our Nations and ensure a better tomorrow for all."

 


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