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Cullen backs Gitxsan chiefs on Enbridge
News Articles Featured | Vancouver Sun | December 10, 2011
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An NDP leadership hopeful has thrown his support behind the hereditary chiefs of the Gitxsan Nation, voicing his opposition to the controversial Enbridge pipeline.
Nathan Cullen, member of parliament for the riding of Skeena-Bulkley Valley, said in a news release issued Friday the $5.5-billion Northern Gateway oil pipeline has almost torn the first nations community apart.
"It is very important to me to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the hereditary chiefs and the nation, virtually all of whom clearly do not support the false promises of environmental protection and economic development that Enbridge is selling to northerners," Cullen said.
"It is unbelievable that Enbridge would try to pull such a stunt."
Elmer Derrick, the Gitxsan Treaty Office's chief negotiator announced Dec. 2 the Gitxsan First Nation had reached an agreement with Enbridge for an equity stake in the project. However, hereditary chiefs and other Gitxsan members said the deal was unsanctioned. They unsuccessfully called for the resignation of Derrick, as well as executive director Gordon Sebastian and negotiator Beverly Clifton Percival.
"Enbridge is obviously a company that will throw around money to push this pipeline through," Cullen said.
"It's deplorable. Clearly this kind of conquer-and-divide approach is not going to work."
Meanwhile, the B.C. Supreme Court issued an injunction on Tuesday telling the Gitxsan protesters to stop their blockade outside the treaty office in Hazelton.
The opposing leaders and members are now collecting written declarations from other hereditary chiefs supporting their position and have until Sunday to respond [to the injunction], hereditary chief Norman Stephens said Thursday.
Tagged with: pipeline, first nations, enbridge, northern gateway, british columbia, nathan cullen, gitxsan
