Hosted by the Gitga’at First Nation, which is based at the end of Douglas Channel and would see much of the proposed tanker traffic, the march began with beating drums and singing around 10:30 in Pacific Mariners Memorial Park and ended at the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre where speakers, dancers and singers continued into the evening.
Bob Hill, treaty coordinator and negotiator for the Gitga’at and an MC at the rally, said Saturday’s action was planned in the lead up to the National Energy Board hearings slated to visit the area later this month.
“We’ve invited all the neighbouring nations and we’ve received 100 per cent support,” Hill said as he walked from the stage at the rally. “As you well know we’re the community that managed to save the passengers off the Queen of the North.
“And it’s an example of what a small community is faced with in regards to tanker traffic — and the Queen of the North is minute compared to the size of the tankers they’re talking about.”
Some of Saturday’s large crowd were in town for the 53rd annual All Native Basketball Tournament which stars Sunday. Aboriginal men and women from all over the province will compete in four different divisions on 52 teams.
Clayton Thomas-Muller is an aboriginal environmental activist who travelled from Ottawa for the rally.
“I came here to help out with the program and just to support as a ‘foreign radical’,” Thomas-Muller said. Before adding with a chuckle, “From an indigenous perspective I’m Cree coming into Gitga’at territory.”
Hill said the view of the Gitga’at is “no matter how careful we are in improving technology, and the safety concerns we have, there’s always that chance that human error will enter the equation and do the damage to the environment.”
Prince Rupert Mayor Jack Mussallem, city councillors and residents from that city, first nations from communities around B.C. and even singer Bif Naked took part in the march and ensuing rally.
Opponents argue the potential for a catastrophic oil spill is too great a risk for the controversial project, while supporters say the pipeline could boost the country’s gross domestic product by as much as $270 billion.
The federal review panel is meeting with communities affected by the proposed pipeline and more than 4,300 speakers have signed up for the process which could last into next year.
An Enbridge representative was unavailable for comment Saturday.
Original Article
Source: vancouver sun
Author: Mike Hager
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