Mohawks threaten to block Energy East
MONTREAL • The Mohawk nation is threatening to do everything legally in its power to block the Energy East pipeline project, calling it a threat to their way of life.
Despite perceptions that most opposition to the project in Quebec is coming from mayors, a Mohawk-driven First Nations movement against the project is picking up steam in other parts of the country.
Besides the official opposition of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec and Labrador representing 43 Quebec chiefs, opponents of TransCanada’s pipeline now include the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs — who are fighting their own pipeline battle — and the Iroquois Caucus of Mohawk nations in Quebec and Ontario.
The level of anger in the First Nations and their complaint at not having been consulted is revealed in a bluntly worded six- page “nation- tonation” letter from Mohawk Kanesatake Grand Chief Serge “Otsi” Simon to Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard.
Dated March 9, the letter was obtained this weekend by the Montreal Gazette.
It calls the project to move 1.1 million barrels of crude oil a day from Alberta to refineries in Quebec and New Brunswick “risky and dangerous” to First Nations and a threat to their lands, waters and very survival.
“Indeed an alliance of indigenous nations, from coast to coast, is being formed against all the pipeline, rail and tanker projects that would make possible the continued expansion of tar sands,” Simon writes.
“One thing for sure, we the Mohawks of Kanesatake will not be brushed aside any longer and we wish to press upon you that we reserve the right to take legal action if necessary to prevent the abuse of our inherent rights.”
There was no reaction from the premier’s office Sunday.
TransCanada s pokesperson Tim Duboyce insisted dialogue is still possible despite the tone of the letter.
“Our philosophy is to have meaningful and respectful engagement with indigenous communities with regard to Energy East,” Duboyce said in a statement.
“We have already held hundreds of meetings with leaders of more than 160 First Nations and Métis communities along the proposed route.
“These meetings have resulted in a series of agreements allowing for funding agreements that allow indigenous communities to carry out their own independent assessments of the project where it may affect things such as impacts on traditional land use. There are also significant opportunities for First Nations communities to work on the project in the construction phase.”
Simon, however, argues pipeline companies are not to be trusted; their promised automatic spill detection systems have proven unreliable and the number of long term jobs created by such projects exaggerated.
Simon says the Energy East pipeline would pass directly through Mohawk lands, including the Seigneury of the Lake of Two Mountains and the Outaouais ( Ottawa) River, in violation of treaty rights. The risk of toxic spill is significant, he says.
And he takes a shot at Quebec, too, saying the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake was shocked to learn the government was giving TransCanada the green light to do more seismic testing on the Outaouais River (among others).
The permits came despite the fact Environment Minister David Heurtel called a news conference to complain TransCanada was refusing to respect Quebec’s environmental l aws and to announce plans to take TransCanada to court.
Heurtel made t he announcement just days before environmental impact assessment hearings into the project kicked off in Lévis, Que., on March 7. Those hearings are scheduled to resume Monday.
Last week, the hearings heard, among others, from t he company vice- president, Louise Bergeron, who argued pipelines are safer than trains for moving oil.
WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION IF NECESSARY.