Natives get gagged by greens

It’s always unsettling to see paid activist groups l i ke Greenpeace pretending to speak for Canada’s indigenous peoples.

Recent Canadian history has shown that nonindigenous activist groups should think twice before claiming to speak for indigenous populations. After all, indigenous people in this country are more than able to speak for themselves. And there’s no doubt their views are on the record.

Many First Nations have gone public recently in order to ensure their positions are known, especially as those positions relate to oil and gas development and the construction of pipelines. Here’s some of what the recent record reflects:

Fully 174 First Nations in Canada — more than 25 per cent of all Canadian First Nations — produce oil and gas now or want to in the future. In British Columbia there is overwhelming majority support from all First Nations eligible for the Pacific Trail, Coastal GasLink, Prince Rupert Gas and West Coast Connector projects. In some cases, there is 100- per- cent support. Over the last four years, nearly 2,000 consultative meetings have occurred among resource industries in Alberta, First Nations partners and communities. Approximately 32,000 indigenous people work in our natural resource industries, making it the largest private sector employer of First Nations and aboriginal people in the country.

Without speaking f or any indigenous groups, I can also say that in Alberta, many relationships between companies and indigenous communities stand as models of best practices. In fact, the awards program run by the Canadian Council of Aboriginal Business has recognized several major oil sands companies and indigenous communities for partnership excellence.

While the oil sands industry supply chain includes thousands of non- indigenous companies from outside Alberta, and right across Canada, that same supply chain also includes hundreds of First Nations-owned companies within Alberta.

Consider the fact more than 50 First Nations support construction of the Trans Mountain pipeline ex- pansion. And yet, many First Nations l eaders recently expressed their misgivings, through the media, when Ottawa failed to take seriously the indigenous support over another pipeline proposal, the Northern Gateway project, which was effectively killed by a new federal Liberal government that turned against it.

“Equity ( in the proposed Northern Gateway project) was offered to aboriginal communities,” Elmer Ghostkeeper, a representative of the Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement, told the Financial Post recently, “and with the change in government, that was all taken away… We are very disappointed.”

According to Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Perry Bellegarde, some 500 of the 630 First Nations in Canada are open to pipelines and petroleum development. And Ghostkeeper has pointed out more than 30 of the 42 bands on the proposed Northern Gateway right- of- way were supporters of the project and looked forward to sharing in the construction and long- term benefits. That’s 71- per- cent support.

That seems to explain the fact Ghostkeeper, along with Chief Elmer Derrick of the Gitxsan Nation, and Dale Swampy of the Samson Cree Nation all went on record recently to express their disappointment at Northern Gateway’s effective cancellation by Ottawa.

Their disappointment seems even more justified when you consider that oil sands businesses have conducted more than $ 10 billion in business with First Nations- owned companies — and support jobs within more than 3,400 non-Alberta- based companies across the country.

And they’re not alone. Fort McKay Chief Jim Boucher recently expressed similar frustration. At a special assembly at the AFN in December, Boucher explained that environmental activists have impoverished First Nations over time. “When it comes to pipelines and oil sands development, it’s clear from our perspective that we need to do more,” he said. “We’re pro- oil sands. If it weren’t for the oil my people would be in poverty right now.” Boucher warned against buying into “the environmentalist argument,” the CBC reported from the meeting. “They’re the ones who, at the end of the day, were successful in creating poverty in northern Canada, right across the board.”

If the paid staffers of activist groups like Greenpeace truly cared about First Nations communities in Canada, those staffers would listen to the wishes of the many indigenous leaders who support current pipeline proposals like Trans Mountain. The fact those paid staffers continue to ignore the hope sand aspirations of so many in the First Nations communities is not just disingenuous— it’s outrageous.

But please don’t simply listen to me on this issue. I urge you to find out for yourself.

First Nations leaders across the country will tell you that the large majority of First Nations are open-minded about pipeline and petroleum development. The “noto-everything” message from professional activists against exclusively Canadian energy resources is not just wrong, it harms indigenous people. Look into it for yourself.

Perhaps then you’ll realize that support for fair- trade energy from Canada is the best choice toward peace, progress and prosperity, not only for First Nations peoples, but for all Canadians.

Cody Battershill is a Calgary realtor is the founder of CanadaAction.ca, a volunteer organization that supports Canadian energy development and the environmental, social and economic benefits that come with it.

IT’S OUTRAGEOUS THAT PAID ACTIVISTS DROWN OUT THE HOPES AND ASPIRATIONS OF SO MANY FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE.