[PJB]

Manitoba First Nations protest for share of pipeline profits
Last Updated: Thursday, May 29, 2008 | 9:59 AM CT Comments15Recommend2CBC News
Several First Nations in southern Manitoba are using today's second annual National Day of Action to draw attention to their fight with two oil companies.

The seven Treaty No. 1 bands set up a teepee on land near the U.S. border, about 100 kilometres southwest of Winnpeg, the proposed site for a TransCanada oil pipeline.

The teepee is temporary, said Roseau River Chief Terry Nelson, but he added it should serve as notice that the bands are willing to occupy the land this summer.

TransCanada's Keystone and Enbridge's Alberta Clipper projects will each run pipelines through southern Manitoba on their way from Alberta to the U.S. Midwest. Construction is expected to begin within weeks.

Although neither pipeline will run through reserve territory, the chiefs say the pipelines will run through what they consider their "traditional territory," so they should receive a share of the resources that will flow them, estimated at $47 billion per year.

A spokesperson for TransCanada said the company would not send anyone to the site on Thursday.

Dennis Meeches, chief of Long Plain First Nation, near Portage La Prairie, Man., said he hopes the protest pressures the federal government to force the oil companies to negotiate with the bands.

"It kind of gives us a bit of discomfort when we have to resort to this kind of action a lot of times. I'm just hoping that the government comes to the table. This is Canada, you know — these kinds of things shouldn't be happening in this country," he said.

"Bring some, you know, measurable prosperity to the First Nations people so we don't have to be engaged in this tug of war."

Federal Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl said he had productive meetings this week with Treaty 1 chiefs in Manitoba, and he hopes Thursday's rally will be peaceful.

"We talked about the progress that we've made on specific claims and on the acceptance of Mr. Nelson's claim on the Roseau River First Nation," he said.

"I know he's very happy with that, as well. Mr. Nelson has other issues he wants to raise, and again we'll have to see what happens."

The seven bands have already filed a court motion trying to stop construction of the pipeline, but they say the judicial process may be too slow and they want their message to be heard now.

Nelson had success with last year's National Day of Action protest: his band had threatened a rail blockade on the Roseau River reserve, but called it off after Ottawa granted reserve status to a parcel of land the band owns on Highway 6.


Neither one of these pipelines run through treaty lands so how in the hell can the natives claim they are entitled to any money. It's like me saying I am entitled to a profit from SaskEnergy because a line comes on my property to feed my house.

These natives are pushing it way too far.

btw..Can someone please explain to me the definition of 'traditional lands'. As far as I can understand from the treaties, the natives ceded these lands..

[commanderkai]

Oh noooo they never ceded it...we stole it from them because we got them drunk first...or something

[PJB]

Another one is jumping on the bandwagon!


Sask. First Nation in court fighting pipeline project
Last Updated: Tuesday, June 3, 2008 | 4:53 PM CT Comments7Recommend6CBC News
Saskatchewan's Standing Buffalo Dakota First Nation is asking the courts to stop a Calgary-based company from running a pipeline across what it says is its traditional territory.

Enbridge Pipelines wants to complete a pipeline by 2010 that will transport 180,000 barrels a day of light hydrocarbons known as diluents from refineries in the Chicago area through Manitoba and Saskatchewan to the Alberta oil patch. The gasoline-like chemicals, which are becoming scarce in Alberta but are relatively plentiful in the U.S., are used to dilute the sticky output of Alberta's oilsands so it can be transported by another set of pipelines to the U.S. Midwest.

Representatives of the First Nation were in court in Regina Tuesday asking the Federal Court of Appeal to quash the National Energy Board's February decision to allow the $2.2 billion project to proceed. After hearing arguments, the court adjourned its decision.

The project, known as the Southern Lights pipeline, involves new construction and changes to Enbridge's existing crude oil pipelines.

According to the First Nation, the traditional lands of the Dakota cover a wide area across southern Saskatchewan, far beyond its reserve lands, located near Fort Qu'Appelle. It's worried any large building project could disrupt wildlife, harm the land and soil or disturb traditional sites. Dakota representatives maintain that their traditional lands are sacred and they have an obligation to care for the area.

Lawyers for Standing Buffalo Dakota First Nation argued Tuesday the National Energy Board did not have the authority to give the project the green light. The federal Department of Indian and Northern Affairs should have been included in the discussions, they said. Standing Buffalo Chief Roger Redman also said the government neglected its legal duty to consult with aboriginal people.

"We were not treated fairly by the NEB process," Redman said. "What we want as Dakota people is … the discrimination to stop."

Redman says the Dakota people are pushing this case because it may provide a vehicle to help get their inherent rights recognized by Ottawa.

However, a lawyer for Enbridge Pipelines said the First Nation's case doesn't have merit because the National Energy Board did nothing wrong when it approved the project.

[saturn_656]

Anyone remember when a certain few native groups were screaming for royalties over airwaves (radio signals, sat signals, whatever) that "passed through" their traditional lands?

This sounds much the same.