First Nations say they have the power to stop Trans Mountain expansion

First Nations say the courts, not the NEB or cabinet, will decide on the controversial pipeline

By Tracy Johnson, CBC News, May 20, 2016

The Stó:lō collective of First Nations in British Columbia is very familiar with the transport of oil. The existing Trans Mountain pipeline has crossed through their land for more than 50 years. CN Rail also carries oil by rail directly across Stó:lō territory to the B.C. coast.

So, the collective of eleven First Nations in B.C.’s Fraser Valley came to consultations with Kinder Morgan for the expansion of Trans Mountain with an open mind.

“We have taken time to speak to Kinder Morgan,” said Ernie Crey, the chief of the Cheam First Nation, a member of the collective.

Seven activists arrested on Kinder Morgan barge

This activist-submitted photo shows seven people on Kinder Morgan’s drilling barge Monday morning with an anti-Kinder Morgan banner. The Burnaby RCMP arrested seven people Monday for boarding the barge, which the company is using to conduct underwater drilling for soil samples. Photograph submitted to Burnaby Now.

Jennifer Moreau, Burnaby Now, January 18, 2016

Police have arrested several activists that occupied a Kinder Morgan drilling barge near the Westridge Marine Terminal in Burnaby Monday morning.

According to anti-pipeline activist Adam Gold, two protesters boarded the barge Sunday and stayed overnight. More protesters arrived to join them and bring supplies Monday morning. That’s when police showed up and removed the group.

Activists claim they’ve “shut down” Kinder Morgan’s geotechnical operations in Burrard Inlet

Xenoa Skinteh indicated his displeasure with the barge in Burrard Inlet before direct action took place today. Photo submitted to Georgia Straight.

by Charlie Smith, The Georgia Straight, January 17th, 2016

Activists have issued a news release claiming that they’ve seized a drilling barge near Westridge Marine Terminal. Around noon, it was boarded by two activists.

“Under the consent of Tsleil-Waututh Hereditary Chief Tulsii’m Kia’palanexw and Wei-Wai-Kay Hereditary Chief Geh-Soh-Giliach, Gigamaie, work crews contracted by Kinder Morgan undertaking offshore geotechnical operations on the Burrard Inlet by Westridge Marine Terminal, were shut down at approximately noon this morning by Hereditary Chief Geh-Soh-Giliach, Gigamaie and Xenoa Skinteh,” the news release states. “Both people were involved in the Autumn Resistance of 2014 on so called Burnaby Mountain.”

Trans Mountain pipeline expansion not supported by B.C. government

Kinder Morgan project doesn’t provide an adequate plan to prevent or respond to oil spills, province says

CBC News, Jan 11, 2016

The B.C. government says it can’t support the proposed $6.8-billion expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline from Alberta to Burnaby.

In a written statement to the National Energy Board, the Ministry of Environment said the pipeline’s proponent Kinder Morgan has not provided an adequate plan to prevent or respond to an oil spill.

Tsleil-Waututh Nation take NEB to court to stop Kinder Morgan hearing

Tsleil-Waututh Nation spokesperson Rueben George at Vancouver press conference on Tuesday about a legal challenge to NEB’s Kinder Morgan pipeline hearing. Photo by Mychaylo Prystupa, National Observer.

By Mychaylo Prystupa, National Observer, October 27th 2015

Under the banner, “Protect the Salish Sea,” a North Vancouver Indigenous community announced the start of its lawsuit against the National Energy Board (NEB) in federal court on Tuesday.

The lawsuit attempts to stop the widely-criticized hearing process for the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.

Tsleil-Waututh Nation says the outgoing Harper government failed in its constitutional legal duty to adequately consult with their community when it began the NEB review of Kinder Morgan’s proposed $5.4-billion Edmonton-to-Burnaby pipeline expansion more than a year ago. The band is now seeking a court order to stop the hearing.

In the pipelines’ path: Canada’s First Nations lead resistance

Women warriors at a tire fire blockade on Hwy 11, Dec 2, 2013, during resistance to SWN exploratory work for fracking in Mi’kmaq territory (New Brunswick).

Christopher Curtis, Montreal Gazette, September 4, 2015

Serge Simon steps out of his truck, saunters across Route 148 and into the bushes.

He hops over a broken lath fence, landing in the shrubs on the other side of it. As he presses forward, Simon makes a show of quickly ducking, as though some wayward farmer just fired a rifle blast overhead.

“We’re trespassing,” says Simon, flashing a mischievous smile. “But the way I see it, this is Mohawk land anyway. If anyone sees us, maybe they’ll freak out and think the natives have come to take back their territory.”

Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain expansion plan faces renewed opposition as crude oil price drops

Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline expansion: lowering pipes into trench.

Local economists say that, barring a major war in the Middle East directly impacting top oil producers like Saudi Arabia,

Canada’s oilsands might be in for a prolonged period of lower crude prices

By Brian Morton, Vancouver Sun August 5, 2015

VANCOUVER — As the National Energy Board (NEB) gears up to hear final arguments on Aug. 24 into its embattled review of the proposed Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion, opposition is mounting as the price of oil drops, making the project less attractive.

Langley marchers decry pipeline expansion through B.C.

The march ended with speeches in Fort Langley.

 by Matthew Claxton, Langley Advance, April 11, 2015

Several hundred people marched through Fort Langley Saturday to oppose the expansion of the Trans Mountain oil pipeline that runs through Langley.

Organized by groups including the Pipe Up Network and the Kwantlen First Nation, the march headed from the Kwantlen reserve to the Fort Langley Community Hall.

The march paused in the center of the Jacob Haldi Bridge that connects MacMillan Island to the village of Fort Langley. Above the Fraser River, Kwantlen members drummed and sang before the march continued.

Kwantlen Nation stunned to learn of Kinder Morgan drilling

Aboriginal drummers with the Kwantlen First Nation at a Kinder Morgan protest Thursday Feb 5, 2015,  near the Belmont Golf Course. Photo by Mychaylo Prystupa.

by Mychaylo Prystupa, Vancouver Observer, Feb 5, 2015

Members of Kwantlen First Nation in Langley were surprised to discover that Kinder Morgan had just wrapped up one week of Burnaby-Mountain-style borehole drilling on their traditional territory.

The southwest B.C. aboriginal community, an hour’s drive from Vancouver, held a press conference to raise alarm about the drilling activity, that appeared to come without notice.

“There was absolutely no communication whatsoever,” said band member Brandon Gabriel on Thursday.

Arrests made on Burnaby Mountain for fourth straight day, over 60 in total

Awkward moment for cops on Burnaby Mountain as protester holds mirror in front of them, Nov 23, 2014.  Photo by Mychaylo Prystupa, Vancouver Observer.

By Global BC/The Canadian Press, Nov 23, 2014

BURNABY, B.C. – At least a dozen protesters were taken into custody Sunday on a mountain near Vancouver as a demonstrations continued against a controversial pipeline project.

Dozens of people have been arrested since Thursday, when the RCMP began enforcing a court injunction ordering protesters to clear a pair of work sites on Burnaby Mountain, where Kinder Morgan is conducting drilling and survey work related to the proposed expansion of its Trans Mountain pipeline.