The building of Enbridge Inc.’s Northern Gateway pipeline was approved by Stephen Harper’s government in June; however, commencement of the project is uncertain because of strong opposition from First Native groups. The heart of the opposition comes from six First Native groups, the Yinka Dene Alliance, who say that 25 percent of their tradition territory would be exploited by the pipeline.The Yinka Dene Alliance and other groups opposing the project have been able to gain legal foothold because the proposed pipeline would violate aboriginal land rights granted in the Constitution Act of 1982.
I believe that while the First Nation community has the right to protect their traditional territory, it isn’t a strong enough argument to prevent a multi-billion dollar project from proceeding. The building of the pipeline would have great economic benefits for the country and a large portion of the benefits would go to the First Nations groups who have equity stake in the pipeline. Chief Erickson said that they want to ensure that the land is there for their grandkids but who is to say that future generations would prefer land over monetary benefits from equity? I would say, as a member of the future generation, that their grandkids would prefer the latter.
I think that the Yinka Dene Alliance and other groups opposing the project are being unnecessarily uncooperative. The benefits they could gain from the Northern Gateway pipeline would be greater than the loss of 25 percent of their traditional land. However, that is my opinion, and what Enbridge hopes the First Natives will realize, yet it does not coincide with the opinions of the six First Nation groups. Consequently, if Enbridge cannot make a deal with this group, then there will be no pipeline built.
Sources:
http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/There+will+pipeline/10122968/story.html
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/aboriginal-rights/
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