First Nations Governments
The area of the B.C. coast that has been leased to oil companies
includes at least 9 million hectares of our coastal waters.
These leases were given to oil companies without consultation
with First Nations. However, the area is part of the traditional
territories of over 28 First Nations and where there exists
unsettled land claims and treaties. Very little time and hardly
any resources have been made available for First Nations to
carry out research to inform themselves about what an offshore
oil and gas industry would mean to their communities, cultures
and livelihoods. The 2004 report, Rights, Risks and Respect,
produced for the federal government after interviewing 70
First Nations, showed unified opposition to lifting of the
moratorium.
Click here to see the full report.
The Coastal First Nations organization commissioned Simon
Fraser University to conduct a study on the possible affects
an offshore oil and gas industry would have on the B.C. coast.
The study concluded that modest size offshore oil and gas
development could result in 484 small oil spills and a one
in five chance of a large oil spill over the 25-year project
operation. The Coastal First Nations (CFN) is an alliance
of First Nations on British Columbia’s North and Central
Coast and Haida Gwaii. The CFN includes Wuikinuxv Nation,
Heiltsuk, Kitasoo/Xaixais, Gitga’at, Haisla, Metlakatla,
Old Massett, Skidegate and the Council of the Haida Nation.
Click here to read the study.
