Skip to main content
Communication, Art + Technology › Communication
SFU Student

Ship cargo on water
Christina Coolidge is an Indigenous Program researcher with Career Services at SFU. In this four-part series she discusses the creation of the Sacred Trust Initiative (STI), with the purpose of stopping the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion. This is the third post of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation and the Sacred Trust Initiative Series.

Kinder Morgan

In terms of Kinder Morgan’s relationship with The STI, it is limited. Rueben George was able to participate in a debate with KM representatives where he was able to challenge their claims that the pipeline will benefit the economy and create jobs. Mr. George noted that it will create jobs in China, not in British Columbia, and that with an average of 2.6 spills a days, the benefits are few and far between. He expressed gratitude to have had the opportunity to look KM representatives in the eyes and “call bullshit” on their claims.

As it stands now, the STI does not have any contact with Kinder Morgan. Carleen Thomas explained their reasoning behind this decision.

“What we did was, we launched a legal challenge and we went to the federal court of appeal to ask for an appeal to leave, because since Kinder Morgan’s project became a project in December, a year ago, they’ve been trying to contact, even prior that, they’ve been trying to contact TWN to talk about the impacts and what their mitigation could be and how they could address our concerns and we told them, ‘we’re not talking to you. we will only talk to the federal government.’ We sent them a couple of letters to then Minister Joe Oliver, and said, ‘Hey, you can’t delegate your responsibility to a third party, like Kinder Morgan, to talk to us about protecting our rights and title. That’s a government responsibility, not an oil company’s responsibility.’ And we said, ‘no’, so we refused any emails, phone calls, trying to get meetings with our leadership. 

The other thing we launched in that legal appeal was that the National Energy Board’s process is flawed. and as you’re aware, Harper’s government changed that process, I think based on their experience with the Embridge, because Embridge has been going on for like, 6, 7 years. And they’re tired of waiting, that this process is taking so long. So, what they did with the NEB process is cut it down to be that they have to have a deal done within two years or something like that. I want to say 18 months but i’m too sure if that’s right. And so with the Canadian assessment, the Canadian Barment Assesment Act, the government had changed those too. But what the NEB didn’t see in there was, I believe its section 18, that the NEB is responsible to go out and talk with communities that consider themselves a jurisdiction. And under their definition of what a jurisdiction is, Tsleil-Waututh falls under that. So, we challenged them on that one. And there were two other reasons that we put forward as well.”

Because STI’s mandate is to stop the expansion, communication with KM has the potential to muddy the waters and blur the boundaries of STI’s position. Rather than engaging in discussions with KM, they seek out suitable methods to block the project. TWN’s position that the expansion ignores their rights to land and title demonstrates that their primary conflict is not with KM at all, but with the federal government and the Harper government’s continued violation of the rights of the First Nations groups along the pipeline. Initiating the legal challenge against the NEB is one such method to confront these issues as well as to stall the project. STI has a strong case and it would not be unreasonable to believe they may win this battle. The effects of the legal challenge are serious time delays in the projects commencement, which gives the STI more time to gather resources, strengthen relationships with allies and continue to expand public support. 

SFU Student
Christina Coolidge is currently attending SFU as a graduate student in the department of Communications. She is the Indigenous Program Researcher with the Career Services department. Christina is a member of the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation and her matrilineal ancestry includes Metis (Cree and Scottish) from the Red River area. She hopes to help build a bridge between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous communities in order to better understand one another and to live together in a spirit of unity.
visibility  109
Aug 18, 2014

You Might Like These... Career Exploration, Indigenous Community Stories

The olympic torch
Olympic Sized Persistence Pays Off

If there’s someone who knows about the terrifying journey that is the work search, it is Marissa Nahanee. She worked on many world class events, including the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Torch relay and visits by Princes Charles and Edward. But Marissa’s job did not just happen to her - she had to work for it.

A picture of actor Justin Rain standing in front of a grey wall
We’re All Actors: CSI Interviews First Nations Actor Justin Rain

“Whenever there is an opportunity to share my experience with people, it usually doesn’t take much for me to jump on board,” states Justin Rain when I ask him about his experiences at a recent event co-hosted by Career Services and the Indigenous Student Centre, “Indigenous Peoples’ Career Stories.”

An indigenous grass dancer
Indigenous Career Services & The Dance of Success

My name is Mike & I'm originally from Little Black Bear’s Band in the Treaty #4 area. I am in my final year of a First Nations Studies degree. Our goal is to determine ways in which the Career Services team can better serve the indigenous student population.

You Might Like These... Indigenous Community Stories

picture of aboriginal shoes
Our History is Your History

June is Aboriginal History month. It is an opportunity to share, not only the troubling reality behind the Aboriginal/Canadian relationship, but to understand the impactful and important contributions to Canadian society by the Indigenous cultures of this country.

Cynthia smiling
Cynthia George Taha | Registered Nurse

"With the uncertainty and changes in healthcare systems for our people and a separate health authority plan that will marginalize our people, I decided to be where my skills and services will be most beneficial." Read more to find out how a girl from Wetsuweten Nation became a leader in the Nursing field. 

Unsettling Reconcilation Banner
Unsettling Reconciliation

Since the Truth and Reconciliation Committee convened in 2008, reconciliation has been an issue on many minds but what is reconciliation? Here, three community members explore some of the issues and realities behind reconciliation.