Nisga’a land defenders establish highway blockade in opposition to construction of PRGT pipeline
We are following social media posts on X/Twitter and Instagram about the blockade established by Nisga’a land defenders in opposition to the construction of the PRGT gas pipeline on their territory.
A media release issued this morning also highlights:
“Now is a crucial time to stop this pipeline. They’ve brought equipment to make a 1000-person man camp. LNG is going to do a lot of damage to our nation and so we’re stopping it” said Richard C Mercer, a Nisga’a who, along with 200 other Nisga’a members from all four of its communities, has been working within his nation to protect the territory.
Nisga’a blockade concludes, Gitanyow checkpoint continues
We are now seeing on social media:
This weekend, The Narwhal reported on a road closure by Gitanyow land defenders in opposition to this same pipeline:
“After closing the Nass Forest Service Road to all pipeline vehicles on Thursday [August 22], two chiefs of the Ganeda (Raven/Frog) Clan, Gamlakyeltxw Wil Marsden and Watakhayetsxw Deborah Good, set up a checkpoint where the road meets Highway 37, about 170 kilometres north of Terrace, B.C. The road is the shortest route to transport heavy equipment and supplies for a sprawling work camp being built to support pipeline construction.
“They’re trying to build a 1,000-man camp just down the road at Nass camp, and we’re here to tell them to go around,” Gamlakyeltxw said at the blockade before the agreement was burned. “They’re not welcome. And as far as we’re concerned, this pipeline needs a new environmental assessment.”“
In this video posted on August 22, Watakhayetsxw Deborah Good stated: “As of tonight, I am closing the Cranberry Connector from 11 kilometers to 31 kilometres. …I am closing the road and I will keep it closed. There will be no trucks permitted through the territory. No LNG equipment will be permitted through the territory.”
Photo of ongoing Gitanyow checkpoint by Melissa Morgan.
A call for solidarity
Watakhayetsxw Deborah Good also highlighted in that video message: “For those people that are defending the Gitanyow, the Gitxsan and the Wet’suwet’en, I invite you to stand on the lines with the Gitanyow. Come and stand with my Wilp.”
About the PRGT pipeline
Construction on the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) pipeline began on Saturday August 24.
The proposed pipeline is being presented as a “joint venture” between Houston, Texas-based Western LNG and the Nisga’a Nation. The Reston, Virginia-based engineering company Bechtel will “oversee and manage the execution of the PRGT natural gas pipeline” while BC-based Ledcor will “support the 2024 work plan”.
If completed, the 800-kilometre pipeline would carry fracked gas from Hudson’s Hope in northeastern British Columbia across an estimated 120 kilometres of Gitxsan territory as well as about 50 kilometres of Gitanyow territory until it reaches the proposed the Ksi Lisims LNG terminal near the Nass River estuary on Nisga’a territory in northwestern BC.
From this proposed LNG terminal, the gas would be exported to countries including Japan and South Korea.
The environmental certificate for the pipeline says it must be “substantially started” before November 25, 2024.
Further reading: Indigenous leaders burn pipeline agreement, set up B.C. road blockade (Matt Simmons, The Narwhal, August 24, 2024); First Nation blockades road ahead of LNG pipeline construction (Canada’s National Observer, August 26, 2024); and Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs close road to LNG trucks in resistance to the planned PRGT pipeline (PBI-Canada, August 23, 2024).
Image: PRGT pipeline route dated March 2024.
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