British Columbia government allows construction of PRGT pipeline; Gitanyow vow to protect their territory, stop the pipeline

Published by Brent Patterson on June 6, 2025June 6, 2025

Photo: On August 22, 2024, the Gitanyow closed a road on their territory to stop the construction of the PRGT pipeline.

The provincial government of British Columbia will allow the construction of the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) fracked gas pipeline on Gitanyow and Gitxsan territories despite their opposition to the megaproject.

On June 5, 2025, a Government of British Columbia information bulletin stated: “The chief executive assessment officer of the Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) has determined that the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) natural gas pipeline project has been substantially started.”

With this decision, the environmental assessment certificate issued in 2014 remains in effect allowing for the construction of the pipeline.

The 800-kilometre pipeline will start in the Hudson’s Hope area of northeast British Columbia, cross 50 kilometres of Gitanyow territory, 120 kilometres of Gitxsan territory, and end at the Ksi Lisims Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal on Pearse Island, 82 kilometres north of Prince Rupert in the Nass estuary on Nisga’a territory in northwest B.C.

The proposed pipeline would cross more than 1,000 waterways, some of which are major salmon-bearing rivers.

The megaproject was first approved under the ownership of Calgary-based TC Energy (that built the Coastal GasLink fracked gas pipeline on Wet’suwet’en territory) but is now owned by Texas-based Western LNG and the Nisga’a Nation.

More than 80 land defenders, observers and journalists were arrested by the controversial Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Community-Industry Response Group (C-IRG) between January 2019 and November 2021 during the resistance to the construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline on Wet’suwet’en territory.

Indigenous opposition to PRGT

Amnesty International has noted: “PRGT’s proposed route passes through the unceded, ancestral territories of several Indigenous Nations. Numerous Nations, including the Gitanyow, Gitxsan and members of the Nisga’a have voiced their opposition to the project being permitted to proceed on environmental assessments that are over a decade old. Both the Gitanyow and Gitxsan has erected blockades along the proposed pipeline route to prevent construction from advancing. Several court cases have been filed against the PRGT project, as well as the proposed Ksi Lisims LNG terminal project.”

Gitanyow opposition

A media release from the Gitanyow Hereditary Chief highlights: “The Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs do not recognize the legal validity of the B.C. Government’s decision announced today in favour of a ‘substantial start’ designation being granted for the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission project and vow to continue their fight to stop construction of the pipeline on their land.”

The Narwhal adds: “In a statement, Simooget (Chief) Watakhayetsxw Deborah Good said the decision ‘isn’t the end of the story.’ Watakhayetsxw was one of the Gitanyow Chiefs who set up a blockade last August when pipeline construction started, barring any industry-related traffic from passing through. ‘We’ll continue to fight to protect our territory (Lax’yip) with all actions needed, in the courts and on the ground,’ she said. ‘From August to November 2024, we denied access for PRGT pipeline construction and we’ll be continuing our efforts to ensure no construction happens on our territory,’ she said.”

That article also notes: “Naxginkw Tara Marsden, Wilp Sustainability Director with the Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs, questioned whether the project met criteria for the substantial start decision. …The work done on the PRGT pipeline mainly consisted of clearing forest from a short section of the 800-kilometre route on Nisga’a lands. …’Our livelihoods depend on healthy and abundant sockeye from the Nass and Skeena rivers,’ Naxginkw [further cautioned]. ‘This pipeline would cut across some of the healthiest intact salmon watersheds left in B.C.’”

The ownership issue and next steps

CBC News further notes: “Tara Marsden, sustainability director for the Gitanyow hereditary chiefs, has previously told CBC News she is worried the push to approve new projects in the face of the economic threats emanating from the United States would sideline environment concerns. She pointed out that Western LNG has significant backing from Blackstone Inc., a major American asset manager whose CEO publicly endorsed Trump and contributed to his campaign — undermining any notion that the project is needed to push back against the American president.”

Stand.earth adds: “In January of this year, it was announced that Blackstone Investments was making a significant investment in Western LNG to help cover the cost of acquiring the outstanding permits for both projects. However, before construction can begin, significant hurdles remain. The joint venture partners have not achieved Final Investment Decision and will need to secure $22 billion in funding. Stephen Schwarzman and Blackstone are likely going to be key players in reaching that milestone.”

Peace Brigades International

Peace Brigades International-Canada intends to visit Gitanyow, Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en territory in the coming weeks.

From May 16-30, 2025, PBI-Canada provided support to the Friends of Gitxsan and Gitanyow who recently constructed a tiny house that will become a home for Mass Gwitkunuxws (Teresa Brown), who has been operating a dog rescue sanctuary and resistance camp located on the pathway of the PRGT pipeline.

In March 2024, PBI-Canada hosted a webinar on “Gitxsan and Gitanyow resistance to colonial megaprojects” with a panel that included Tara Marsden, the Wilp Sustainability Director for the Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs, and Gitxsan land defender and protection specialist Kolin Sutherland-Wilson of the Kispiox Band.

Further reading: Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs close road to LNG trucks in resistance to the planned PRGT pipeline (August 23, 2024) and Gitanyow sustainability director Tara Marsden warns Blackstone-backed PRGT pipeline would accelerate climate change (April 25, 2025).

Image from Dogwoodbc on Instagram.