On Sunday September 13, Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chief Na’Moks and Gitxsan hereditary leader Gwii Lok’im Gibuu (Jesse Stoeppler) spoke at the Resistance Concert at Grange Park in Toronto on the eve of the Canada Investment Summit.
CBC News reports Prime Minister Mark Carney will pitch “167 possible investment opportunities … to some of the world’s biggest investment firms and sovereign wealth funds” at the summit in Toronto on September 14-15.
That article adds the major projects outlined in this 66-page “prospectus” are grouped into eight areas: “11 conventional energy projects, 31 clean energy projects, 63 in mining and metals, 16 in marine and port infrastructure, 11 in power and utilities, 10 in digital technology, 19 in advanced manufacturing and six transportation projects.”
Included on page 9 of that prospectus is the “KSI LISIMS LNG TERMINAL & PRGT PIPELINE PROJECT described as “Fully permitted and shovel-ready” with a “CapEx” (capital expenditure) of “Approximately US$28.5B” needed.
Gwii Lok’im Gibuu
In his speech at Grange Park, Gwii Lok’im Gibuu commented: “We are direct neighbours to the Wet’suwet’en. We have an ancient alliance.”
“Over the next two days, this place is going to be full of the richest CEOs and decision-makers of this country and around the globe.”
“I’m sure many of you have followed along over the last six years and had some exposure to the violence that was brought on to Wet’suwet’en territories over the construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline. That is exactly what happens when Indigenous people say no. When we have Title and when we have rights, that means we also have the option to say no. That is connected to true power, to sovereignty. Yet, the people that did so were criminalized and dehumanized.”
“For us as Gitxsan, and for many other nations, we’re facing another project called Ksi Lisims. That’s the terminal. Connected to it is the PRGT, or Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Pipeline. Roughly 800 kilometres long. Expanding through many, many different sovereign territories.”
Chief Na’Moks
Na’Moks highlighted his nation’s experience with the Coastal GasLink pipeline: “They came at us with C-IRG, now called CRU, a critical response unit, they brought in mercenaries, they burned us out of our homes, arrested us, they arrested us out in the territory. They wouldn’t even give us the dignity of being in a vehicle, like a truck or a van. They put us in dog kennels and then they brought us into jail, arresting our women.”
“After all the violence and that, they did manage to get the pipeline in. And it’s operating at 30%. We actually cost them between 8 and 10 billion dollars by just delaying it. And they thought they’d burn us out, throw us in jail. Well, to me that’s a compliment, because we’re Wet’suwet’en.”
“And when we get to confront them at this gathering we’re having, it lets them know that they don’t have the freedom that they seek to destroy water, air, and land. And the very future of your children and grandchildren, you have that power. Don’t let them ever try to convince you that you don’t have that power.”
“There’s not a pipeline boat that can handle the mountains we have. So, they’ve got to build two more compressor stations just to add more gas to that pipeline to bring it over these mountains. And they’ll be the two largest in the world, and they have not started the building yet. They keep on saying next year, next year, next year. But who’s there every year? We are. And you’re there with us when you want. We hope so.”
To watch the full video with Chief Na’Moks click here.
The video with Gwii Lok’im Gibuu is here.
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