A spokesperson said the in 91原创 is preparing to block the path of Kinder Morgan鈥檚 Trans Mountain pipeline expansion by building a healing lodge.
Kwantlen spokesperson Brandon Gabriel told The Times that after several years of holding demonstrations against the project, members felt something more was called for.
鈥淲hat we decided, as a community, was the protests were effective at getting attention, but they are limited,鈥� Gabriel said.
鈥淭he general consensus that we鈥檙e receiving is that the Kwantlen community members want to take a stand.鈥�
Gabriel said the building, which he described as a 鈥渟caled-down longhouse-style structure鈥� will be built by the spring, possibly sooner.
He said the exact location isn鈥檛 being disclosed right now 鈥渇or strategic purposes and for safety reasons for our members.鈥�
Gabriel said the intent is to have a non-violent 鈥渟ustained occupation鈥� without clashing with Kinder Morgan security.
鈥淲e are really trying to avoid that,鈥� Gabriel said.
鈥淥ur goal is to be peaceful.鈥�
He said the lodge 鈥渋s to honour the many generations of Kwantlen members who have endured the legacy of the residential school system.鈥�
An online fundraiser for the Kwantlen 鈥渨ater and land protection fund鈥� has passed it鈥檚 goal of $4,000.
As of Friday night, donations through the site had reached $6,200.
鈥淜wantlen鈥檚 traditional lands and the Fraser River are in the way of Kinder Morgan鈥檚 pipeline, so there is a duty to (be) supporting the sovereign First Nations resisting this egregious environmental abuse鈥� the website said.
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Kinder Morgan operates its existing Trans Mountain pipeline through parts of North 91原创, Fort 91原创 and Walnut Grove.
It plans to twin the existing pipeline, which began operating in 1953, through most of 91原创.
Kinder Morgan wants to triple its capacity for oil which would be piped from Alberta through numerous B.C. communities to the Burnaby marine terminal. Some would be used at the existing Chevron refinery, but the vast majority would be shipped as crude oil via tanker to Asian customers.
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In November of last year, the Trudeau government approved Kinder Morgan鈥檚 proposal to twin the 63-year-old Trans Mountain pipeline to Burnaby, and rejected Enbridge鈥檚 Northern Gateway oil pipeline across northern B.C. to Kitimat.
Trudeau said more pipeline capacity is needed to keep oil from travelling by rail across the country, at greater risk to communities.
鈥淲e have made this decision because it is safe for B.C. and it is the right one for Canada.鈥�
A National Energy Board review panel found the $7.4-billion Trans Mountain project is in the national interest, unlikely to cause significant adverse environmental effects, and its benefits outweigh any 鈥渞esidual burdens.鈥�
The report did flag significant adverse effects from increased tanker traffic, causing impacts to southern resident killer whales, but it notes marine shipping is projected to increase with or without the pipeline, and tankers would be a small fraction of that.
Wider access to world markets for Canadian oil, government revenues, and thousands of construction jobs were among the benefits listed.
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-with files from Black Press
dan.ferguson@langleytimes.com
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