From a press release prepared by Sheila Muxlow of Sierra Club. I apologize for the late posting, I had some issues with Blogger.
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Thursday, May 12, 2011
Calgary, Alberta – The Enbridge Corporation held their AGM yesterday, with a focus for their share holders on the plans for the Gateway pipeline to open up the transfer of tar sands to the Asian marketplace for new profit making opportunities. The AGM was met with a courageous delegation of First Nation Leaders and community members from the Yinka Dene Alliance along with a cluster of First Nations and Allies from around Alberta and Manitoba who reject the idea of the pipeline. The Yinka Dene Alliance is a coalition of 5 Indigenous communities whose unceeded territory along the northern pacific coast includes 25% of the pathway of the northern Enbridge pipeline. Their delegation of more than 75 people arrived in Calgary on Tuesday to build relationships with Alberta based allies and be present at the Enbridge AGM to tell the company for the third year in a row: ‘We do not want this pipeline. nor any other pipeline, to come to the BC coast.‘
Following a morning press conference where 3 Alberta First Nations, 5 BC Nation, and 1 Manitoba nation agreed to a solidarity statement opposing the Enbridge pipeline, Chiefs Jackie Thomas of the Saik’uz, Chief Dolly Abraham of Takla Lake, Chief Karen Ogen of Wet’suwet’en, Hereditary Chief Tsodih and Anne Ketlo on behalf of Chief Larry Nooski of the Nadleh Whut’en, along with the Yinka Dene Alliance Coordinator Geraldine Thomas-Flurer led Indigenous community members and allies proudly through the streets of Calgary. They stopped at the Enbridge headquarters to deliver a letter from 10 year old Ta'kaiya Blaney, a singer and young activist from Sliammon First Nation on the pacific coast, warning the company of the risk this pipeline will pose to future generations. Outside numerous Chiefs and community members shared thoughts and stories relating to the importance of their struggle to stop the pipeline.
The delegation continued in the streets, drumming and chanting slogans of ‘No tar sands, No tankers, No pipelines, No problems!’ arriving at the Metropolitan where Enbridge was holding its AGM. A group of charismatic young people calling themselves ‘Rhythms of Resistance’ played numerous samba beats, providing the drummers and dancers from the Yinka Dene Alliance a chance to catch their breath. 8 members of the delegation had proxy votes for the AGM and went in to speak to the shareholders, while drumming and speeches continued outside to the sometimes supportive, sometime hostile, traffic of Calgary’s downtown core.
"We told Enbridge's board and its CEO - right to their faces - that we're not here to negotiate a better deal," said Chief Jackie Thomas. "Enbridge's money is worthless to us because their pipeline will cause oil spills that could destroy the rivers, fish, and animals that are the lifeblood of our people and culture. We also told them that we will not let up in opposing this pipeline. We told their shareholders and investors the same message today. Putting money into this pipeline is just throwing good money after bad."
Following the AGM, numerous shareholders, requesting to remain anonymous, shared comments about the presentation by the members of the Yinka Dene Alliance.
“I don’t understand why they aren’t interested in making money.” Said one confused gentleman holding a cane. “I mean they are just saying ‘No’ and not allowing for any negotiations. We should at least be able to make a deal.”
“All they talk about is land, land, land. They have to realize it’s time for the twentieth century,” said one man, oblivious that it was indeed the twenty first century.
Numerous shareholders left the building shaking their heads confused, looking almost in shock. One man in a suit and tie offered his explanation.
“It’s like they don’t want to be involved in the opportunities that are available to them. We have a huge market waiting to open up and they are saying ‘No’. They seem to think there is something more important than money.”
The Enbridge AGM fell on day 12 of the pipeline break spilling more than 4.4 million litres of oil into the land and waters of the Lubicon Cree in Northern Alberta. As one banner outside the AGM articulated ‘Disasters are a reality of oil’.
The Yinka Dene alliance along with the signatories of the solidarity statement and their allies assured Enbridge that they were put on notice to ensure that plans for any pipelines or oil tanker traffic to transport tar sands along the pacific coast would come to an end. Fingers crossed that third time is the charm.
Links to some other articles about the event:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5hu7t17VzjYB9hd1BhXrYV393zMXw?docId=6816992
http://www.metronews.ca/calgary/local/article/858199--enbridge-faces-its-critics
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/story/2011/05/11/calgary-protest-northern-gateway-aboriginal.html
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/oil-sands-first-nations-hit-back-against-harper-say-enbridge-northern-gateway-pipeline-1513216.htm
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