Tribes Across North America Unite in 'Wall of Opposition' to Alberta Tar Sands

In a historic show of unity, more than 50 First Nations across North America on Thursday signed a new treaty alliance against the expansion of tar sands mining and infrastructure in their territory.

Citing the threats to water and land through a spill or pipeline leak, as well the industry’s undeniable impact on “catastrophic climate change,” the treaty (pdf) states, “Tar Sands expansion is a collective threat to our Nations. It requires a collective response.”

“Therefore,” it continues, “our Nations hereby join together under the present treaty to officially prohibit and to agree to collectively challenge and resist the use of  our respective territories and coasts in connection with the expansion of the production of the Alberta Tar Sands, including for the transport of such expanded  production, whether by pipeline, rail or tanker.”

“We are in a time of unprecedented unity amongst Indigenous people working together for a better future for everyone.”
—Rueben George, Tsleil-Waututh Sacred Trust Initiative

Leaders gathered in Vancouver, which sits on Musqueam Territory, as well as on Mohawk Territory in Montreal for simultaneous ceremonies to cement the continent-wide agreement, which specifically unites the tribes in opposition to all five current tar sands pipeline and tanker project proposals—Kinder Morgan, Energy East, Line 3, Northern Gateway, and Keystone XL—as well as tar sands rail projects.

Canada’s National Observer reported, “At the signing on Musqueam land in Vancouver, the lineup of chiefs waiting to put their names down filled up an entire room. It was a powerful ceremony, and participants clad in the regalia of their nations traveled from across [British Columbia] and northern Washington to be part of the growing movement.”

“What this Treaty means is that from Quebec, we will work with our First Nation allies in B.C. to make sure that the Kinder Morgan pipeline does not pass and we will also work with our Tribal allies in Minnesota as they take on Enbridge’s Line 3 expansion, and we know they’ll help us do the same against Energy East,” said Kanesatake Grand Chief Serge Simon. 

As Carrier Sekani Tribal Chief Terry Teegee observed, “a pipeline cannot hope to pass through a unified wall of Indigenous opposition,” nor can it find an alternate route around it.