Five First Nations of the Yinka Dene Alliance are telling the Bank of Montreal (BMO) today in Vancouver not to finance Enbridge or its Northern Gateway pipeline project, because they say Enbridge fails to respect the authority of First Nations along the proposed pipeline route.
The project includes the construction of twin pipelines that would transport crude oil from the Alberta oilsands to Kitimat. Approximately one-quarter of the proposed pipeline route passes through the traditional territories of the Yinka Dene Nations.
The alliance stated, “We have spent several years considering the project, including the completion of detailed studies as to how the Enbridge pipelines would affect our land, waters, and peoples, and the exercise of our rights .... The Enbridge pipeline project is in violation of our laws and our obligations to all peoples to protect these lands and waters.”
Since 2007, BMO has raised more than $286 million for Enbridge Inc. and, pending approval of the pipeline, would likely be asked to provide further money to fund the project.
“We're calling on BMO to live up to the highest human rights and environmental standards in making their financing decisions,” said Geraldine Thomas-Flurer, spokeswoman for the Yinka Dene Alliance. “The banks should not raise funds for companies operating within indigenous territories against the will of indigenous peoples.”
The Yinka Dene Alliance is a player in the Save the Fraser Declaration, which unites indigenous communities in the Fraser River watershed in banning the transportation of oil sands crude through their territories.
Calls to BMO and Enbridge were not returned by press deadline.