Statement from Tsleil-Waututh Nation Sacred Trust on Direct Action

As things have begun to really heat up in the debate surrounding the proposed Kinder Morgan pipeline, now seems like a good moment to take a step back and reflect on how, and why we have arrived in this place and where we hope to be in the future.

Our assessment report, grounded in TWN law and backed by research from leading experts has confirmed that these risks are unacceptable. Based on the undeniable jeopardy we would be placing our inlet, the people and creatures of the inlet, the surrounding communities in, as well as, in fact, the global community, TWN has denied it’s free, prior and informed consent.

We respect that all residents and TWN members have the right to voice their concerns and act according to their own beliefs and while direct action has played a vital role in moments of important social change, Tsleil-Waututh Nation Chief and Council are focused on the legal challenge that is currently being considered by the Federal Court of Appeals.

Tsleil-Waututh Nation are the People of the Inlet and it is our sacred obligation to protect the water. In our varied opposition to Kinder Morgan, we are many people paddling different canoes in the same direction.

We encourage all efforts to ensure safety and respect in these difficult times.

I look forward to a day, in the not too distant future, when we can all more actively collaborate on the restoration of local ecosystems and on new economic opportunities. We do not need the risks.

hay čxʷ q̓ə siʔem̓

Chief Maureen Thomas

Tsleil-Waututh Nation