Coast Salish Tribes Oppose Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion - Press Conference
MEDIA ADVISORY
November 27, 2018
CONTACTS
Tony Hillaire, Lummi Nation Chief of Staff, 360-393-0890, AnthonyH@Lummi-nsn.gov
Debra Lekanoff, Swinomish Governmental Affairs, 360-391-5296, dlekanoff@swinomish.nsn.us
Francesca Hillery, Tulalip Tribes, 206-395-4048, fhillery@frogfootcommunications.com
Rebecca Bowe, Earthjustice, 415-217-2093, rbowe@earthjustice.org
Coast Salish Tribes Oppose Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion
U.S. Tribal representatives will speak alongside First Nations at press conference and before Canadian National Energy Board
VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA – Indigenous people of the Salish Sea region will speak at a press conference and testify before the Canadian National Energy Board (“NEB”) on Wednesday, November 28, explaining how the proposed Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project will harm their culture, treaty rights, and way of life.
Four U.S. Coast Salish Tribes — the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, Tulalip Tribes, Lummi Nation, and Suquamish Tribe — will share their concerns alongside Canadian First Nations as part of a Canadian federal government review of the proposed pipeline expansion project.
The Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion would dramatically increase the number of oil tankers moving crude-oil shipments through the Salish Sea, greatly increasing the risk of oil spills. An oil-tanker disaster could unleash toxic pollution into a sensitive marine environment that would be catastrophic for struggling Southern Resident killer whales, which hold great cultural significance for Tribes. The project also threatens to violate Tribal communities’ treaty-reserved fishing and shellfishing practices.
PRESS CONFERENCE: Canadian First Nations and U.S. Coast Salish Tribes will hold a press conference prior to the oral testimony session, from 1-1:45pm at the Hotel Grand Pacific, North Pender Island Ballroom, 463 Belleville Street, Victoria, BC, Canada.
Live Stream of press conference on the Our Sacred Sea Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/OurSacredSea/)
Call-in details: Online at https://zoom.us/j/664133820 or by phone at +1 646 876 9923 US or +1 647 558 0588 Canada (Meeting ID: 664 133 820)
TESTIMONY:
What: Unique opportunity to hear and report on traditional oral testimony delivered by U.S. Coast Salish Tribes. All testimony will be live streamed (audio only) and can be downloaded a day later at https://www.neb-one.gc.ca/pplctnflng/mjrpp/trnsmntnxpnsn/rcnsdrtns-eng.html.
Where: The hearing will be held at Delta Hotels Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort, 100 Harbour Road, Victoria, BC, Canada.
When: U.S. Tribes are scheduled to present Oral Testimony from 3-6pm on Wednesday, November 28. The session will follow testimony from the Tsawout First Nation and the Tsartlip First Nation.
