B.C. First Nations form flotilla at Trans Mountain terminal

July 14, 2018

VANCOUVER—Over 100 First Nations and environmental supporters on canoes, kayaks, boats and rhibs formed a flotilla in front of the Trans Mountain Terminal in Burnaby on Saturday.

More than 70 watercrafts paddled from Cates Park beach in North Vancouver to the Trans Mountain Westridge Marine Terminal across the water, stopping at the terminal fence for Indigenous elders to hold a water ceremony with drumming, singing and prayer.

Will George of the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation and one of the organizers of the event, said that ceremony was a key part of the day’s demonstration.

“Today’s very important for us to continue showing why we’re all here, protecting our ceremonies and bringing back to our culture our teachings that’s been with us for centuries,” he said.

George was one of the activists who suspended themselves over Ironworkers Memorial Bridge in early July for over 36 hours before being arrested by police.

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Robert Nahanee, an elder of the Squamish nation, said that he was there out of his concern for the water and the safety of future generations.

“I’m not here as a protester I’m here to protect our inherent right to water. We come from water, and if it’s not pure, we’re sick,” he said. “We as First Nations are practising out inherent right to water.”

Tsleil-Waututh organizers also invited environment organizations and supporters to join them in the flotilla, with over 30 members of Greenpeace taking part.

Initially, one of Greenpeace’s international ships, the Arctic Sunrise, was planned to sail alongside the canoes and kayaks, making its first stop in Vancouver in over 10 years. Due to unexpected fees from the port of Vancouver, those plans were changed with the captain and crew joining on inflatable boats.

“Even though we don’t have the ship, we completely support the First Nations and the community to stop the Trans Mountain pipeline,” said Joel Stewart, captain of the Arctic Sunrise.

Stewart said that he was there to support a move away from fossil fuel to clean energy options.

“Besides the fact that expanding the tar sands output and the pipeline is a climate time bomb, and just something we have to stop, it can go to wind turbines, light rail or public transport,” he said. “It’s time to stop the pipeline, stop fossil fuels and time to clean up the Salish Sea.”

While the water ceremony was underway, a rally of supporters was also held on the shore at Cates Park in North Vancouver