INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ACROSS THE CONTINENT TO FIGHT TRANSCANADA’S KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ACROSS THE CONTINENT TO FIGHT TRANSCANADA’S KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE

For immediate release

March 24, 2017, Turtle Island – In response to today’s approval by US President Trump of TransCanada’s Keystone XL oil sands (tar sands) pipeline and the Trudeau government’s cheering of the decision, the Treaty Alliance Against Tar Sands Expansion, with more than 120 First Nations and Tribes across Canada and the Northern United States, will be sending a contingent of Chiefs to meet with the Nations opposing the pipeline all along its route. Enbridge’s Northern Gateway tar sands pipelines was proof that just because governments approve a pipeline, it does not mean that it will get built.

“Governments should be supporting action to fight climate change and support Indigenous rights, not trying to ram through projects like the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline," said Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Manitoba Regional Chief Kevin Hart. "Indigenous peoples across the continent will stand together to protect our rights and our traditional territories. 122 First Nations and Tribes have now signed the Treaty Alliance Against Tar Sands Expansion and we will work together and reach out and build allies to stop this project which threatens the lands, waters and environment."

The Treaty Alliance Against Tar Sands Expansion opposes the expansion of the Alberta tar sands and bars the passage of proposed tar sands pipeline and rail projects, including their associated tanker traffic, which projects threaten our water and coasts and would fuel catastrophic climate change effects. Signatories have committed to work collectively to enforce the ban. The ban includes TransCanada’s Keystone XL, Enbridge’s Line 3, Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain Expansion and TransCanada’s Energy East. Enbridge’s Northern Gateway was stopped by members of the Treaty Alliance a long time ago.

For more info on the Treaty Alliance, visit our website here: http://www.treatyalliance.org/

Media inquiries:
 

Regional Chief Kevin Hart
AFN Regional Chief, Manitoba
khart@afn.ca

info@treatyalliance.org