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The first week of federal court where 14 cases against the pipeline were being heard together was action packed. There was significant local, national, and some international media coverage of the trials. This article in the Vancouver business press covers the heart of the Indigenous legal challenges well. Their main argument, summarized by Squamish Nation lawyer Matthew Kirchner: “The federal government failed to do the “deep” consultations that are required on a project with such significant potential impacts on First Nations rights.”
As this initial battle in the courts rages on, this community is definitely pulling together to help! In addition to the half dozen fundraising events happening in the next few weeks, our organizers have been working the phones, helping volunteers plan another 22 events to raise more funds, on both sides of the border, this fall.
Amazingly, grassroots supporters have helped raise over $50,000 in the last 30 days, and there are now over 100 online fundraisers or teams set up! If you want to re-boot your team or add some more to the totals, send us a note and we’ll be happy to walk you through how others are achieving their goals.
And before you go be sure to spend 2 minutes to watch Grand Chief Stewart Phillip address the crowd at the “united against Kinder Morgan” rally last week.We get goosebumps and it shows how the resolve of Indigenous leaders hasn’t wavered one little bit.
We’ll send you another update as the court cases wrap up this week. Thanks for all that you do.
Jason, Katie, Jake, Andrea and the whole Pull Together team
P.S. If you’re in or near Vancouver, join First Nations leaders for a closing celebration, this Friday from 5-7 PM at the Art Gallery. You can RSVP to that event here.
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