The Assembly of First Nations chiefs unanimously voted on Tuesday to request the cancellation of a new pipeline agreement between Canada and Alberta. They also expressed their strong support for the First Nations on the British Columbia coast who are against the proposed pipeline project. The decision was made during the chiefs’ annual December meeting in Ottawa, attended by hundreds of First Nations leaders.
The meeting focused on the federal-provincial memorandum of understanding for a bitumen pipeline destined for Asian markets, which was announced the previous week. This agreement includes a proposal to lift the federal ban on oil tanker traffic in northern B.C. waters. However, the AFN delegates responded by passing an emergency resolution in favor of maintaining the moratorium.
Chief Donald Edgars of Old Massett Village Council in Haida Gwaii, who introduced the resolution, emphasized that a pipeline to B.C.’s coast is unrealistic. The resolution also called upon Canada, Alberta, and B.C. to acknowledge the climate crisis and uphold the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak criticized the federal-provincial MOU, stating that First Nations’ rights cannot be disregarded with a single agreement. She emphasized the unity of the chiefs in standing firm on rights issues regarding major national projects on First Nations lands.
While the resolution was widely supported, Stephen Buffalo, president and CEO of the Indian Resource Council, expressed concerns that it was rushed and lacked thorough discussion. He highlighted the impact on First Nations involved in oil and gas development, advocating for dialogue and compromise.
Prime Minister Mark Carney later addressed the chiefs, emphasizing the importance of partnership and upholding Indigenous rights in national development projects. Despite some applause, several chiefs raised concerns about issues like clean drinking water, land claims, natural resources, and Indigenous rights during the meeting.
Carney assured that consultation, aligned with free, prior, and informed consent, is essential before designating projects in the national interest. Since a previous summit in July, the government has referred multiple projects to the major projects office, including the pipeline agreement with Alberta. The memorandum stresses Indigenous co-ownership and economic benefits but faces opposition from certain First Nations groups in B.C.
Carney pledged to engage with First Nations on the northern B.C. coast to address their concerns, although he did not directly respond to questions about respecting the AFN resolution on the MOU and tanker ban. He announced plans for a joint meeting with First Ministers and First Nations in the new year, promising that First Nations would shape the agenda. Additionally, the government intends to introduce legislation on clean drinking water by spring 2026.
The chiefs are set to receive updates from the major projects office and its Indigenous advisory committee, as well as discuss over three dozen policy resolutions and potential emergency resolutions during the gathering.