December 5, 2006

Fort McPherson

This edition of the blog written by Eric Swanson.

Several youth were in attendance, and each presentation speaks to the importance of

• increasing the youth’s generally poor understanding of what the MGP is all about;
• making sure that they are prepared for it if it does get built (e.g. that they are properly schooled and trained for the jobs that would be available to them);
• making sure that the alcohol and drug problems do not get worse; and
• that the land maintains its current capacity to provide for the people.

It is made explicit in the presentations that the people are having a hard time understanding exactly what this pipeline means; they are busy just trying to survive and maintain the integrity of their culture and community. Most are of the impression that the pipeline is going to be built, and so this pervasive absence of full understanding seems to result in much trust being placed in their leaders, various levels of government and the proponents to make sure that it does not harm them further – and their presentations at the hearings are largely expressions of their wish that the land be kept healthy, that their people be made ready for the project, and that they thus, in some way benefit from it.

Chief Johnny Kay, on behalf of the Tetl'it Gwich'in, neutrally and welcomingly opens the hearing. Imperial then gives its usual NEB MGP summary (ownership, what they will be building, how they consulted, etc.).

John Snowshoe is the first to speak; he begins by pointing out to the NEB that people are out working in the afternoon, so it’s less likely that they’ll come to an afternoon meeting.

He speaks of the consequences of the Bennett Dam in B.C. and how they no longer see the frequency and regularity of flooding that they used to. He is concerned about similar consequences associated with the MGP. “For the pipeline that is going to go on my land, I hope that my people are ready for it.” People like John are putting a lot of trust in the NEB, the JRP, and the proponents to make sure that the pipeline is safe (i.e. won’t harm their land, water, or them) – with this condition he gives his permission to build the pipeline.

Ms. Mary Teya: “I'm the last of the generation that live out on the land…A lot of times, we had hard times but we knew what to do… I've been here in the community for many years and I lived here and I saw the changes; the changes that happen. Our way of life changed. Our way of eating changed. A lot more of our people are sick today. A lot of other impacts along with the changes. I saw that.”

Mary is grateful however, that at least these days they are being consulted by the oil/gas companies, and that the NEB and JRP are conducting hearings, and that the communities have the right to say ‘no’. She is also grateful that “the land is [still] rich... We still have a lot of animals out there” and this makes this consultation extremely important for the young people, who will still depend on the health of the land.
           
Mary translates at some of the hearings, and commented that “everything is so technical. I have a hard time back there sometimes, so I have to listen for awhile and then figure out what you people are saying and I try to put it into words. Sometimes, I make shortcuts. Sometimes, I use just one word at a time just so that the people will understand.” This is an important comment because it demonstrates the huge potential for misunderstanding on the behalf of community members, even those that attend the hearings. A day later in Tsiigetchic this concern is elucidated.

Mr. James Andre: At one point James was for the pipeline, due to his perception of the jobs and economic benefits that it would bring to his people; but now he his undecided.

He quotes his daughter: “what is the pipeline going to do for me?”

He has travelled to Denver and Calgary and has witnessed the environmental impacts of coal-bed methane development there. He makes the brilliant observation that more of his people need to see first-hand things like this so that they can better understand the risks to their land associated with letting industry in. “I think we need more information. We need to be more prepared for another opportunity to meet with your people. If they strike gas or oil somewhere, they're going to join up to the big line, so that's another big road, construction going through our land, more damage to our land. Pretty soon we're… going to have no animals.”

But the immediate social impact is his biggest concern: “during the big oil boom -that was the late '70s, I believe -- a lot of our people were working and came back and, you know, the community was just constantly drinking, drinking, drinking.”

“People should be going into the schools and explaining what opportunities there
[will be for them], if there is any. They're talking about starting construction [in what], four years? What training has happened so far?”

Eunice Mitchell expresses this same concern later on. James really wants the youth to come up and speak their mind. “I think that one of the things that I noticed when I came in [to the hearing] is that there wasn't really…many people. A lot of people, you know, like aren't really ready for something like this.” 

Ms. Eileen Koe (subchief of the Tetl'it Gwich'in Council) also noticed that “a lot of our people that should have been here [are] not here this afternoon, but I know they would want to be here if they had a chance.” She, like Mr. Andre, wants to see people going into the schools and individual homes to better explain what’s happening around them. She knows people are “afraid of what's going to happen when the alcohol and drugs start flowing [in].” And this fear, Ms. Koe feels, is responsible for much of the negative comments made by her people about the MGP. She is optimistic however, that with more training, education, and a better ‘orientation’ program from the proponents (to make sure that the workers know what they will be getting into) her people will have the tools they need to better themselves, and the community will gain in strength.

The 14-year old Ms. Shayla Snowshoe requests that the youth get more information on the pipeline and expresses her concern that if the pipeline goes through, the land of her people will not be safe. “Our land and our elders cannot be replaced.”

Eunice Mitchell addressing her people in attendance: “Get yourself prepared; be prepared. At least the white people are working for us. They're going to help --they may help us.”

Hmmm….

Eric Swanson is a volunteer with the Sierra Legal Defence Fund.

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