A Chief from the Gitxsan Nation is challenging the British Columbia government’s approval of a natural gas pipeline project that would run through their land without adequate consultation. The Prince Rupert Gas Transmission pipeline, spanning 900 kilometers to supply the Ksi Lisims liquefied natural gas facility, has raised concerns about its impact on Aboriginal rights and cultural areas.
Hereditary Chief Charles Wright recently lodged a legal petition in the B.C. Supreme Court, arguing that the government’s classification of the project as “substantially started” lacked proper consultation regarding its effects on Aboriginal rights and title. The pipeline’s route cuts through the Chief’s clan territory, potentially jeopardizing important cultural sites and raising fears of irreversible damage to the land.
Wright clarifies that the legal challenge aims to ensure a more thorough assessment of the project’s impacts, rather than halting it completely. He criticizes the reliance on outdated assessments and warns that the government’s decision could lead to conflicts in the region.