The president of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs apologized Wednesday and walked back comments he made earlier this week suggesting he supported reviving the Northern Gateway pipeline project.
"I do not support resuscitating dead projects such as the failed Northern Gateway pipeline, which would have been an absolute disaster for our lands and waters," Grand Chief Stewart Phillip said in a statement released by the union.Phillip said he viewed his participation in protest movements and legal challenges against the pipeline plan that was scrapped in 2016 as"an absolute honour and privilege," and he wanted to commend the thousands of others who also opposed it.
On Tuesday, Phillip had been asked at a news conference about Smith's suggestion to revive Northern Gateway, and the chief responded that Canada had"no choice" but to reconsider such projects given the current status of relations with the United States. Phillip also said on Tuesday that a number of resource development agreements since Northern Gateway had yielded"clearly evident" benefits for Indigenous communities.
"Our people were on the front lines and fought hard to successfully stop the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline," said Chief Marilyn Slett, elected chief councillor of the Heiltsuk Tribal Council and an executive at the union.
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