User:T.Kanasamoorthy/sandbox

Save The Fraser Declaration was created, which is an indigenous law ban on tar sands pipelines through First Nation traditional territories; which was signed by more than 130  First Nations. First Nations across B.C. have formed a wall of opposition against the Enbridge pipeline and tanker plan. The potential effects on key ecological features such as wetlands, lakes, streams, plus with associated effects on wildlife including fish habitat and species, creating a very dangerous situation for the Aboriginal communities. Aboriginal people consider water as a sacred commodity and a threat to natural water streams is not only a threat to all fish, animals and plants, but also a threat to the Aboriginal peoples' health as well. The Enbridge Pipelines would cut across nearly 800 streams and rivers including British Columbia’s two largest wild salmon watersheds, the Fraser and the Skeena. A pipeline spill near salmon spawning habitat is said to be near-impossible to clean up. Protection of the environment is fundamental to long-term success. Birdtail Sioux First Nation was once one of many First Nations communities in Canada suffering the heartbreaking combination of alcoholism, school dropouts, hopelessness and suicide. A transformation had taken root a small First Nation found a path to a brighter future through partnership and collaboration with Northern Gateway.

Aboriginals' have an opportunity with Enbridge to have a partnership and built a lasting relationship, with compelling benefits for the entire Aboriginal community. Northern Gateway wants to ensure maximum participation of Aboriginal communities in economic opportunities that arise from the project. Enbridge has already offered the groups a 10 per cent equity stake in the $5.5- billion project, as well Enbridge says it will put one per cent of Northern Gateway's pre-tax earnings into a trust, which is expected to generate $100 million over 30 years. The pipeline behemoth says it expects roughly 15 per cent of the project's construction labour force to be aboriginal. If completed, the pipelines and terminal would provide about 62,700 person years of construction employment, aside about 1,150 more long-term jobs throughout Canada. Economic costs and environmental risks of the pipeline — including disruption to existing employment, potential job losses due to oil spills, and the economic costs of carbon emissions — have been ignored by Enbridge. Even in the absence of a spill, the pipeline and tanker traffic will be disruptive to the existing fishing and tourism economy.