A Wet’suwet’en elected band chief says his continued support for the Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline depends on what his people want — and if they turn against the project, he’s willing to pass up its possible economic benefits.
Burns Lake First Nation Chief Dan George was asked what he would do if the Wet’suwet’en remain opposed to a pipeline on their land.
“I’d have to agree with them because that’s the decision that all the members made,” George told CBC News.
George said the question of community support for the pipeline should be part of expected discussions among Wet’suwet’en members on a tentative agreement reached over the weekend between hereditary chiefs, Ottawa and the B.C. government.
That tentative agreement on land and title rights has not been made public; Chief George has yet to see it. The proposal needs to be ratified by the Wet’suwet’en Nation for it to be final.
WATCH | Chief Dan George explains his position:
Wet’suwet’en Burns Lake First Nation Chief Dan George, who is in favour of the Coastal GasLink pipeline, says he is prepared to ask his constituents to vote again on the project. 1:17
“We need to come to a Wet’suwet’en solution together … The whole nation should come together and discuss both the agreement and the pipeline itself,” said George, whose band is one of five Wet’suwet’en First Nations that have signed deals with Coastal GasLink.
“Who’s for and who’s against? Every Wet’suwet’en member should be involved one way or another. It started out from the Wet’suwet’en people and the Wet’suwet’en people need to fix it.”
George said he doesn’t want the fate of the natural gas pipeline to rest solely in the hands of a few hereditary chiefs.
Figuring out how to get all the Wet’suwet’en members together to sort out of the pipeline dispute won’t be easy, George said, adding he still wants everyone to have a say.
“Hopefully, we can come to some sort