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Subject line: Take a stand for Heiltsuk coast heroes

Dear, ____

Heiltsuk Nation are mariners, whose livelihoods and culture depend on the rich marine ecosystem they have stewarded since time immemorial.

In a tragic disaster, an American vessel ran aground at the heart of their ocean breadbasket, contaminating the very area which they and their ancestors have relied upon to feed their families for generations.

Now, Heiltsuk Nation are raising funds for a civil case against Kirby Corporation to recover damages for loss of Aboriginal rights to food, social, and ceremonial harvesting as well as the loss of their commercial harvesting of marine resources after the sinking of the Nathan E. Stewart.

The case will raise the constitutionality of Canada’s oil spill liability regime. The legislative scheme currently in force limits how Indigenous communities can recover for damages to Aboriginal food, social and ceremonial harvesting rights. The Heiltsuk were never consulted on this liability regime which in effect carves away their rights without their consent and without recognition of the magnitude of the losses caused by oil spill disasters.

The case will also examine the actual state of Canada’s “world class” oil-spill response system. Proof of the poor spill response in this case may support increased environmental awareness, better safety measures and/or restrictions on oil shipping, and real improvements to spill response.

Will you stand with Heiltsuk Nation in pressing for justice in the wake of the Nathan E. Stewart disaster? 

Donation link: Give now

The Nathan E. Steward sank: but the Heiltsuk are rising.

Onwards,

(YOUR NAME)

• • Heiltsuk Nation is taking Kirby Corporation and British Columbia to court, over a devastating oil spill in their territory. Support their legal challenges as they assert their laws and hold Canada accountable. Donate at raventrust.com/heiltsuk #HeiltsukStrong

• • On Oct 13, 2016, the Nathan E. Stewart sank in Heiltsuk territory, spilling over 110,000L of oil in their waters. Now the Nation is asserting their rights and taking Kirby Corp, BC and Canada to court.   Donate to support their legal fees at raventrust.com/heiltsuk #HeiltsukStrong

On October 2016, a tug without a certified pilot ran aground and spilled over 110,000 liters of diesel oil in Heiltsuk waters on the central coast of British Columbia. The tug and attached barge were carrying diesel through Heiltsuk waters despite Heiltsuk prohibition of oil transport through their marine harvesting areas. Now the Nation is asserting their rights and taking Kirby Corp - the owner of the tug - BC and Canada to court.  RAVEN is calling on coast protectors everywhere to DONATE  to raise funds for the Heiltsuk legal challenge at raventrust.com/heiltsuk #HeiltsukStrong

❗CALL TO ACTION ❗
Calling all coast protectors everywhere to donate to Heiltsuk Nation’s legal challenges!

On October 2016, a tug without a certified pilot ran aground and spilled over 110,000 liters of diesel oil in Heiltsuk waters on the central coast of British Columbia. The tug and attached barge were carrying diesel through Heiltsuk waters despite Heiltsuk prohibition of oil transport through their marine harvesting areas.

The diesel spill contaminated an ecologically intact area, a rich ecosystem that, until the spill, the Heiltsuk had harvested using traditional, sustainable practices for millennia. 

The Heiltsuk harvested at least 25 food species from the affected area, including commercial harvests of manila clams, red sea urchin, sea cucumber, salmon, and herring spawn on kelp. The affected area is also a significant habitat for sea otters and the Northern abalone, an endangered species.

For the Heiltsuk, the spill is a catastrophic loss that will take decades if not generations to heal.

Now the Heiltsuk are suing the owner of the tug, Kirby Corporation, and the governments of Canada and B.C. Several aspects of the case are precedent-setting. Their case seeks to challenge the constitutionality of Canada’s oil spill response; compensate the Heiltsuk for cultural and economic losses due to the spill; and establish Heiltsuk Aboriginal title to reserve lands.   Will you DONATE to Heiltsuk’s legal challenge at raventrust.com/heiltsuk #HeiltsukStrong

Raven People Rising

https://vimeo.com/298300915

full story here