The Nathan E. Stewart sank, but the Heiltsuk are rising
Heiltsuk Nation is taking an oil shipping company, Canada and British Columbia to court over a catastrophic diesel spill in their territory from the Nathan E. Stewart, a tug-barge that had carried oil through Heiltsuk waters despite Heiltsuk prohibition of oil transport through their marine harvesting areas.
The Heiltsuk suffered a violent disruption to their way of life, their economy, their history and identity, and their spiritual connection to the land. The spill contaminated key shellfish harvesting areas and critical habitat for the Northern Abalone.
The Heiltsuk are taking the polluter, Kirby Corporation, and the federal and provincial governments to court. A win for the Heiltsuk could toughen oil spill regulations along the whole Pacific coast and set a precedent for Aboriginal title to the foreshore and seabed. It would strengthen Heiltsuk jurisdiction in the courts so they can manage their territory according to Heiltsuk laws. With its legal challenge, Heiltsuk Nation is taking power from regulators asleep at the wheel and bringing the responsibility to protect their territory and the ocean back home.
Will you stand with Heiltsuk Nation?
At the Heart of the Matter
In 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.
Through inadequate government and corporate response, and despite Heiltsuk responders’ heroic efforts to mitigate the damage, the spill contaminated key shellfish harvesting areas and critical habitat for the Northern abalone. The Heiltsuk suffered a violent disruption to their way of life, their economy, their history and identity, and their spiritual connection to the land. The Heiltsuk had warned the federal government about the risk of oil transport through the stormy passages of the Central Coast. Heiltsuk was one of the Nations that won a landmark case stopping Enbridge Northern Gateway in 2016. Tragically, they are now left dealing with long-term and catastrophic damage to the health of their land, waters, and culture.
A win for the Heitsuk could:
- Toughen oil spill regulations along the whole Pacific coast
- Set legal precedents for:
- Aboriginal title to the foreshore and seabed
- Aboriginal governance rights that protects the ecosystem and its resources
- BC and Canada to be required to consult with Indigenous peoples on the environmental impact assessment and remediation following an oil spill
- Deterrence of oil spills by establishing cultural damages
- Strengthen Heiltsuk jurisdiction so they can manage their territory according to Heiltsuk laws
RAVEN is calling on people who love the coast to DONATE and FUNDRAISE ONLINE in your community to raise funds for the Heiltsuk legal challenge.
“It's about justice for what was lost, but also sending a message: if you're a foreign, multi-billion dollar profit company you do not have the right to put our communities, our livelihoods, our culture, and our ecosystems at risk."
-Ayla Brown, Heilstuk Councillor (Heilstuk Rising Video)
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The present-day Heiltsuk are the main descendants of Hailhzaqvla-speaking peoples who had inhabited an area of approximately 15,500 km2 in the central coastal region of British Columbia for at least 14,000 years. Heiltsuk Nation members trace their ancestry to five tribal groups, each defined by its position relative to the waters of Heiltsuk territory. Heiltsuk traditional territory is within the Great Bear Rainforest, located at the heart of where land and sea meet.
The Heiltsuk govern themselves by Ǧviḷ̓ás, the laws of their ancestors which govern the relationships between the Heiltsuk and the natural and spiritual worlds. Ǧviḷ̓ás is rooted in a value system that ensures sustainability and respect. Inherent in this is the understanding that all things are connected and that unity is important to maintain. Ǧviḷ̓ás requires that the Heiltsuk manage and protect their land, their waters and all living beings within Heiltsuk territory.