It’s been big week for First Nations on Turtle Island!

Today,  50 First Nations from across Canada and the United States in signing a historic treaty to stop all tar sands projects in our territories. The Treaty Alliance Against Tar Sands Expansion is a powerful expression of Indigenous law that prohibits new pipelines, tankers and oil-by-rail projects – including Northern Gateway, Kinder Morgan and Energy East – while supporting a sustainable economy based on renewable energy. Hear  Grand Chief Serge Simon speaking to the Treaty 8 Justice for the Peace Caravan outside the courthouse in Montreal about the new treaty alliance and its implications for nation-to-nation solidarity among Indigenous Peoples.

On the Enbridge file, both the company and Canada’s federal government announced that they will not appeal the recent court ruling that overturned the project’s approval. We know that the promise to now do yet another round of consultations with First Nations means there will be months, if not years, more time and resources poured into opposing a project that should have been scrapped long ago, but we’re grateful that we don’t have to fund a Supreme Court challenge at this point. 

RAVEN recently signed on to support the Tsleil Wateuth First Nation of Burrard Inlet in their legal challenges to Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline and tankers project.

After more than a decade of work First Nations and their allies to defend our lands and waters from the threat of an oil spill, the federal government has confirmed that it will formalize a Pacific north coast oil tanker moratorium in the next few months.

With Enbridge’s project on life support, and Indigenous opposition more united than ever, we must ensure that Prime Minister Trudeau puts a final end to Northern Gateway by rejecting the project and formalizing an oil tanker ban on the north coast of BC.

Will you take a few moments to help make it happen?

Transport Canada is accepting public comments until September 30^th, 2016 on what the oil tanker ban should look like. Please submit comments to ensure the government follows through on its commitment to formalize a permanent, comprehensive and legislated ban on oil tankers.

To submit your comments, please register here and let the government know what you think a strong oil tanker ban should look like.

For some helpful tips and key points to address in your oil tanker ban submission, see this recent guide from West Coast Environmental Law. 

If done right, this long-promised oil tanker ban will put an end to Northern Gateway once and for all, and complement existing Indigenous law bans on oil pipelines and tankers. Please show the federal government that you stand behind a permanent, comprehensive and legislated ban on oil tankers in BC’s northern waters.