Since Canada is currently trying to sell itself as an "ethical alternative" to Iran's oil, I would just like to remind folks / share some quick information:
More than 50% of Indigenous communities in reserve areas in Canada are at high risk of pipeline spills. When there is a spill, reserves are disproportionately impacted.
The National Energy Board and Supreme Court of Canada has a history of declaring the "public interest and economic interests outweigh Indigenous and treaty rights." Basically, Indigenous peoples don't count enough as "public" to matter.
Pipelines are built without proper consent from the Indigenous Nations they choose to occupy. Keep in mind I say choose, because this is the case even when alternative pipeline routes are suggested that could avoid reserve land. This is a direct, constant, and often violent threat to Indigenous sovereignty.
The MMIW crisis is funded by the oil industry through the creation of worker's "man camps" near reserve land. These "man camps" are nothing but pits of sexual violence and human trafficking of Indigenous women and girls. I am not exaggerating; this is well studied and well documented.
Resources & Sources:
To become an âenergy superpowerâ, Canada wants to bulldoze Indigenous rights (START HERE!)
Indigenous Resistance to Alberta Oil and Gas Development Report
When the environment is destroyed, you're destroyed: Achieving Indigenous led pipeline justice
First Nations Consent Ignored as Canadians Asked to Subsidize LNG Expansion
Oil pipelines and food sovereignty: threat to health equity for Indigenous communities
Is Violence against Indigenous Women in âCanadaâs interestâ? Liquified Natural Gas in B.C., Sexual Violence & Narratives of Terra Nullius
The colonial playbook never ended, Canadaâs pipeline deal proves it
Stand together: Alberta's First Nations and non-Indigenous unite against Big Oil
