The Wet鈥檚uwet鈥檈n hereditary chiefs have allowed Coastal GasLink temporary access to the company鈥檚 worksite near Houston, B.C., to do maintenance.

鈥淐GL has been granted 6-8 hours access for a work crew to winterize their personnel accommodations and equipment at site 9A, since no personnel will remain at the site during the coming cold snap,鈥� a press release stated.

鈥淥ne time access will be granted to avoid damages to CGL assets and the surrounding environment. CGL has confirmed in writing that they will leave Dark House territory after winterizing Site 9A.鈥�

The company is building a pipeline from northeastern B.C. to LNG Canada鈥檚 export terminal in Kitimat and has signed agreements with all 20 elected First Nation councils along the planned 670-kilometre route, but hereditary chiefs say the project does not have their consent.

A spokesperson for the company said they are grateful for the access.

鈥淥ur focus remains on finding a peaceful and mutually agreeable resolution. Site 9A remains unoccupied and we are working cooperatively with the Unist鈥檕t鈥檈n (Dark House) to access the site to conduct maintenance to prevent damage while it remains unoccupied.

The chiefs said the agreement does not represent a softening of their position.

鈥淭his limited access was offered in good faith as a demonstration of wiggus or respect by us as Din茂 ze鈥� and Ts鈥檃k毛 ze鈥� in our dealings with CGL, despite the lack of consent for CGL鈥檚 property and pre-construction activities on our unceded territory,鈥� a statement read.

鈥淭his arrangement in no way constitutes consultation. We remain steadfast in our position that no pipeline will be built on unceded Wet鈥檚uwet鈥檈n territory.鈥�

- with a file from The Canadian Press

editor@interior-news.com
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