When I met Rueben George of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation at the International Indigenous Leadership Gathering in Lillooet in June, I discovered he was the grandson of Chief Dan George. Instant connection. My song, Web of Life, was inspired by the words of Chief Dan. Rueben told me he has taken a year off from his job to protect the waters of the Salish Sea. Why is he doing this?
The good news: After an absence of more than 100 years, a pod of orcas visited Galbraith Bay on Bowen Island last June; and great schools of white-sided dolphins now frequent Howe Sound. For 80 years, toxic copper-laced waters flowed into Howe Sound from the Britannia Mine near Squamish, greatly damaging marine life. But a new treatment plant now captures the metals from mine waters, and health is returning to Howe Sound. Encouraged by evidence that herring were again spawning in Howe Sound, the Squamish Streamkeepers wrapped creosote-loaded pilings with landscape cloth, which greatly expanded the success of spawning herring, a major culinary delicacy for whales and dolphins,
The bad news: A proposal by Kinder Morgan seeks to expand a pipeline from Edmonton to Burnaby to carry bitumen bound for China. Bitumen is the heavy oil extracted from the tar sands. If spilled into water, it doesn't float like oil. It sinks to the bottom, forming a lethal floor. This bitumen would be loaded on giant tankers that would daily negotiate the narrows of Burrard Inlet and the Salish Sea, a delicate ecosystem with powerful and challenging tides.
It's not a case of IF there is a spill but rather WHEN and how big. A spill would contaminate the waters that surround our beautiful island. As well, the pipeline would run through the Rocky Mountains crossing pristine lakes and rivers.
Over 100 First Nations bands whose waters and land would be affected have already said NO to the Kinder Morgan project. That should be enough clout, shouldn't it? If the people most affected by a risky venture cannot be bought, shouldn't that be end of story? Not since the recent passage of the notorious federal omnibus budget bill with its watering down of environmental watchdogs and protections and its concentration of decision-making in the prime minster's office. This project will be decided by the national energy board in Ottawa which has yet to refuse a pipeline proposal. Another rubber stamped project?
Not on our waters! Please come to our Water Is More Precious Than Oil forum and view the film "White Water Black Gold," an international award-winning documentary about David Lavallee's three-year journey across western Canada in search of answers about the activities of the world's thirstiest oil industry: the tar sands a journey from ice fields to oil fields. The filmmaker will be on Bowen for the screening.
Rueben George will also be here to speak passionately about his work to stop the pipeline. The film will be followed by questions and answers with Sven Biggs of Tanker-Free BC to answer technical questions about tankers and Kinder Morgan.
Showtime is on October 4 at 7 p.m. at the Gallery at Artisan Square. Admission by donation. Proceeds go to Tanker-Free BC (www.tankerfreebc.org). All ages welcome. Come and be informed. Say YES to clean water in the Salish Sea. For more information, contact Pauline Le Bel at [email protected] or 947-0907.
Water is more precious than oil.
Pauline Le
