Wet’suwet’en—A Divided Nation

I have on a number of occasions sat with fingers poised over my keyboard attempting to write something about the Wet’suwet’en/pipeline issue. Too many issues keep cropping up in my mind frustrating my ability to see it all clearly. I am no doubt conflicted in part because the Wet’suwet’en are themselves conflicted. They are a divided nation.

They have two governments: one, the hereditary chiefs, almost unanimously oppose the Coastal GasLink pipeline; the other, the band councils, almost unanimously support it. Families are split over the issue. Hereditary chiefs go east to thank the Mohawks for backing them with railway blockades; a Wet’suwet’en businesswoman suggests blockaders "mind their own business."

The split is understandable. Our governments have failed to bring the hereditary chiefs adequately into the decision-making even though this is the body responsible for use of Wet’suwet’en land. And the Wet’suwet’en are concerned about the environmental effects of the pipeline on their territory, quite aside from the production of ever more fossil fuels.

On the other hand, the pipeline will carry natural gas, the least offensive of the fossil fuels. A leak would do little if any damage to land and water resources. And the Wet’suwet’en would benefit greatly from the line. Apparently Coastal GasLink has been exceedingly generous in its offers of compensation. According to a leaked agreement with the Nak'azdli Whut'en, it is offering general project payments, annual legacy payments over the lifetime of the pipeline, education and training benefits, and contracting and employment opportunities. And in addition there will be benefits from the provincial government.

The project offers the Wet’suwet’en prospects of a more financially secure future for themselves, their children and their community. We must eventually stop burning fossil fuels, but they will nonetheless continue to make up a large part of our energy needs at least in the short term. Why should the Wet’suwet’en not get a piece of the remaining action?

Personally, I am strongly opposed to combusting more fossil fuels, but stopping the pipeline would cost me nothing. It would cost the Wet’suwet’en a great deal. What would it say about me to sacrifice their prosperity on the altar of my beliefs?