Oil Spills and First Nations: Exploring Environmental and Land
The Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline project offers a classic
example of the controversy that increasingly attaches itself to
energy infrastructure projects: how to balance economic
development with environmental conservation. Consequently,
discussions surrounding the development of Northern Gateway have
become controversial. Many stakeholders claim the economics
overwhelmingly favour pipeline construction, while others favour
a risk-averse approach towards anything that may potentially
contaminate a pristine area. To further complicate matters,
British Columbia First Nations land claims are not well
established, and it is these lands which the pipeline would
traverse; these are the areas that would be damaged if an oil
spill were to happen. This report addresses many of the
environmental issues, providing insight into Enbridge’s
Environmental Impact Assessment; it also explores the recent
history of aboriginal land claims and the degree to whic