Indigenous-led truck convoy rolls through northern Alberta to support pro-pipeline movement

Indigenoustruck drivers staged a pro-pipeline rally in the smallcommunity of Lac La Biche, Alta, Sunday as laid-off oil and gas workers struggle to make ends meet.

Sunday's rally, about 200 kilometres northeast of Edmonton, was billed as the first Indigenous rally in support of pipelines.

Organized by the local Region One Aboriginal Business Association, more than 30 trucks made their way around Lac La Biche and through a couple of neighbouring communities, such asPlamondon, Alta.

Family and friends gathered in the Bold Center community hall, many holding signs reading: "I love Canada oil and gas."

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ROABA held the rally to highlight what it considers Alberta's northern Indigenous communities' support for pipelines and opposition toBill C-69, federal legislation that aims to change the way energy projects are approved.

Shawn McDonald, president of ROABA, believes the legislation will delay projects and add to unemployment.

He said theassociation is trying to"show support for Alberta families that are really hurting right now."

"That's our main objective, is just to show our support."

Robert White, from the Kikino Metis Settlement south of Lac la Biche, was one of dozens participating in the convoy. He drives a truck for a company that supplies heavy equipment to the oil patch.

"At times, we can have up to 600 employees," he said. "And right now, we probably got about 60, which is not fair."

He wakes up at 4:30 a.m. every morning to go to work.

And he's one of the lucky ones. As a supervisor, he's had to lay off workers in recent weeks.

"It really affects our community as a whole, like our local businesses."

White didn't want to speculate as to why some First Nations communities, especially in B.C., tend to opposepipelines.

"We have to get to work, that's the bottom line."

The federal government paid $4.5 billion dollars in taxpayer money to buy the Trans Mountain pipeline.

But the pipeline expansion project is stalled after a federal court order cancelled its approval, ruling that the government hadn't consulted enough with Indigenous groups.

Another protest convoy is planned for this week, starting from Red Deer, Alta., and heading to Ottawa with a projected arrival date of Feb. 19.