Energy East: Kanesatake grand chief vows to pull out stops to fight pipeline

The Grand Chief of Kanesatake, the Mohawk community hugging the northshore of Lake of Two Mountains, says theEnergy East pipeline could becatastrophic for his peopleand moving forward without the community's consentviolates aboriginal and treaty rights under both Canadian and international laws.

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SergeSimon was responding to recent news thatthe pipeline's proponent, TransCanada Inc.,has applied to the province for permits for seismic exploration in the Ottawa River as a precursor to the proposed construction of Energy East.

The Lake of Two Mountains is part of the Ottawa River delta, where the river widens to meet the St. Lawrence River.Kanesatake, a patchwork of Mohawk lands that intersect with the municipality of Oka, is about 60 kilometres due west of Montreal.

In an interview with CBC News, Simon said an oil spill around the Lake of Two Mountains would be disastrousfor drinking water, and theproposed route cuts through traditional hunting and fishing grounds.

"We still fish for perch, walleye, bass, catfish and sturgeon," he said.

"These are like regular staples for people around here."

Strongly worded message to Couillard

On March 9, Simon sent a strongly worded seven-page email to Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard, deriding the Quebec government for failing to consult with his community and with other First Nations in Quebec before issuing permits to TransCanada for other rivers, including the St. Lawrence.

"While we insist on both Quebec and Canada respecting their duty to consult Kanesatake as per the Constitutional duties they owe us, Kanesatake will not be bound by any authorization given by either Quebec or Canada in respect of the Pipeline," Simon wrote.

"Our Council has the right, as well as the duty according to our laws and customs, to say stop this dangerous project."

1 million barrels a day

The $15.7-billion Energy East pipeline would carry a millionbarrels a day of western crude as far east as Saint Johnto servedomestic refineries and international customers.

The proposal has run into major opposition in Quebec, withthe mayors of Montrealand dozens ofsurrounding municipalities saying the project'senvironmentalrisks outweigh its economic benefits.

Simon saidthe standing treaties with hisFirst Nations communityare valid contracts under international law, andhe'swilling to take the government to international court,if need be.

"If they want to come in here and force a surrender on me, that is illegal under international law," he said.

Economic benefits: TransCanada

In an emailed statement, TransCanada spokesmanTim Duboycesaid dialogue with indigenous communities has been ongoing since the project started in 2013, and51 Community Engagement and Funding Agreements (CEFAs) have been signed withFirst Nationsand Mtiscommunities.

The statement also stresses the economic benefits to the communities affected.

"At this point in time, we are not going todiscuss any specific cases, since we remain relatively early in the
evaluation and assessment process," Duboyce said in the statement.

Simon said he has been meeting with chiefs from across the country, and plans to create an alliance against tar sands oil and the pipeline are underway.

He said any jobs afforded by the project would be short term, and the threat to wildlife and the climaterepresent too great a cost to allow the pipeline to proceed.

"They could take their funding and shove it," he said.

"In the end, we're accepting blood money. And we're never going to accept it. I would rather starve before I took one dime from these guys."