"Someone is going to own the pipeline. Indigenous ownership will put Reconciliation into action."
– Delbert Welpass, Executive Chair and Founder of Project Reconciliation
Tansi Nîtôtemtik,
There are a number of different Indigenous groups who have been making plans to bring a bid forward to buy the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project (TMX). It appears that the federal government is interested in working with Indigenous groups on this. In March 2019, Finance Minister Bill Morneau confirmed that the federal government was working with Indigenous groups regarding their participation in the TMX, noting that the federal government intends the TMX to be moved back into the private sector.[1]
"We've said that we will consider Indigenous equity participation as being an important part of the economic advantage for those groups in the project."
— Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance
Project Reconciliation
"Someone is going to own the pipeline. Indigenous ownership will put Reconciliation into action."
— Delbert Wapass, Executive Chair and Founder of Project Reconciliation
Project Reconciliation, also called Reconciliation Pipeline, “is an Indigenous-led organization that wants to buy a majority interest in the Reconciliation pipeline by raising funds through equity markets at no cost to taxpayers.”[2] This initiative is comprised of Indigenous groups in British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.[3] They are seeking a 51% stake in the TMX and plan to create a “Sovereign Wealth and Reconciliation Fund that will generate long-term revenues for Indigenous communities across the West.”[4] Project Reconciliation is seeking to ensure that “the benefits that flow from resources found on traditional lands will flow directly to Indigenous peoples—to fight poverty, improve infrastructure, and fund clean energy projects that help transition to a low carbon economy.”[5] Project Reconciliation has identified 340 Indigenous communities (205 in British Columbia, 75 in Saskatchewan, and 56 in Alberta) who are able to join this initiative to own a part of the TMX.[6]
For more information on this project, click here.[7]
Iron Coalition
“Having Indigenous ownership in the Trans Mountain pipeline is an opportunity to bring positive and lasting economic change into our communities.”
— Chief Billy Morin, Enoch Cree Nation
The Iron Coalition is an Alberta based group seeking ownership of the TMX with the intention of bringing “economic benefit directly back into their communities.”[8] The Iron Coalition has been mandated by the Assembly of Treaty Chiefs and is offering all First Nations and Metis communities in Alberta a chance to join them and have equal ownership of the TMX.[9] The Iron Coalition states that it is different from similar groups because they are not profiting from TMX ownership.[10]
Learn more about the Iron Coalition here.[11]
The Indian Resource Council
“It’s an opportunity to find ways that some of our communities can get out of poverty.”
— Stephen Buffalo, Indian Resource Council CEO
The Indian Resource Council (IRC), founded in 1987, is comprised of over 130 First Nations across Canada that have, or have the potential to have, oil and gas production on their land.[12] The majority of the members are in western Canada.[13] In January 2019, the IRC met to discuss potential ownership of the TMX.[14] The IRC is hoping to see the TMX as 100% Indigenous owned and operated.[15] This will bring more economic opportunity to the IRC members. Stephen Buffalo, CEO of the IRC, noted that their “end game is not to own a pipeline, it’s Indigenous ownership (of resources).”[16]
Learn more about the Indian Resource Council here.[17]
The Western Indigenous Pipeline Group
“The pipeline is a piece of infrastructure that we want to acquire so we can have a better tomorrow.”
— Chief Michael LeBourdais, Whispering Pines/Clinton Indian Band and Director of the Western Indigenous Pipeline Group
The Western Indigenous Pipeline Group is comprised of 55 First Nations who live along the pipeline route.[18] They are seeking a 51% stake in the TMX.[19] Michael LeBourdais, Chief of the Whispering Pines/Clinton Indian Band and Director of the Western Indigenous Pipeline Group, says that this group is unique because the 55 bands in the group are actually situated along the TMX route.[20] He notes that because the First Nations in the Western Indigenous Pipeline Group are along the pipeline route, they are “the ones that are most familiar with how the pipeline operates.”[21]
As of right now, the Western Indigenous Pipeline Group does not have their own website.
It is promising that the federal government is seriously considering Indigenous ownership of the TMX. The TMX offers Indigenous groups the opportunity to benefit financially from the resources on their land and is a promising step towards reconciliation. Tomorrow, we will be considering the ways that Indigenous ownership of the TMX can benefit Indigenous communities. Going forward, it is important that the different Indigenous groups seeking a stake in the TMX work together to ensure that the largest number of people possible are able to benefit from the initiative. It is also important to note that there are many other Indigenous groups who do not support the TMX. We will also be discussing these perspectives later this week.
Until Next Time,
Team ReconciliAction YEG
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[1] CBC News, “Finance minister says government consulting with Indigenous groups on Trans Mountain pipeline” (26 March 2019) CBC News, online: <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/government-indigenous-groups-trans-mountain-pipeline-1.5071409>.
[2] Reconciliation Pipeline, “About Us” Reconciliation Pipeline, online: <https://www.reconciliationpipeline.ca/about_us>.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Reconciliation Pipeline, “Who Can Own” Reconciliation Pipeline, online: <https://www.reconciliationpipeline.ca/who_can_own>.
[7] Reconciliation Pipeline, “Home” Reconciliation Pipeline, online: <https://www.reconciliationpipeline.ca/>.
[8] Iron Coalition, “About” Iron Coalition, online: <https://ironcoalition.com/> [Iron Coalition].
[9] Ibid.
[10] Iron Coalition, “FAQ” Iron Coalition, online: <https://ironcoalition.com/faq/>.
[11] Iron Coalition, supra note 1.
[12] Indian Resource Council, “About” Indian Resource Council, online: <http://irccanada.ca/about/> [Indian Resource Council].
[13] Ibid.
[14] Tamara Pimentel, “IRC First Nations meet outside Calgary to discuss buying Trans Mountain pipeline project” APTN News, online: <https://aptnnews.ca/2019/01/17/irc-first-nations-meet-outside-calgary-to-discuss-buying-trans-mountain-pipeline-project/>.
[15] Ibid.
[16] Ibid.
[17] Indian Resource Council, supra note 12.
[18] Mark Strashok, “Coalition of Indigenous bands looking to buy 51% stake in TMX pipeline” (14 October 2019) City News, online: <https://edmonton.citynews.ca/2019/10/14/coalition-of-indigenous-bands-looking-to-buy-51-stake-in-tmx-pipeline/>.
[19] Ibid.
[20] Ibid.
[21] Ibid.
