The Haisla will not be commenting on the Northern Gateway equity offer until they have had a chance to examine it in detail.
Kitamaat Village councillor Ellis Ross said they had a committee that handled the Enbridge file and, as of last week, they had not yet had an opportunity to get together and formulate a response.
But an in-country First Nations group wasted no time in rejecting it.
Mike Ridsdale, environmental assessment co-ordinator of the Office of the Wet’suwet’en, said, “The Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs have clearly stated that they are opposed to the proposed [pipeline],
“The recent announcement of the benefits package for First Nations by Enbridge has not altered our position at all ... Wet’suwet’en culture and livelihood is not for sale.”
He said the Hereditary Chiefs still stand behind the statement that Enbridge is not allowed in Wet’suwet’en traditional territory.
He noted they received information on the equity package just as soon as it was released to the media.
“Personally I think it’s a ploy by Enbridge to put a little more pressure on showing they have good will and are offering a benefits package to the First Nations, but in reality you look at it in the overall scheme of things, it’s not a real benefit for anybody. It causes detriment to our livelihood.”
He said the equity offer would only put them in debt to Enbridge. “You could just as easily secure equity by simply buying Enbridge stock,” he said. “It’s crazy for Enbridge giving First Nations something and in return is nothing in our favour.”