The Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs are in B.C. Supreme Court today, challenging the province’s decision not to consult them on the proposed Ksi Lisims LNG project. The project, planned for the mouth of the Nass River, sits on the migration route of salmon that travel to and from Gitanyow territory.
The B.C. Environmental Assessment Office concluded the project would not impact Gitanyow rights, excluding them from the environmental review process. The Gitanyow argue this decision ignores the risks to salmon populations, particularly the already declining Chinook salmon, which are essential to their culture and way of life.
The court challenge highlights gaps in the environmental review, including missing genetic testing of juvenile salmon, insufficient study of critical habitat, and a lack of a completed offset plan for habitat loss. The Gitanyow are asking the court to suspend the assessment until they are fully consulted.
The Gitanyow have managed their lands through a sustainability plan for over a decade and say they were never notified about the project, despite its potential impact. The Gitga’at First Nation has also raised concerns, calling for dispute resolution over the project’s effect on their rights and traditional activities.
Comments