MNBC TMX Submission Final
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Hearing Order OH-001-2014 Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC (Trans Mountain) Application for the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (Project) Written Evidence Name of intervenor: Métis Nation British Columbia Authors: Christopher Gall B.A., M.A., J.D. Candidate, Brodie Douglas B.A., and Richard Borthwick M.Sc., R.P.Bio. Table of contents 1 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 2 2 2. Métis Historical Background in the Project Footprint ....................................................... 3 3 3. The Environment .................................................................................................................. 15 4 3.1 Volume 5A – Executive Summary, Issues from Landowners, pg. iv, pp. 2&3 ............ 16 5 3.2 Volume 5A – Design of Aboriginal Engagement Program, Pg. 3-46 & 3-47 .............. 17 6 3.3 Air Emissions ................................................................................................................ 17 7 3.4 Wetland Loss or Alteration ........................................................................................... 18 8 3.4.1 Wetland Vegetation ......................................................................................... 19 9 3.5 Vegetation ..................................................................................................................... 19 10 3.5.1 Rare Plants ....................................................................................................... 20 11 3.6 Fisheries ........................................................................................................................ 20 12 3.7 Wildlife ......................................................................................................................... 20 13 3.8 Marine Animals ............................................................................................................. 21 14 3.9 Additional Notes ........................................................................................................... 22 15 3.10 Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 22 16 3.11 References ................................................................................................................... 24 17 4. Summary ............................................................................................................................... 24 18 5. Endnotes ................................................................................................................................ 25 Page 1 1 1. Introduction 2 Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) is a non-profit organization that is recognized by both 3 the provincial and federal government and the Métis National Council, as the official governing 4 organization for Métis in the province of British Columbia. MNBC signed the historic “Metis 5 Nation Relationship Accord” with the province of BC in 2006. MNBC represents the interests of 6 nearly 70,000 Metis in British Columbia including more than 11,000 Metis Citizens who are 7 registered with MNBC. There are thirty-five (35) Métis Chartered Communities in British 8 Columbia and MNBC is mandated to develop and enhance opportunities for Métis communities 9 by implementing culturally relevant social and economic programs and services. 10 11 Métis citizens of British Columbia desire sustainable use of their natural resources which 12 includes: managing natural resources to meet present needs without compromising the needs of 13 future generations; providing stewardship of natural resources based on an ethic of respect for 14 the land; balancing economic, productive, spiritual, ecological and traditional values of natural 15 resources to meet the economic, social and cultural needs of the Métis peoples and other 16 aboriginal and non-aboriginal communities; conserving biological diversity, soil, water, fish, 17 wildlife, scenic diversity, and other natural resources; and restoring damaged ecologies. All of 18 these may be significantly impacted by the proposed project. 19 20 Some Métis citizens are opposed to the project and some support it. Concerns and comments 21 were raised about; land use activities, environmental concerns, economic concerns, technical 22 concerns, social concerns, and concerns about the consultation process. 23 24 Land Use Activities occurring in the proposed project area: 25 • Hunting 26 • Trapping 27 • Fishing 28 • Harvesting shellfish 29 • Gathering plants/berries for food 30 • Gathering plants/berries for medicine Page 2 1 • Gathering of firewood 2 • Cultural sites 3 • Spiritual practices 4 • Camping 5 • Hiking 6 • Drinking from water aquifer 7 • End use from hunters/trappers – use of hair, hide, and bones 8 2. Métis Historical Background in the Project Footprint 9 Excerpt from “The Fur Hunters of the Far West,” by Alexander Ross: 10 11 Half-breeds, or as they are more generally styled, brules, from the peculiar colour of 12 their skin...are indolent, thoughtless, and improvident. Licentious in their habits, 13 unbounded in their desires, sullen in their disposition. Proud, restless, and clannish, fond 14 of flattery. They alternately associate with the whites and the Indians, and thus become 15 fatally enlightened. They form a composition of all the bad qualities of both... 16 ...Halfbreed children, instructed in the principles of religion and morality, and taught at 17 an early age some useful trade, would doubtless prove an ornament to society. They are 18 frequently endued with the most lively apprehension, naturally ingenious, hardy and 19 enterprising. They are by far the fittest persons for the Indian countries, the best 20 calculated by nature for going among Indians: they are insinuating and not unfit 21 instruments to mollify their countrymen and teach them the great end of civilization. They 22 are naturally of an acute understanding, are expert horsemen, active woodsmen, noted 23 marksmen, able hunters. They surpass all Indian at the Chase. They are vigorous, brave; 24 and while they posses the shrewdness and sagacity of the whites, they inherit the agility 25 and expertness of the savage...Children from the Indian countries do not generally turn 26 out well in civilized society.i 27 28 Credit for fur trade interest in the Pacific slopes must be given to Sir Alexander McKenzie of the 29 North West Company whose explorations in and subsequent publications of his journey to the 30 Pacific drew the attention of American interests and further prioritized the need for access into Page 3 1 the fur territory of the Pacific far west. The Fur Trade on the western slopes of the Pacific 2 generally begins with the narrative of two Eastern fur enterprises and concludes with one 3 transnational corporation. The Pacific Fur Company, founded by New York financier, J.J. Astor 4 was the first company to successfully commercialize the Pacific and Interior. Whereas 5 Montreal’s North West Company successfully penetrated the Rockies at the Peace River and the 6 Athabasca-Columbia. Under the Hudson’s Bay Company’s governor George Simpson, the 7 infrastructure for successive governments was established and the mechanisms of control were 8 institutionalized. 9 10 These two major fur companies opened the corridors of communication into what would become 11 British Columbia. More often than not the relationship between these two corporate bodies 12 remained amicable yet fiercely competitive. In 1813, the Pacific Fur Company was purchased by 13 the North West Company and the logistics of intercontinental trade were implemented for the 14 first time. Following the purchase, the North West Company geographically controlled what 15 would become British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon, from the McKenzie drainage to the 16 mouth of the Columbia. In 1821, the North West Company and the Hudson’s Bay Company 17 merged; this resulted in the HBC reorganizing existing infrastructure to operate on an 18 economically efficient matter. This was formalized shortly after the amalgamation and again 19 during the 1840s – prior to the Oregon settlement of 1846. Ironically, earlier trade routes gained 20 greater significance and new routes were established to support an all British Route to the 21 Pacific. In 1858, when the gold rush began in earnest along the Fraser, communication corridors 22 existed from Victoria through to Ft. John. 23 24 The above description of events is meant to provide a brief contextual backdrop to historical 25 impact of Métis within the Peace, Athabasca, Pacific, and the Interior. This area was known by 26 Fur Traders as New Caledonia (Northern BC) and the Columbia (Middle of BC south to San 27 Francisco, California.) However, it is not the corporate history that concerns this study, although 28 it must necessarily be taken into account, rather it is the people whose efforts made the corporate 29 endeavors successful that will be regarded. Specifically, it is Métis that will be the focus of our 30 observations and analysis. While this study is meant to provide insight into Métis activity within 31 the Athabasca, Pacific, and Interior regions of British Columbia, it is admittedly a desktop study Page 4 1 based on an initial assessment of available sources. Furthermore, this study will be organized 2 geographically which will allow the author to emphasize the continuity of Métis occupation and 3 mobility. 4 5 The following paragraphs will examine