Shell’s bad gas plan for British Columbia’s SACRED HEADWATERS “I find this region to be not only a sanctuary but one of the most beautiful and wild places remaining on the entire planet” -WADE DAVIS, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY’S EXPLORER IN RESIDENCE In Northern British Columbia lies the THE Sacred Headwaters Sacred Headwaters, birthplace of the Nass, Skeena BLOCKADES and Stikine Rivers. It is a vast, mountainous landscape, rich Elders from the Iskut First Nation and in wildlife. And it is under threat by Royal Dutch Shell. Here, Tahltan First Nation, who have not the world’s second largest corporation has plans to develop a been properly consulted, have actively blockaded mining companies trying to massive coalbed methane gas field. access the Sacred Headwaters. There are many reasons Shell’s proposal must be stopped: In 2005, 15 people were arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for » Three of British Columbia’s greatest salmon rivers find their blocking access by Fortune Minerals, who want to develop an open pit coal source at the Sacred Headwaters. The salmon fishery of the mine. Skeena alone is worth $110 million per year. In 2006, Lil Moyer (below), a great- » Coalbed methane development in North America has a bad grandmother from Telegraph Creek was arrested on behalf of the Iskut elders, track record, polluting water supplies and fragmenting remote who were told by police they would landscapes nearly everywhere it has been attempted. lose access to their traditional hunting grounds if arrested. » Developing coalbed methane − a greenhouse gas − is inconsistent with the BC government’s pledge to tackle climate change and reduce emissions. » Elders of the Iskut First Nation, who depend on the Sacred Headwaters for hunting and trapping, oppose the project moving forward. YUKON TERRITORIES Where things stand In 2003, the BC government its drilling program, despite sacred HEADWaters granted Shell Canada a tenure strong opposition from First for coalbed methane in the Nations, residents, and other Sacred Headwaters (Klappan) stakeholders. USA STEWART They drilled three exploration wells (right) without consulting The summer field season PRINCE RUPERT the elders whose families hunt is short, and Shell is under SMITHERS terracePrince Rupert and trap in the area. pressure to begin its work as Kitimat soon as possible. Royal Dutch Shell took full PRINCE GEORGE control of Shell Canada in June The elders have said they will 2007, inheriting the coalbed not let this occur. methane tenure. Please help support the Shell is now trying to elders and residents of these negotiate access to the Sacred watersheds protect one of the Headwaters and continue last great wild places. VANCOUVER Background photo: One of the three coalbed methane wells Shell has already drilled in the heart of the Sacred Headwaters. Usa What can you do? FROM HOME IN YOUR ORGANIZatiON at THE HEADWaters Sign up for the Sacred Have your organization write a The Sacred Headwaters is Headwaters Witness Team and letter to B.C. Premier Gordon remote, but still accessible. help get the word out: Campbell opposing Shell’s Why not visit it yourself and skeenawatershed.com/ Klappan project in the Sacred bear witness? The region getinvolved Headwaters: makes a great adventure Premier Gordon Campbell holiday destination, with E-mail Royal Dutch Shell and PO Box 9041, STN PROV world-class paddling, fishing demand that they terminate GOVT, Victoria, BC V8W 9E1 and hiking. their Sacred Headwaters (Klappan) project: Print this fact sheet and Skeena Watershed [email protected] distribute to your co-workers. Conservation Coalition is helping supporters organize View the YouTube video Send an action alert to your travel logistics to the Sacred “British Columbia: e-mail lists. Direct people to Headwaters. Nigeria North?” located at the action centre located at dogwoodinitiative.org skeenawatershed.com For more information, contact [email protected] SKEENA Watershed DOGWOOD initiatiVE More info CONSERVatiON COALITION dogwoodinitiative.org skeenawatershed.com.