(Vancouver, BC) The Cowichan Valley Métis Nation (CVMN) is one of approximately thirty five identified Métis community organizations in BC. CVMN is located in Duncan, BC and represents several hundred Métis people as part of the Vancouver Island Region that works with the Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC). The BC Métis Federation works with a number of other Métis communities given the growing issues facing the MNBC. The Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines Project is another divisive project being support by eleven MNBC board members without a real mandate from Métis people in BC and this is another display that reinforces a lack of support from grassroots Métis people and community leaders.
BC Métis Federation President Henry stated, “I want to congratulate CVMN leadership in making this decision. We all know MNBC is preparing to celebrate a new partnership signing Friday night with the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines Project and has called Métis leaders together to be in the room for a photo op.”
President Henry added, “Imagine MNBC signing to support the Enbridge project with no real base of support from Métis people. How can Enbridge representatives think this is appropriate? Meanwhile the Yinka Dene Alliance is protesting at the Enbridge Corporation Annual General Meeting in Toronto today.”
President Henry concluded, “CVMN and several other Métis communities are voicing their concerns and positions loud and clear against the Enbridge project. MNBC and Enbridge will be doing their best this Friday and Saturday to convince those few who attend that if you want some money and jobs, you have to sign in support of the controversial project. The truth is that the Enbridge equity offer has a deadline of May 31st, 2012 and make no mistake, this is what is driving this push by MNBC and Enbridge representatives. All of this in spite of the fact Métis people have not been properly consulted. I urge CVMN and all Métis communities to send their resolutions and letters of opposition directly to the Joint Review Panel for the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines Project. If you would like to send your letter by mail or fax, please send it to the following address:
Secretary to the Joint Review Panel
Enbridge Northern Gateway Project
444 Seventh Ave SW
Calgary, AB T2P 0X8
Fax: 403-292-5503; Toll free Fax: 1-877-288-8803”
I hope other Métis communities consider a similar resolution and most importantly they should not attend the MNBC/Enbridge meeting this weekend. This is an extremely important issue and Métis community leaders must carefully weigh what message you are sending if MNBC signs an agreement with Enbridge in support of the Northern Gateway Pipelines Project without support of your members. I expect MNBC will try to fill the room with their personal friends but we know the grassroots Métis people do not support this project. Good work CVMN.”
Media Inquiries:
Keith Henry
President
BC Métis Federation
#300-3665 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC V5R 5W2
Office 1-604-638-7220
Cell 1-778-388-5013
Email k.henry@bcmetis.com
You can now follow BC Métis Federation President Keith Henry on twitter @keithhenryMetis
Downloads:
[ilink url=”/wp-content/uploads/BCMF-Press-Release-May-9th-2012-CVMN-Resolution.pdf” style=”download”]Click here to download this press release in PDF format.[/ilink]
[ilink url=”https://bcmetis.com/wp-content/uploads/CVMN-Enbridge_Resolution_May-2012.jpg” style=”download”]Click here to download the Cowichan Valley Métis Nation Enbridge Northern Gateway Resolution.[/ilink]
