RCMP and hereditary chiefs of Wet'suwet'en First Nation reach agreement over pipeline impasse

RCMP have reached a deal with hereditary chiefs of the Wet'suwet'en First Nation to allow a natural gas company access across a bridge that was blocked in their territory.

After several hours of meetings, Chief Na'Moks told reporters Thursday that the deal between the chiefs and RCMP is to ensure the safety of the First Nation's members after 14 arrests were made on Monday when a court injunction was enforced by police.

Chief Na'Moks explained that representatives from Coastal GasLink were invited to the meeting to ensure they were on the same page. He emphasized it was not a deal with the company and the chiefs are still opposed to the project planned on their territory.

“One of the barriers will be taken down, but that does not mean we support this project,” said Chief Na'Moks. “It must be reiterated, we are adamantly opposed to this proposed project and that will never change, but we are here to ensure the safety of our people.”

Coastal GasLink president Rick Gateman added that the company can now willfully do their work because of the meeting.

“I can say that our discussions were extremely respectful and extremely productive. As a result of these discussions we have worked out many of the details that are required for us to have free access across the bridge and beyond,” said Gateman. “We look forward to future dialogue and continuing this relationship.”

According to the agreement, company workers will be allowed to cross the bridge and RCMP will remove a roadblock that was preventing members of the nation from accessing a Unist'ot'en healing camp near the bridge. Members of the First Nation will not face arrest while the Unist'ot'en camp will remain intact.

TransCanada Corp mentioned they signed benefit-sharing agreements with the elected councils of all 20 First Nations along the pipeline route. Its Coastal GasLink pipeline would run through the Wet'suwet'en territory to LNG Canada's $40 billion export terminal in Kitimat, B.C.

With Files from the Canadian Press.