Enbridge Pipeline Hearings Dispatch #3: "Talking Straight" in Burns Lake, BC

After the Wet’suwet’en drummed in the elders and sang an anti-Enbridge song, the Chief from Lake Babine Nation explained to us the significance of the rattle that was played and the feathers that were presented:

“The Rattle signifies the start of serious business of talking straight and talking in an appropriate manner. Along with the rattle cry is the feather, the plume when it rises, and it rises in a gathering like this; that means whatever that has been spoken about, that whatever that is mentioned needs to be listened to.”

There was a similar appeal to the Panel at all the hearings – to listen to the stories, and to pay attention.

Hereditary Chief Frank Alec ended his story by pulling out of his bag pelts of a beautiful timber wolf and pine marten. “This is who I am...This is where our tradition is. This is our culture.” He lifted a salmon and said, “we cannot live without this scared animal, our fish, the salmon...This is who we are.”

Some citizens wore their feelings on their clothes

For those of us who live in the North, this visual demonstration was powerful, but not shocking. Hunting, trapping and fishing are practiced by First Nations and non-First Nations alike, for sustenance and also commercially. At that moment, the cultural differences between the panel and those in the room became palpable. The Chief stood strong while administrative help was requested to get “visual aid numbers” to somehow document the pelts and salmon as evidence.

Panel Chair Sheila Leggatt had opened the session by saying she had heard a lot about respect throughout the hearings to date. “One of my roles as the Chair of the Panel is to ensure that these hearings unfold in a respectful manner. Being courteous and respectful of one another allows everyone in the room and those joining us through the internet to concentrate on listening to the person who is speaking.”

However, after hearing from several speakers, the Panel cut-short a number of delegates because they were over the time estimated for their presentations. Is this respect? For an oil pipeline and tanker project that Wet’suwet’en Chief Namox says could bring “cultural genocide”, is it respectful as guests on their territory to reduce their stories-- not to mention the time taken to travel and prepare their evidence-- and to limit their participation?

There are so many cultural differences when it comes to Enbridge’s proposed project – whether between First Nations and the panel, Northerners and urbanites, Alberta and BC, Enbridge and the fisheries/tourism industry. But Canada is a nation that prides itself on celebrating and respecting differences. This process should be providing a window to better understand the variety of cultures within Canada, not to silence or cut short heartfelt expression. Let’s hope that we all listen to the stories and pay attention. There’s too much at risk not to.