Media Advisory:
For immediate release
The Treaty Truck house resistance team is a collective of First Nation, local residents and allies who have spent the past three years at an active Mi’kmaq fishing camp and water protection base at Treaty Truck House along the Shubenacadie River and at the site of proposed Alton Gas Project’s Brine Waste facility.
The team is in direct opposition to Alton Gas proposed process, which would require dumping millions of liters of salt brine into the river and directly on the fishing grounds of the Mi’kmaq and infringe on Mi’kmaq Treaty Rights.
The Resistance team is concerned by Alton Gas’ recent notice of intent to enter camp and resume work without any meaningful community and public consultation.
The local Mi’kmaq community of Sipeknekatik had indicated an intent to accommodate Mi’kmaq treaty rights holders by holding a referendum, which is consistent with the treaty rights, constitutional rights and the UN declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples. However, there has been no official notice of community consultation process on Alton gas yet.
Elder Dorene Bernard feels “The Mi’kmaq community has been very patient waiting for a fair process for community consultation and to allow us the right to vote on whether we are prepared to risk our water and food sources and Treaty Rights for cheaper gas to export”. “We were shocked by Alton’s actions and notice to enter camp, as we are waiting for the fair process for rights holders to have a say”.
Treaty Truckhouse resistance team has noticed increased police presence and fear aggressive tactics. The truck house is ramping up for 24/7 surveillance and occupation.
Rebecca Cope- Moore, Mi’kmaq activist, feels “The larger concern is the NS McNeil government seems to be preparing for a “fracking friendly” Nova Scotia. The Alton Gas storage would fit well within the “Fracking Atlas” Nova Scotia Onshore Petroleum Atlas, recently released for public input, says the Mi’kmaq activist.
“The larger concern is that the current Liberal Government seems to be aiming to lift the moratorium on fracking in NS. The Alton gas project seems to provide the necessary infrastructure in NS to store fracked gas”.
