Alton Gas water protectors Dale Poulette and Rachael Greenland-Smith did an amazing job filing Freedom of Information requests and identifying numerous serious flaws in the Alton Gas approval processes. Now they have compiled all that info into a report. Read a summary and download the report here.
Last week Mi’kmaw Water Protectors traveled to Antigonish to confront politicians attending the annual meeting of the provincial Liberals about federal efforts to accommodate the Alton Gas Project. Sadie Beaton explains what is going on. Video by Eliza Knockwood included
The Mi’kmaq and allies will converge to St. FX, joining Extinction rebellion, demanding Prime Minister Trudeau withdraw plans to provide “Industry ordered Regulations” on allowing a regulatory exemption to Alton Gas to kill Fish.
“When we checked around, we noticed that even for more minor regulatory changes the department offers longer comment periods. They also offer discussion documents and information sessions before a notice is posted in the Gazette,” says Sadie Beaton, Community Conservation Research Coordinator at the Ecology Action Centre.
Ken Summers takes a close look at the history of Alton Gas and Indigenous consultations. With so many players, the KMKNO, the Assembly of Mi’kmaq Chiefs, Millbrook First Nation, and Sipekne’katik, it’s complicated and things aren’t always what they seem.
With the recent injunction, the forcible removal of the grandmothers from the river site, altogether the total disregard for Treaty rights, and yesterday the mean-spirited destruction of the straw-bale house, it may look as if the water protectors are fighting a losing battle. However, looks are deceiving, and Alton Gas has its own share of problems.
Today, the RCMP moved to enforce an injunction on behalf of Alton Gas (a subsidiary of Alberta-based AltaGas) against Mi’kmaq water protectors at the Shubenacadie River. They arrested Mi’kmaq grandmothers, and have blocked others from accessing the site.
Join us at the legislature to make a public show of solidarity against this clear violation of the treaties of Peace and Friendship.
Young people speaking truth to power, is there anything more uplifting than that?
Most news organizations in Nova Scotia refer to the Alton Gas water protectors as protesters. I suspect many journalists and editors gravitate to the term protesters because it feels like the more neutral term. The problem is, when you take a closer look, you will find it’s not so neutral after all.
Mi’kmaq grandmothers gave notice to Alton Gas and the various levels of government that the energy giant is not welcome on unceded Mi’kmaq territory.