For the second time this week, work has been shut down on Enbridge’s Line 9. Today individuals from Six Nations, the Council of Canadians and other allies interrupted an ‘integrity dig’.
Individuals involved asked workers to leave, asserting that the land is Haudenosaunee territory guaranteed under the Haldimand deed, and that Enbridge’s workers were present without consent or consultation.
“Meaningful consultation isn’t just providing information and going ahead without discussion – it’s giving the opportunity to say no and having a willingness to accommodate… We’ve tried pursuing avenues with the NEB, the township and the Grand River Conservation Authority. Our concerns were dismissed. What other choice do we have if we want to protect our land, water and children?”” says Missy Elliot.
“Enbridge left a voice message on a machine with one person. That’s not meaningful – it’s not even consultation.” Emilie Corbeau, there in support of Six Nations points out.
An action camp has been established on site with teach-ins about Six Nations history, indigenous solidarity and skill shares centering on direct action.
Under bill C-45 the section of the Grand River adjacent to the Enbridge work site and pipeline is no longer protected. Approximately half a million people rely on drinking water provided by the Grand River.
“This isn’t just about line 9 – or Northern Gateway, Energy East or Keystone XL. This is about pipelines – all of them.” Daniell Boissineau, of Turtle Clan, asserts. “This is about the tarsands and how destructive they are to expand, extract and transport…This is a continental concern. It’s not just a Six Nations issue or an indigenous issue. We share the responsibility to protect our land and water as human beings.” Elliot states.
As mentioned in the blog post earlier this week, many of the blockaders point to the disastrous spill from Enbridge’s line 6b into the Kalamazoo River in Michigan in 2010, where millions of litres of oil spilled and have so far proven impossible to clean up. They also point out testimony at the NEB that Line 9 has a 90% chance of catastrophic failure in the initial years after its operation is changed.
“Line 9 has at least 12961 structural weaknesses along its length. And yet, Enbridge is only doing a few hundred integrity digs. Enbridge has been denying the problems with the pipe for years, and they still refuse to do the hydrostatic testing requested by the province. Are we really supposed to simply trust Enbridge when they tell us that this time they’ll do it right?”
For those interested in visiting and joining in at the action camp in solidarity, “there will be a few shuttles between Hamilton [Dundurn Plaza near Dundurn Street], Cambridge [Across from Ainslie Terminal] & Six Nations to the site throughout the day.
Follow #shutitdown & #noline9 for updates!
DIRECTIONS
Location
The sig site is just north of Beverly Court/East of Highway 24 in North Dumfries [between Cambridge & Brantford]. You can access the site from the north side of Bethany Court.
*note: we don’t know what parking or police presence will be like in Bethany court. We’ll try to put out updates but take a peek at the maps to know your stuff & decide where you want to park etc!
Biking
The site is accessible by bike and very close to the Hamilton-Brantford-Cambridge rail trail! It’ll be about a 20-30 minute bike ride from South Cambridge.
From Hamilton
Take the 403 West towards London. Get off at highway 24 & follow it north towards Cambridge. Turn Right on Lockie Road, left on Bethany.
From Cambridge
Take Highway 24 south out of Cambridge. Turn left on Lockie Road & left on Bethany.
For more information on Line 9 see:
Line 9 Blockade in Toronto Highlights Imminent Danger
Bronte Creek blockade questions the ‘integrity’ of Enbridge’s Line 9 pipeline
NEB Approves Line 9, Chapters Fight Back
Toronto Star article on unreported Line 9 spills
Thunder Bay Chapter intervenes on Line 9 lawsuit
