Article on TransCanada corporation situation
Letters between Chief Ominayak and Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl
Letter from Chief Bernard Ominayak to the Alberta Utilities Commission
LUBICONS WALK OUT OF AUC MEETING
LUBICON WRITTEN STATEMENT TO THE AUC
ACTION ALERT!
TransCanada has decided to go ahead with its application for approval of a jumbo 42" gas pipeline cut right through unceded Lubicon land and despite Lubicon objections. They have refused to answer even the most basic safety questions.
The Lubicon Nation needs help now! TransCanada is taking actions that not only open unceded Lubicon territory to even more ruthless and destructive "development", but enable the huge expansion of toxic tarsands operations and so affect all of us.
TransCanada representatives have expressed their surprise at getting "letters from all over the world" on this. We need more if we are to really make them think twice. Phone or email TransCanada and tell them NO PIPELINE AGREEMENT!
This is an easy five minute action that can make a big difference- not only to the Lubicon Cree but for the rest of the planet as well.
STEPS FOR THE ACTION:
By Phone:
1. Phone TransCanada Pipelines -- toll free 1.800.661.3805 (or in Calgary at 403-920-2000)
Let them know:
1. you are a concerned citizen
2. tell the company you strongly oppose any pipeline through Lubicon territory without Lubicon agreement,
3. tell the company that they must obtain that agreement before approaching the Alberta Utilities Board.
A sample script is below but always remember that a similar message in your own words has a much stronger impact.
Hi, my name is _____ and I am calling to express my strong opposition to TransCanada Pipelines announced plans to seek Alberta Utilities Board (or AUB) approval to build the North Central Corridor pipeline. This pipelines runs through the middle of unceded Lubicon territory and your company does not have Lubicon agreement to use their land in this way. I demand that you seek this agreement before going any further.
Thank you.
By Email:
Compose your own message or simply copy and paste the above message (but write your name on the blank and change 'calling' to 'writing' of course) into your own email browser and send to:
CEO of TransCanada, Harold Kvisle,
c/o his "Associate" Janna Laberge at:
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Please also cc a copy to Stelmach at:
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and the Alberta Utilities Board at:
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AUC WEBSITE WITH CORRESPONDENCE LETTERS (external site)
Thanks!!
Friends of the Lubicon Alberta
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As a chapter of the national organization FOLA has brought FOL back to its roots in Alberta. Please explore the site to learn more about the Lubicon Cree and how you can make a difference by pressuring the government to stop the destitution.
Friends of the Lubicon Alberta is a response to the inaction of the Canadian governments. We are a solidarity group which has formed to pressure the provincial and federal government to negotiate on the three key Lubicon Cree demands:
1. Self-government
2. land claim settlement
3. Restitution
The Lubicon are a Northern Alberta Cree group which was missed by government officials during the signing of Treaty 8. Despite their not signing they were promised a reserve in the 1930s but due to a series of manipulated events it has never been created. Since then oil and timber have become massive extractive industries in the region completely devastating their traditional economy as well as the health and well-being of the community. A report from the early 1983 accused the federal and provincial government of committing genocide as they are allowing and contributing to the physical and cultural destruction of the Lubicon People. The United Nations continues to find Canada in violation of the Political and Social Covenant of the Declaration of Human Rights and Amnesty International has reported on the situation.
