Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs have initiated legal proceedings against the Ksi Lisims LNG project, raising serious concerns over the potential threats to salmon populations, climate change impacts, and inadequate consultation with the Gitanyow Huwilp. The application for judicial review was submitted to the BC Supreme Court in Vancouver on October 25.
The Ksi Lisims LNG project proposes a floating LNG export facility at the mouth of the Nass River, with plans to produce 12 million tonnes of LNG annually. It also includes a connection to the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission pipeline, which would transport fracked methane gas from northeastern BC to the export terminal.
The Gitanyow Lax’yip encompasses significant areas of the Nass and Skeena watersheds, where salmon management and harvesting are central to the culture and sustenance of the Gitanyow Nation. The Nass River, vital for salmon spawning, flows through Gitanyow territory before entering Nisga’a land.
Concerns are heightened by the declining salmon populations, particularly Chinook, which have faced significant challenges over the past decade. Gitanyow has been unable to meet its constitutionally protected allocation of Chinook for nearly ten years.
This legal challenge follows a controversial determination by the BC Environmental Assessment Office in March 2024, which stated that the project would not significantly harm Nass River salmon, made before the final environmental review was complete. The Gitanyow assert that the project has advanced without fulfilling the necessary consultation requirements, violating the Crown’s duty to engage with them on issues impacting their rights and territory.
Support for the Gitanyow’s legal action has come from the Gitxsan Lax’yip Management Office, which has been collaborating with Gitanyow on land use planning. They have highlighted the substantial risks the Ksi Lisims LNG project poses to both the Nass River and salmon populations.
The Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs are steadfast in their commitment to protect their rights and the environmental health of their territory. They are calling on the government and the Ksi Lisims LNG project to engage in meaningful dialogue and prioritize the well-being of the land, waters, and salmon.
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