In 2015, Peters First Nation signed an agreement with Kinder Morgan around the Trans Mountain pipeline twinning initiative. Members of the Band are challenging the legality of that agreement by taking the Band to court to have the permissions overturned as part of a breach of fiduciary duty case, including allegations that the Chief and Council received unauthorized payments from Kinder Morgan. We are seeking your support to help us continue this case and have this agreement with Kinder Morgan overturned. All funds from this fundraiser will be going toward paying for the legal costs in our fight. We have made a good start, but we need additional resources.
Some Peters First Nation History
The Peters First Nations sits between a large mountain and the Mighty Fraser River about two hours east of Vancouver. We’re a member of the subgroup Tait First Nations, Tait being the original name of the Fraser River, as well as being members of the Stó:lō Nation. Stó:lō means ‘People of The River,’ and our people have lived along the Fraser River for the last fifteen to twenty thousand years,surviving by fishing, hunting and farming. Our elders tell us we were completely dependent on the land so it’s our responsibility to protect it from harm. Once it goes, we go.
The Stó:lō Nation Bands belongs to the much larger Salish language group, many of whose bands have also undertaken court challenges against the Kinder Morgan Pipeline.
Currently there are officially 52 Band Members on our reserve, however the Band Council has been removing band Members and not allowing the children of Band Members who don’t vote for them to be registered or become Members. 110 people are fighting for their rights to be put back on the Membership list in a separate court case from ours which we whole-heartedly support.
Together we can stop Kinder Morgan’s pipeline
This corporation has spent a lot of money to divide people along its pipeline route and buy support. Supporting our case to overturn our band’s support for the pipeline will reinforce other efforts taking place from the Pacific coast right through BC’s interior to stop this unnecessary project.
Please refer to these news articles for further information:
Two Members of First Nations Band Sue Chief and Council over Kinder Morgan Payments
http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/two-members-of-first-nations-band-sue-chief-and-council-over-kinder-morgan-payments
APTNPipelines: Inside a Kinder Morgan pipeline deal and the fight that followed in a B.C. First Nation
http://aptnnews.ca/2017/03/01/aptnpipelines-inside-a-kinder-morgan-pipeline-deal-and-the-fight-that-followed-in-a-b-c-first-nation/
Peters band sought legal advice to hide bonuses after Kinder Morgan deal
http://aptnnews.ca/2017/10/04/peters-band-sought-legal-advice-to-hide-bonuses-after-kinder-morgan-deal/