Understanding Ts’msyen culture to help find solution, says Carney

Two North Coast First Nations have launched legal challenges to the Ksi Lisims LNG project, one of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s touted “nation-building projects.”

The Lax Kw’alaams Band and Metlakatla First Nation have both filed independent judicial reviews of the environmental assessment that was conducted before the approval of the Ksi Lisims LNG project. Ksi Lisims LNG is partly owned by the Nisga’a Nation, and Carney said it would help build a strong economy for nearby First Nations and the country.

“We are always building in partnership with Indigenous peoples to ensure meaningful Indigenous ownership and major economic benefits while promoting the conservation of our natural heritage for future generations. This approach reinforces the impacts of our nation building strategies just like those that came before us that these impacts will be generational.”

The LNG project site is located northeast of Lax Kw’alaams and will need a pipeline to be built through Lax Kw’alaams’ treaty territory. Lax Kw’alaams is concerned that the project violates their rights and lacks their consent, citing their 2022–23 report to members.

“Lax Kw’alaams opposes the Ksi Lisims LNG project on Pearce Island. The Nisga’a project is proposed to be in our Lax Kw’alaams lands and waters, without our consent. The project at Pearce Island will be off-land, primarily in ocean waters, and we are raising concerns about title, cumulative effects and ocean impacts from the project, including shipping.”

Carney was asked what steps the government is taking and he responded by saying they are in communication with those opposing the project and will work to find a solution.

“The proponents of those projects and their engagement is with the province of British Columbia. Obviously it’s with  the federal government as well to understand those perspectives. If there’s any accommodations that can be made for those perspectives this creates a process that allows that allows that to happen,” said Carney.