Say the Names...

Al Purdy wrote a wonderful poem called "Say the names say the names" which celebrates the names of Canadian rivers - Tulameen, Kleena Kleene, Similkameen, Nahanni, Kluane and on and on in a celebratory song.

Enbridge is planning to build a dual pipeline that will carry bitumen and condensate across hundreds of waterways between Edmonton and Kitimat. Some of these waterways are rivers like the Parsnip (or what's left of it), the Nechako, the Morice and others are smaller creeks whose names are often known only to the folks who live along their banks or who fish in their shadows or who bend to wash or drink as they cross paths.

I want to collect the names of these rivers and creeks, to collect your stories, your poems, your songs so we can collectively give voice to the land living under the line Enbridge plans to draw.

People have also sent me copies of their presentations to the community oral presentations. If you'd like to add your voice, email me (sheila.peters900@gmail.com) your stories and I'll post them for you. The copyright remains with you.

All the best.
Sheila Peters

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Praise be!


Thanks to Friends of Wild Salmon for this wonderful photograph - and congratulations to all of you who worked so hard to prevent the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline from crossing three major watersheds, hundreds of salmon-bearing streams and bringing oil tankers to the northwest coast. The rest of FOWS release is below.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his government has officially rejected the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline. 
While the news was bundled with two other pipeline approvals that pose serious risks for our climate and the ecosystems of B.C.'s South Coast, the project we worked together for so long to stop is now officially dead.
Today, we celebrate the thousands of citizens from all walks of life who, in the face of Canada’s powerful oil lobby, stood up for our salmon, our rivers and our local economies and never backed down.
Rallies. Petitions. Meetings. Forums. Presentations. Reports. Stopping Enbridge's dangerous pipeline took so much effort from so many. Here are some photos of various gatherings over the years.
First Nations leaders throughout the region were remarkable in their solidarity and steadfastness. Municipal Councils and Regional Districts took principled positions in opposition to the project. And many, many ordinary citizens who love this place found their voices and spoke up. Today, we celebrate them all.
If you would like to read the hundreds of incredible statements Northwest citizens made to the Joint Review Panel, you can find them here.
We now await assurance that we won't have to fight projects like this ever again. A legislated, long-term crude oil tanker ban covering both oil ports and the passage of tankers will provide that assurance, and we look forward to the Prime Minister finally delivering on his longstanding promise.
For the salmon, for our rivers, and for our children's future.
- Friends of Wild Salmon