Katzie First Nation has ordered the Trans Mountain Corporation to immediately stop all work on its territory.

The First Nation claims the oil pipeline corporation is undertaking work in two of Katzie害羞草研究所檚 unceded village sites, 害羞草研究所� one in Langley and one in Maple Ridge 害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所渨ithout adequate notice, consultation, or opportunity to monitor works in accordance with project conditions.害羞草研究所�

And, this, they say, has put their lands, resources, and cultural sites at 害羞草研究所済rave risk害羞草研究所�.

Katzie First Nation Chief Grace George said that information flows from the company to the Katzie have been 害羞草研究所渨oefully inadequate害羞草研究所� despite an understanding that they act in a forthright and open manner respecting the rights and title of the Indigenous Nation.

In a letter to federal and provincial regulators, and copied to the Trans Mountain Corporation, TMC, Katzie list three reasons for their immediate request.

They say work has started at Yorkson Creek, on the south side of the Fraser River, without adequate notification and consultation with Katzie; Katzie only received notice on Jan. 26 that the corporation leased land in Port Hammond, the former Hammond Mill site, which is intended for use as a laydown yard to support construction activities scheduled to begin sometime this month giving Katzie no time to discuss how the activities will affect their connection to the site; and barriers faced by Katzie that they say contravene Indigenous protocols and laws to, 害羞草研究所減articipating in TMC害羞草研究所檚 Indigenous Monitoring Program despite multiple attempts by Katzie to resolve them.害羞草研究所�

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Katzie have also called on federal and provincial regulators to properly consult with them and enforce project conditions respective of their rights and title. They have accused both levels of government of a lack of support in dealing with their concerns.

害羞草研究所淜atzie has had to make considerable efforts over and above what should be necessary to obtain information about project activities that may affect Katzie rights and title,害羞草研究所� explained Chief George.

Yorkson Creek, she said, is a permanent village site that was never ceded or surrendered by Katzie, and they were forced off the Port Hammond site by the Crown, which Chief George asserts, was then sold to settlers.

害羞草研究所淲hile we have opposed the TMC pipeline from the very beginning - and continue to oppose it 害羞草研究所� we were assured that the conditions placed on the project by federal and provincial regulators would help us protect our sacred Traditional Land Use sites and cultural values,害羞草研究所� said Chief Grace George with the Katzie First Nation. 害羞草研究所淗owever, these conditions have instead demonstrably failed us and are threatening all that is important to our Nation,害羞草研究所� she added.

When contacted by Black Press, Trans Mountain would only say that they are aware of Katzie First Nation害羞草研究所檚 concerns.

害羞草研究所淭rans Mountain has engaged extensively with all Indigenous communities along our Expansion Project corridor. We continue to engage directly with the Katzie First Nation for activities in their territory, including opportunities to participate in monitoring programs. Trans Mountain is not aware of any outstanding compliance issues,害羞草研究所� asking that the statement be attributed to 害羞草研究所淭rans Mountain spokesperson害羞草研究所�.

Katzie want work to stop until certain conditions are met.

They are demanding to have 害羞草研究所渞easonable害羞草研究所� opportunity to review the details to all of he work proposed in their territory. They want to provide feedback and see the feedback incorporated into revised plans. Katzie also want regulators to commit to action to make the oil pipeline corporation compliant with their requests. Katzie monitors want to be present at all work being conducted at each site.

In addition, Katzie are demanding that Trans Mountain do not do any work on a section of the former Hammond Mill site that they say is a sacred burial ground where they have begun talks with the province about an appropriate remediation plan for the area and want their Aboriginal title recognized.

They say that any proposed TMC use of that land is inappropriate and incompatible with their unceded title and contamination remediation efforts.

Chief George noted that if the project continues without Katzie participation and engagement, they will explore all other ways to protect their traditional land use sites and their cultural values.

害羞草研究所淲e expect that our request, and the documented events that led to it, will be reviewed carefully, seriously and in an expedited and collaborative manner with us,害羞草研究所� noted Chief George. 害羞草研究所淲e expect that we will receive a response in a timely manner.害羞草研究所�