"Line 9 pipeline risks Grand River oil spills, says activist"

A zombie pipeline cutting through the Haldimand Tract south of Cambridge has land protectors on alert, especially since it crosses the Grand River.

Enbridge Inc., a North American energy giant, plans to bring a 30 year old pipeline back to life in order to reach new energy markets with their Line 9 proposal.

But after what HDI says is a lack of engagement, and what land protector Missy Elliott identifies as an enormous potential for oil spills, people are speaking out.

An Oct. 5th Laurier Brantford event is taking aim at the Line 9 pipeline as Enbridge, with two environmental assessments complete, approaches the National Energy Board for project approval.

This Friday speakers from across Ontario are set to attend "She Speaks: Indigenous Women Speak Out Against the Tar Sands" at Laurier Brantford.

Elliot is just one of five speaking to raise awareness.

"Presently not many of our people know about Line 9 and the huge threat we are facing," she said. "Enbridge is counting on this ignorance hoping we will remain oblivious and silent about this risk to our lands, peoples, and way of life."

With government approval Enbridge will reverse the flow of an oil pipeline, Line 9, to accommodate a growing market for oil in eastern Canada. The length of pipeline being reversed runs from a Sarnia, ON to Westover, ON crossing the Haldimand Tract and Grand River south of Cambridge.

According to the Enbridge web site, the line will have a maximum oil capacity of 200,000 bpd, and is expected to begin operation with a minimum of 50,000 bpd. They plan to bring in oils from Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.

Elliot fears the old pipes are not equipped to carry oil extracted from tar sands and risk a spill which she called "disastrous" for Six Nations. "[Tar sand oil is] thicker, hotter, more acidic and abrasive then conventional crude oil."

Elliot compares the potential Line 9 situation to the 2010 Kalamazoo River oil spill in Michigan resulting from a ruptured Enbridge pipeline. Oil leaked into the river for 17 hours before Enbridge shut down the pipeline, says an Edmonton CBC news article.

No Enbridge consultations could be confirmed with either Six Nations Band Council or Six Nations Confederacy Council and the Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI).

Director of HDI Hazel Hill says the Confederacy Council has been trying to reach out to Enbridge since fall 2011.

"Anything that goes through our water is obviously our concern," she said, adding that they have not heard anything back from Enbridge. "[There has been] no consultation or engagement with Enbridge with respect to Line 9 at all."

There's been a similar lack of contact with Enbridge on Band Council's side as Councillor Wray Maracle confirmed that Enbridge has not approached Six Nations Band Council in any official capacity.

But Enbridge has a different story. Graham White, manager of business communications, said in an email to Turtle Island News that Enbridge is consulting and/or engaging with over a dozen First Nations, including Six Nations. No specific instances of this engagement were offered. "We are eager and happy to meet with any Nations groups or representatives that want to meet with us," he said.

The other four speakers at Friday's event include Crystal Lameman of Beaver Lake Cree First Nation, Vanessa Gray of Aamjiwnaang First Nation, and Suzanne Dhaliwal the co-founder of the UK Tar Sands Network.

Elliot urges people to come out to the event. "I believe our people have the strength to stop this project, and in fact are the only hope for doing so."