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Bella Coola takes part in B.C. wide Defend Our Coast rally

Bella Coola takes part in B.C. wide Defend Our Coast rally
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Bella Coola took part in the Defend Our Coast rally on October 24.

Around 100 residents came out to participate in the BC-wide ‘Defend Our Coast’ rally held on October 24. The rally was held following the massive demonstration October 22 on the lawn of the legislature in Victoria, which saw several thousand people come out to express their opposition to Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline and tanker project.

Enbridge’s Northern Gateway Project, which is wrapping up final hearings across the province, has garnered sharp criticism from across the country and sparked a nasty quarrel between the premiers of B.C. and Alberta.

Enbridge is proposing a 1, 200 kilometre twin-pipeline system to carry tar sands oil from Edmonton to Kitimat. Supertankers would then be employed to carry the oil to markets in Asia.

Defend Our Coast rallies were held across the province following the Victoria rally. 76 communities participated with over 7000 people turning out.

In Bella Coola, the group assembled at the Co-op parking lot and walked to the wharf bearing signs. Speeches on the topic were given by hereditary chiefs Deric Snow, Rhonda Sandoval, Billy Andy, Sam Nelson, and Noel Pootlass.