B.C. Minister proposes headwater, Stikine protection

Nathan Cullen, Minister of Parliament for the Skeena-Bulkley Valley of Northwestern B.C. has introduced a member’s bill that he says will put the protection back into what he calls a government-gutted Canadian Navigable Waters Protection Act.

“I have submitted a bill demanding these internationally significant salmon-bearing rivers … be fully protected under the NWPA,” Cullen said. “Our rivers, lakes and ocean are key to who we are as people of the Northwest. They define us culturally and economically.”

According to Cullen, only parts of the Skeena River have been left protected, leaving all other lakes, rivers and streams without protection from major developers.

LINK (via:The Wrangell Sentinel)

Fortune Minerals needs to abandon its mine plan

Click on image to see full size.

The fight to protect the Sacred Headwaters did not end when Shell agreed to abandon their coal bed methane drilling plans. Fortune Minerals has plans for an open pit coal mine on the flanks of Mt. Klappan that now stands in the way of permanent protection for the headwaters.

Shannon McPhail who was on the front lines of the fight against Shell spells out what's at stake.

LINK (via:Terrace Standard)

Cooking Up a Conservation Victory in Canada’s Sacred Headwaters

Shannon McPhail shares what was the recipe for success in the fight against Royal Dutch Shell's plan to drill in the Sacred Headwaters.

It's not often that a small, rural region of communities declares victory against one of the largest corporations on the planet, so when it happens - WE NEED TO CELEBRATE!

LINK (via: The Cleanest Line)

3-minute recipe to kick the world’s largest oil company out of your watershed

via: The Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition

Join the celebration!

Got the Shell Out!!!!!

Just recieved this wonderful news from Shannon at the Skeena Watershend Conservation Coalition.

This morning, after communities and residents stood united for nearly a decade in defence of the birthplace of our rivers, the BC government, Royal Dutch Shell and the Tahltan Central Council announced there will be no coalbed methane drilling in the Sacred headwaters...EVER!

We are so grateful...we can't even put it into words.  There are tears, high-fives, screams of total elation and big hugs happening as I type this.  The whole crew is here yelling at me all the things they want me to put in here so please accept my apologies as I type this in the midst of chaotic, joyful pandemonium.

It's been nearly a DECADE since we first heard about Shell's plans to drill in the Sacred Headwaters and today we heard that coalbed methane will be banned - FOREVER!!

A big shout out to the TAHLTAN LEADERSHIP who fought for this decision and THE ELDERS who stood on the road and blocked the trucks from getting into the headwaters.  They started all of this and we honour them today as the warriors and guardians of our Sacred Headwaters.

A giant thanks to the DOWNSTREAM COMMUNITIES who stood in solidarity with us.  All the mayors and councils, band councils, regional districts and average joes who might have believed this was never possible but still stood and were counted.

And last - but definitely not least - we are grateful to the BC Government and to Shell.  While we will always hold government and industry accountable, we also believe in giving credit when credit is due.  These guys made a good decision and they deserve recognition for it!

Here is the official press release.

A huge celebration is being planned in Terrace on Januray 9th.

Act now to protect BC’s Sacred Headwaters

In 2008, the B.C. government placed a moratorium on fracking plans for coal bed methane in the Sacred Headwaters. This remarkable region is the shared birthplace of three of B.C.’s great wild salmon rivers: the Skeena, Nass and Stikine.

The government moratorium on coalbed methane drilling in B.C.'s Sacred Headwaters is set to expire tomorrow.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT THE SACRED HEADWATERS.