Bella Bella rally against Enbridge pipeline.
I flew to Bella Bella yesterday to witness and photograph the Joint Review Panel Hearings being held there for Enbridge’s Northern Gateway Pipeline. Sharing my flight were the panel members as well as Heiltsuk’s high ranking Chief Woyala. The community came to the airport to greet their chief and to stand in solidarity against the pipeline. The demonstration was powerful, respectful, and peaceful. The panel members were taken in a van from the airport into town and over to a resort called Shearwater. The rest of us walked into town where there was a feast, speeches, and dancing. The afternoon was a moving display of a unified community. The feast was a celebration of all the local foods that sustain the community which included smoked oolichan (yum!), salmon, rock cod, halibut, and herring roe on hemlock branches. At the end of the speeches we were all shocked to hear an announcement that the Joint Review Panel was cancelling the next day’s hearing because they felt threatened by the community and had feared for their safety when they were at the airport. I got off the plane with the panel members and I was with them until they drove away in the van. At no point was there anything aggressive or threatening about the situation. Shock and disappointment are not strong enough words to describe how the community felt upon hearing the news. Not only was the announcement extremely insulting but months and months of work were put into getting ready for this event.
The tribal council is currently in negotiations with the panel to try to get things moving forward.
While we wait for word, I’ll leave you with some images from the day.
It is disappointing and frankly disgusting that the Joint Review Panel would make a statement about feeling threatened, and cancelling the next day’s meetings. In my opinion, this would appear to have been a pre-planned spin, prepared for the rest of the country, to generate distrust of our British Columbian First Nations, so that the Enbridge pipeline would go ahead regardless of the dangers and damage to ecosystems and lifestyles so distant from Ottawa.
This is awesome thank you for sharing I’m from the Heiltsuk Nation and I’m very proud to say that we are doing what we know is right for our future generations, save our shores, our food resources that is so vital to our way of living.
Contessa
Thank you, Contessa!
WOW you took awesome pictures!!! Beautiful!!
Thank you, Katherine!
Thank you for the beautiful photos. Everything needs to be documented and you have done an outstanding job. Congratulations.
Thank you so much, Kasandra!
Wow thank you for the awesome pictures, astonished at what was on the news, I’am originally from Bella Bella and know that we’re passionate about protecting our diminishing resources but certainly not a hostile community….again thank you for the beautiful story and showing the true story.
Thank you so much, Lilac!
I love these photos, Keri! I can’t wait to see how the rest of the trip goes.
Thanks, Leah! It has been such an incredible week. I look forward to chatting when I get back.
You are beautiful people and I share this beautiful place with you. I will stand beside you in this fight, you are not alone.
Great pics! I love the communities strength & unity but wish I could say I was surprised at the panels ugly tactic. I am proud of the Heiltsuk for their peaceful actions to protect their land and rights.
It has been an incredible week of strength and resilience!
Wow – These images are incredible. Thanks for posting these. Beautiful captures of the day.
Thank you so much, K.W!
Thank you for these photos and your eloquent expression of what happened when the panel arrived. What you described is what I saw on CBC The National, not anything frightening. Just a unified community expressing their truth in a respectful manner. I think the Heltsuk culture is beautiful and the people of the community amazing. Keep on reporting and exposing the truth!!!!!
Thanks so much for the support, Alison!
Keri – Thank you for posting our side of the story and for posting these beautiful pictures of our beautiful people, our beautiful home, and our beautiful food. The Rev. Carmen Lansdowne (United Church of Canada minister and member of the Heiltsuk First Nation)
Thank you so much, Carmen, for welcoming me into the community to witness your strength and solidarity! It has been a very moving and powerful week!
Maybe the Endbridge shirts didnt feel up to trying to pull any wool over the eyes of the Heiltsuk Nation… maybe they were too much for them in spirit and strength of purpose. Fearing for their lives? More likely quailing in their boots they hadnt picked the right words to say, especially with the eyes of the world looking on. Please, First Nations of the land, remain strong in your refusal to give way to this evil empire, and know that we of the coast are with you.
what a incredible sense of a community united…i had been told by and elder that said the creator placed us all where we are meant to be….we were put here to be protectors of the waters…i have alot of respect and honor the teachings that are past down….so it has been along time since we all have stood up together and it is because it was meant to be….the young children that speak now it is so powerful to see and hear them so young already knowing what needs to be done its the creators way that is past on as protectors of the water
I fully support my friends of Heiltsuk. Hi to all.
Thank you for sharing these pictures from my home!! I could not be there (working in Comox) but I heard throughout the day about the developments. So nice to see my community and nation standing strong.
It was a powerful day!
I am proud that my son and daughter-in law are committed with the people of this community to have their voices heard regarding the Northern Gateway Pipeline.
This “Gateway” should never be opened!!! It will allow pollution of the worst kind to stifle the life in the water and on the land. The voices of the people, young and old must be heard. The Committee that came to hear those voices, didn’t even have the common decency to listen!!!
How could they not see the pride of heritage in the faces of the people. Maybe they cancelled because they know the People are right!! There should not be a pipeline!
I agree, Anne! Thanks for adding your voice.
thanks for these images – captions would be nice 🙂
curious that the panel went to stay in Shearwater (?) no accomodations in Waglisla?
What kind of people could call this community dangerous? They should hang their heads in shame!
I agree, Georgie! Thanks for commenting.
Beautiful photos, Keri! Thank you.
Thanks, Nelson!
Thanks so much for being there and for participating and posting!
Thanks, Emily!
Is there a cost to use photos?
Hi Bessie! You are welcome to share the images, I just ask that you give photo credit and a link to my site (www.kericoles.com). Please note that the images can not be used for commercial purposes.
Thank you!
Thank you for the wonderful images and your apparent eye for the real people. I work with a larger group over the entire region and are looking for people who can handle the media and have an eye for the people and the issues..Please contact our group and we will discuss this more. Thank you for your wonderful images – they are being send through our networks now… Blessings to you
Hi. Thanks for getting in touch! I’d love to chat more about it. I’ll send you an email.
You captured the solidarity of the Heiltsuk. Is it okay to use the photos?
Hi Jan! You are welcome to share the images, I just ask that you give photo credit and a link to my site (www.kericoles.com). Please note that the images can not be used for commercial purposes.
Thank you!
Stay strong you have alot of people behind you. We are all in the same canoe we are all feeling what you feel. This is just a glimpse of what is to come. We as a people have waited long enough and the government is still doing the same thing to us as a people….We will not take it anymore…..
I just read through all the comments and you know something – I am in awe of all the truly positive responses. The use of the visual and the beauty and powerfulness of the camera through another human heart. It clearly reflects the dignity and gift of our Creator that we all can express in our lives. Blessings to all and all the incredible work you have done. We have sent this story and all the pictures out across the country – thousands of links – we have a way with this internet medium to step away from main stream media and TELL THE REAL TRUTH! Blessings to everyone for all your wonderful efforts – they did not go unoticed – and the Creator is smiling!
oh and Keri…many people are asking if they can use the images and you have agreed. I feel their question also comes from whether the Chiefs and people photographed would object to these photos being used … I see only positive – and at the same time..respect for traditional culture comes from the Elder and Highest Chiefs permission. Their gentle wisdom always carries a message to go with these photos of their peoples. Blessings – Theoldman’s Journal.
Hi! While you are free to share the images with a link to my site, the photos may not be used for commercial purposes. If someone has a question about use please direct them to me and I would be happy to answer their questions. Thank you so much for your support and enthusiasm.
Thank you for your efforts to document the community and their views. I appreciate having solid information to counter the “spin” the mainstream media is putting out there.
Thankyou for sharing these wonderful images of today. I am so thankful that the event went ahead and for all of you who took part, I thank you for your passion and dedication. I
Thank you,. Leslie!
Thank you so much for showing the world what peaceful resistance and love of land and community looks like.
Awesome photos! Fabulous people! I believe this threat has brought aboriginal and non-aboriginal together better than anything else could. We stand with you – and for you! We will be strong with you – this is a fight of all Canadians!
Thank you so much for the kind words and support, Cheena!
Beautiful. I am deep in admiration. Thank-you.
(I have visited Bella Bella/Waglisla.)
Thanks, Sandy!
These photos portray what brings our community together! Thank you for capturing these moments ~ gary housty, Heiltsuk
Thank you, Gary!
Thank you for posting these wonderful photographs. They tell the real story, unlike the one we heard on the media.
Thanks, Wendy!
I may not live there in my hometown Bella Bella, but it makes me proud to know that they are using their voices to protect our Heiltsuk way of life. To hear and see all those that have united/worked together to stand for what is important to us. Thank you very much Keri Coles for sharing all the wonderful update and beautiful pictures. A proud Heiltsuk womena/mother!
Bella – Beautiful
Hey Kerri 🙂 So where are things at as of now with the hearings? Sorry if Im asking a redundant question. Great photos- heartfelt.