An Edmonton-based forum of Indigenous governance players say Ottawa’s offer of a collective 15 per cent ownership stake in the Trans Mountain pipeline is “everything we want.” “We want long-term relationships. We want ownership in a project. We want to share the risk. We want to be able to monitor it environmentally so that it’s protected,” Dale Swampy of Samson Cree Nation – one of the communities affected by the pipeline project – told CTV News Edmonton on Tuesday. Swampy is also the CEO of the National Coalition of Chiefs, which advocates for Indigenous ownership and equity in Canada’s natural resources and energy. A federal Department of Finance official told Indigenous groups the equity investment offer would be equally distributed among those participating, which so far could be 129 Indigenous communities. “It’s a long time coming … But we’re glad to see that there’s some movement on the benefit package for the First Nations along the way. I would have preferred that they stuck with the communities along the runway rather than the entire 129, but I think it makes for a bigger and stronger coalition,” Swampy added. While full details are set to be released in late October, the official says Ottawa would provide eligible Indigenous communities with up to $100,000 to support travel, office space and equipment rental through March 2028 for participating in pipeline construction and changes. The federal government bought the existing Trans Mountain pipeline, its expansion project and related assets for $4.5 billion in 2018. It later committed to offering First Nations equity as expansion grew. Most recently, the federal and Alberta governments were pushing for a new major oil pipeline to the West Coast which will follow the existing Trans Mountain pipeline corridor to a deep-water port terminal to be shipped to Asia. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said the expansion location was pitched with First Nations consultations in mind. Swampy said the federal government’s upcoming offer also means employment opportunities First Nations will be able to take advantage of. “It’ll be interesting to see the details of what’s going to happen with it.” Full offer details will be shaped in person with meetings in B.C. and Alberta in late October. With files from The Canadian Press and CTV News Edmonton’s Curtis Goodrum
