YN
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The pipeline advocates along with the Canadian government have some other interesting political problems with this pipeline, wherever it goes.
quote:
An alliance of Canadian and U.S. aboriginal groups vowed on Wednesday to block three multibillion-dollar oil pipelines that are planned to transport oil from the Alberta tar sands, saying they are prepared to take physical action to stop them.
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But the alliance of 10 native bands - all of whose territories are either near the crude-rich tar sands or on the proposed pipeline routes - complain Ottawa and Washington are ignoring their rights.
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"Indigenous people are coming together with many, many allies across the United States and Canada, and we will not allow these pipelines to cross our territories," said Phil Lane Jr, a hereditary chief from the Ihanktonwan Dakota in the state of South Dakota.
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Some Canadian aboriginal bands briefly blockaded roads and rail lines in January as part of a national protest dubbed "Idle No More" against the poor living conditions that many natives endure.
They say the Canadian government is ignoring treaties signed with native bands in the 18th and 19th centuries. These agreements, they say, give aboriginal groups a major say in what happens on their territories.
"They've been stealing from us for the last 200 years ... now they're going to destroy our land? We're not going to let that happen," said Martin Louie of the Nadleh Whut'en First Nation in British Columbia.
Canadian and U.S. natives vow to block oil pipelines
Due to various treaties between the Indians and the English invaders prior to the revolt by what is now the United States, and a treaty called the Jay Treaty between the United States and the English affirming these treaty obligations, the matter becomes an international one, and has the Indians on both sides of the border enraged. Many Indian tribes and nations lands are on both sides of the border and the Canadian government, in attempting to change the laws regarding Indian lands and the "trust" status they are held under are breaking the treaty with the United States as well, not that the United States is noted as any staunch upholder of indigenous rights.
Various Indian groups have appealed to the United States government and even to the English Queen in hopes of these treaties being upheld, with little success. Meanwhile the Harperite government is attempting to pass legislation further eroding or abolishing certain treaty rights and obligations regarding Indian lands in furtherance of this exploitation.
The Pandora's box the Harper regime has opened will certainly lead to legal challanges in both the United States, Canada, and likely in international courts.
An it has aroused activists on both sides of the border as well.
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RE: Why Any US Pipeline? - 
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