Pipelines & Indigenous CommunitiesIt shouldn't take a genius to conclude that in order for a project to succeed it's best to have IC's around the table than manning protest barriers.
The Brits in colonial India thought they could get away with appointing a few Indians as advisors and consultants to the Viceroy and calling it local representation. Such advisory commitees seldom had any genuine power, which remained exclusively with the Raj.
So it is refreshing to learn how creative Mick Dilger and David Jimmie have been in their collaboration; a partnership of mutual respect and fairness.
Dilger's statement, nonetheless, puzzled me slightly:
"Partnership with First Nations is not a necessity to get major infrastructure built – but community and government support is, Mr. Dilger said."
While not a necessity, isn't partnership the most expedient way to community support?
Would Jimmie, once an arch foe of pipelines, have come around except as a partner?
The next time a Bill McKibben appears in chains, the best counter would not be the Mounties, or a Trudeau or a Chrystia Freeland.
It would be David Jimmie.
Cheers, and hope your'e all enjoying a fabulous Fathers' Day weekend.