Key Takeaways
- The 2016 Nathan E Stewart tugboat disaster, which spilled 110,000 liters of diesel into the sea, is still having ongoing economic and cultural impacts on the Heiltsuk Nation.
- The Canadian government is considering lifting a 53-year-old tanker ban to allow for a pipeline project that would ferry bitumen across Alberta and British Columbia.
- The project is opposed by many, including First Nations, who fear the risk of oil spills and the devastating effects on their communities and the environment.
- The Heiltsuk Nation is still fighting for compensation for the losses they bore, including the destruction of clam gardens they had cultivated for centuries.
- The community is open to industrial development, but only projects for which the risks can be safely managed and the community consents.
Introduction to the Disaster
The distress call went out to the Canadian coast guard station after midnight on an October night in 2016. The Nathan E Stewart, an American-flagged tugboat, had grounded on a reef off the central British Columbia coast. The captain tried to reverse, but the boat pivoted and repeatedly struck the sea bed, taking on water and leaking diesel into the sea. The spill was confirmed by a coast guard helicopter, which saw a large sheen of diesel oil on the water outside of a containment boom. In total, 110,000 liters of diesel were spilled near the entrance to Seaforth Channel, contaminating the primary harvesting sites of the Heiltsuk Nation and causing immediate economic loss that is still ongoing today.
The Impact on the Heiltsuk Nation
The Heiltsuk Nation, whose community of Bella Bella is 10 nautical miles from the grounding, was devastated by the spill. Marilynn Slett, chief councillor of the Heiltsuk Nation, remembers being in her office later that day, getting calls from elders in the community who were crying and very upset. The community is still fighting for compensation for the losses they bore, including the destruction of clam gardens they had cultivated for centuries. The nation’s lengthy and tiring battle has returned to the spotlight as the Canadian government considers lifting a 53-year-old tanker ban to allow for a pipeline project that would ferry bitumen across Alberta and British Columbia.
The Pipeline Project and Tanker Ban
The pipeline project, which would move at least one million barrels of oil per day to Asia, is opposed by many, including First Nations, who fear the risk of oil spills and the devastating effects on their communities and the environment. The tanker ban, which has been in place for 53 years, reflects the inherent danger of shipping oil through a region of tempestuous weather, physical hazards, and deeply revered marine ecosystems. Coastal First Nations, which represent nine nations along the central coast, have declared that the project "would never happen" and that the tanker ban is non-negotiable.
The Risks of Oil Spills
The risks of oil spills are very real, and the consequences can be devastating. The 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster, which spilled millions of gallons of oil into Prince William Sound, is a stark reminder of the dangers of shipping oil through sensitive ecosystems. The Hecate Strait, which large oil tankers would have to traverse, is described as a "malevolent weather factory" where winter storms produce "one of the most diabolically hostile environments that wind, sea, and land are capable of conjuring". The risk of an oil spill is deeply feared by First Nations on the coast, who have seen the devastating effects of even relatively small disasters.
The Response from First Nations and Governments
The response from First Nations and governments has been swift and decisive. Chiefs representing more than 600 First Nations voted unanimously for Ottawa to uphold the oil-tanker ban and to withdraw from the deal between the federal and Alberta governments that could see a pipeline project pushed through. Green party leader Elizabeth May said that there is "no chance on God’s green Earth that an oil tanker will ever move through the inner waters between Haida Gwaii and the north coast of British Columbia". BC’s premier, David Eby, has also expressed his opposition to lifting the tanker ban, saying that it would be a "grave mistake" and that the risk of an oil spill is "really significant in terms of the economic harm".
The Need for Safe and Managed Development
The Heiltsuk Nation is open to industrial development, but only projects for which the risks can be safely managed and the community consents. λáλíyasila Frank Brown, a Heiltsuk hereditary chief, said that his community is willing to work with industry and government to develop projects that are safe and responsible. However, the community will not accept projects that pose a significant risk to their way of life and their environment. The cleanup salvage operations for the Nathan E Stewart spill took 40 days, with harsh weather suspending work for 11 of those. It took 45 vessels and more than 200 people to help with both the initial response and the cleanup. The community is still feeling the effects of the spill, and they will not accept the risk of another disaster.
Conclusion
The 2016 Nathan E Stewart tugboat disaster is a stark reminder of the risks of shipping oil through sensitive ecosystems. The Heiltsuk Nation is still fighting for compensation for the losses they bore, and they will not accept the risk of another disaster. The Canadian government must consider the risks and consequences of lifting the tanker ban and allowing a pipeline project to move forward. The community is open to industrial development, but only projects for which the risks can be safely managed and the community consents. The government must prioritize the safety and well-being of the community and the environment, and ensure that any development is done in a responsible and sustainable way.