Honouring the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit Persons with Community Gathering

Huu-ay-aht First Nations and legal counsel from Ratcliff & Company were presenting a Huu-ay-aht claim against Canada before the Specific Claims Tribunal last week in Vancouver.

The claim is connected to the timber claim that Huu-ay-aht won in 2016, but addresses the logging roads on and timber hauled through former Numukamis IR1 between the late 1940s and early 1980s.

Chief Councillor Robert Dennis (Emchaiik) and Hereditary Chief Jeff Cook (Yał luu?a) were witnesses at the hearing to provide information on their recollections of the Mainline Road and its impacts, forestry activity, and practices in the Sarita Valley. They also shared their perspectives on whether Canada upheld its obligations to the Nation in respect of the agreements reached for MacMillan Bloedel’s use of the logging roads on Huu-ay-aht’s reserve.

Kwispaa LNG has entered the next phase of project development with the submission of the Project Description to the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office and Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. The Project Description provides a comprehensive overview of Kwispaa LNG and represents the culmination of several years of engagement and planning, the results of which have been integrated into ongoing environmental studies and engineering work.

Unique among Canadian LNG projects, Kwispaa LNG is being developed through a co-management relationship between Steelhead LNG and Huu-ay-aht First Nations. As part of this collaborative approach, the Kwispaa LNG team has been undertaking joint environmental studies and engagement with First Nations and local communities.

“From the beginning, we have believed in developing LNG projects in Canada that emphasize relationships with First Nations and respect their role as stewards of the environment,” said Steelhead LNG CEO Nigel Kuzemko. “The Project Description that we have submitted to regulators reflects our shared commitment with Huu-ay-aht First Nations to provide Canadian natural gas to global markets in a way that generates long-lasting benefits to First Nations, local communities, British Columbia, and Canada.”

“We are incredibly proud of the special co-management relationship that we have formed for Kwispaa LNG,” said Huu-ay-aht Chief Councillor Robert J. Dennis Sr. “We look forward to continuing to work together with Steelhead throughout the environmental assessment process to ensure that this project achieves world-leading outcomes for the environment and our people for generations to come.”

“We at Huu-ay-aht believe Kwispaa LNG represents a new model for economic success on significant projects in Canada,” said Huu-ay-aht Councillor and Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District Chairperson John Jack. “This project will create meaningful revenues, jobs, and business opportunities for Huu-ay-aht Citizens and our neighbouring communities, as well as generate ongoing tax revenue at a local, provincial, and federal level.”

The filing of the Project Description with the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office and Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency will allow them to work with Kwispaa LNG to establish the scope of the environmental assessment of the project.  Extensive First Nations and community engagement to date by Kwispaa LNG has already identified areas of particular interest, such as marine shipping, which will be a focus of environmental studies.

Throughout the environmental assessment process, there will be multiple opportunities for public participation and input. The Kwispaa LNG team will also continue to engage with First Nations, communities, and stakeholders regarding the project, and welcomes feedback and comments.

This important project milestone follows other key milestones achieved by the Kwispaa LNG team, including: a Huu-ay-aht citizen referendum strongly supporting the project and execution of project-life agreements between Steelhead LNG and Huu-ay-aht First Nations in 2017; the shortlisting of three global EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) contractors and launch of a contract tendering process for Kwispaa LNG’s At-Shore LNG^TM production units and onshore facilities in August 2018;  and the successful completion of an innovative contract with Hyundai Heavy Industries for the design and construction of Kwispaa LNG’s At-Shore LNG^TM production unit hulls in September 2018.