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‘We’re capable of poisoning our own lands, water’: Indigenous pipeline group

An Indigenous-led consortium that’s looking to buy a majority stake in the Trans Mountain Pipeline says the days of outside governments and industry poisoning their lands and waterways are over.

“Canada will soon learn that we’re more than capable of poisoning our own lands and waterways,” said Ernest Kinibeg, the group’s chair.

“We just need that chance.”

The group said that for decades, Indigenous people have been on the receiving end of devastating oil spills. But by ponying up the $6.9-billion needed to buy into the project, they’ll soon become masters of their own oil-spilling destinies.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is praising the proposed deal as a step towards meaningful reconciliation, somehow. While Conservative leader Andrew Scheer is torn between anger at seeing Indigenous people taking charge and glee at seeing people invest in oil and gas.