The settlement includes an agreement to participate in a traditional Heiltsuk washing and healing ceremony in the Big House in Bella Bella and at the spill site.
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The Heiltsuk Nation has reached a $12.2 million settlement with the U.S. company whose tug ran aground in 2016 on B.C.’s central coast and spilled 110,000 litres of diesel, closing an important clam fishery and important cultural area.
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The settlement includes an agreement to participate in a traditional Heiltsuk washing and healing ceremony in the Big House in Bella Bella and at the spill site.
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Despite the settlement, the Heiltsuk Nation said the lack of funding and work by Canada to help restore the ecosystem highlights continuing concerns about fuel and tanker spills along the coast as Alberta is calling for another oil pipeline to B.C.’s coast and the removal of an oil tanker ban in northern waters.
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FP West: Energy Insider
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“The other two respondents — Canada and Canada’s ship-source oil pollution fund — are nowhere to be found. Their absence is glaring as the federal government prepares to consider a pipeline and oil tanker proposal from Alberta that would impact the coastal waters and marine resources Indigenous peoples depend on here in B.C.,” said Marilyn Slett, elected chief of the Heiltsuk Nation.
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“We call on Canada and the SOPF to come to the table, to fulfil their responsibility to help restore the ecosystem, and to discuss compensation for our significant and outstanding losses. We will never give up, and we will always protect our territorial coastal waters,” said Slett.
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The Heiltsuk is among Coastal First Nations, also including the Haida, the Gitxaala, Gitg’at and Lax Kw’alams, who are opposed to removing the existing ban on oil tankers in northern B.C.
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A recent agreement between Ottawa and Alberta noted a preference for a northern route, and some industry observers have said a route to Prince Rupert would be best as it has a deepwater harbour that can handle super tankers.
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The Nathan E. Stewart, owned by Kirby Corp., travelling the Inside Passage from Alaska to Vancouver, ran aground and sank on a reef next to Athlone Island in the Seaforth Channel close to Bella Bella in the early hours of Oct. 13, 2016.
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The second mate fell asleep at the wheel while alone on the upper bridge.
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Kirby Corp. admitted full responsibility for the spill.
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The Transportation Safety Board of Canada found the second mate was alone on the bridge — which contravened Canadian maritime law — and was seriously fatigued due to the six-on, six-off roster they were working and the conditions on the bridge at the time of the accident it was warm, dark, with quiet music playing, the seas were calm and the captain’s seat was comfortable.
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