Sarnians4Palestine asks candidates how they would support First Nations consultation on pipeline

Responses to a local group’s election question range from commitments to respect First Nations’ refusal to promises to raise concerns with the province.

Sarnia election candidates offered different approaches to First Nations consultation on the proposed Northern Shield pipeline, from respecting a community’s refusal to relying on provincial and federal processes, in written responses collected by Sarnians4Palestine.

The group asked: “Given that the proposed Northern Shield Pipeline would terminate on local Indigenous land, how will you ensure meaningful consultation with local First Nations?”

Ontario’s announced proposal would connect Hardisty, Alta., with Sarnia along a roughly 3,300-kilometre corridor. The group’s wording should not be read as confirmation of a specific terminal site on Aamjiwnaang reserve land. Chris Pettit challenged that premise in his response, saying the specific pipeline alignment had not been established.

Aamjiwnaang has itself called for involvement from the beginning. In a July 7 public statement, Chief Janelle Nahmabin described Sarnia as being in the heart of the Nation’s territory and said existing environmental pressures must be considered before further infrastructure decisions.

“Decisions about new infrastructure in our territory must be made with Aamjiwnaang at the table from the outset,” the statement said.

Chumko’s response, dated Oct. 14, explicitly addressed what should happen if a First Nation objects.

“If they say no to any part, then it doesn’t move forward,” she wrote. “We go back to the conversation and ensure that the negotiations are fair, respectful, and collaborative.”

Chumko said her children and grandchild are Indigenous and that the issue is close to her heart.

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