A group of Indigenous countries from the US and Canada formed the Treaty Alliance Against Tar Sands Expansion to protest the growth of tar sands projects and the infrastructure that goes along with them.
This alliance, which was founded by countries that view the growth of tar sands as a threat to their territories, oceans, and lifestyles, seeks to ban the pipelines, railroads, and tankers that would allow this expansion.
Their activities are motivated by Indigenous laws and a dedication to defending their lands from the negative social and environmental effects of tar sands development.
Case Study: The Treaty Alliance Against Tar Sands Expansion
The objective of doubling and tripling the production of the already highly polluting and damaging Tar Sands has prompted a lot new projects that aim to build, convert, or expand pipelines as well as introduce or increase oil train and tanker traffic.
These projects pose a real risk of toxic and hazardous oil spills, endangering the territories of many Indigenous Nations, sacred waterways, shores, and communities.
All Indigenous nations in Canada and beyond will suffer immensely as a result of pipeline, rail, and tanker projects, in addition to the devastating damage from oil spills that will be incurred by nations along their path. These projects will undoubtedly contribute to catastrophic climate change by causing the Tar Sands to expand.
If the growth of the Tar Sands is not stopped, countries will be left vulnerable to the consequences of climate change, which have already begun to compromise the way of life and already pose a threat to the individual’s existence.
For Indigenous Nations, the growth of tar sands is a shared threat that calls for a shared solution. In the struggle for environmental justice and climate action, the Treaty Alliance Against Tar Sands Expansion is a model for cross-border cooperation and a powerful example of Indigenous-led opposition to the growth of fossil fuels.
Therefore, under the terms of the current treaty, theses nations hereby unite to formally forbid and pledge to jointly oppose and oppose the use of respective territories and coasts for the expansion of Tar Sands production, including for the transportation of such expanded production via tanker, rail, or pipeline. It acts in accordance with the inherent legal power and duty as sovereign Indigenous Nations to defend individual territories against threats to air, climate, lands, and waterways.
Objective of The Treaty Alliance
The goal of the Treaty Alliance Against Tar Sands Expansion is to make sure that the Keystone XL pipeline “never gets constructed” by collaborating with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in the US and Canada.
The alliance includes 122 First Nations and Tribes in the US and Canada, to oppose the expansion of Alberta tar sands and associated infrastructure, such as pipelines, rail lines, and tankers, Indigenous Nations in the US and Canada have formed the Treaty Alliance Against Tar Sands growth.
As a statement of Indigenous law, the alliance affirms Indigenous nation’s inherent legal power and duty to defend their lands, rivers, air, and climate against the hazards presented by the growth of tar sands.
Key Aspects of the Treaty Alliance
- Indigenous Leadership and Sovereignty: The Treaty Alliance is driven by Indigenous countries claiming their inherent right and obligation to defend their lands, rivers, air, and climate from threats.
- Cross-Border Collaboration: The alliance recognizes that the spread of tar sands and the infrastructure that goes along with it is a collective threat that calls for a coordinated response, bringing Indigenous nations from both Canada and the US together in cross-border collaboration.
- Resistance to Pipelines and Transportation: The alliance focuses on rail and tanker projects, as well as pipelines like Energy East, Line 3, and Keystone XL, that would enable the growth of tar sands extraction.
- Focus on Indigenous Laws and Rights: The Treaty Alliance bases its opposition on Indigenous laws, which uphold the innate right and obligation of Indigenous countries to defend their lands.
- Relevance to Climate Change: The alliance acknowledges that the growth of tar sands fuels climate change, a hazard that jeopardizes Indigenous peoples’ existence and their lives.
- Solidarity with Other Movements: The Treaty Alliance has shown support for various movements, including the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Examples of the Treaty Alliance’s Actions
- Public Declarations and Treaties: The alliance has displayed its resistance and commitment to collective action by making public declaration and signing treaties.
- Protests and Direct Action: To stop and delay tar sands developments, Indigenous people and their supporters have conducted blockades and other direct actions.
- Legal Challenges: The Treaty Alliance advocates for and takes part in legal challenges against the development of tar sands, claiming that these projects infringe upon environmental rules and Indigenous rights.
- Awareness-Building: The alliance seeks to increase understanding of the effects of tar sands development and the significance of Indigenous leadership in environmental protection.
