A large coalition of B.C. First Nations has formed a united front against all pipeline and oil- tanker expansion through their territories, vowing to fight proposals such as Enbridge Inc.'s Northern Gateway project by all means possible.

The alliance, which covers huge swaths of B.C. from the U.S border to the north, was solidified at a ceremony in Vancouver on Thursday, with several new First Nations leaders adding their names to a declaration representing 130 nations opposed to pipelines, including those of Kinder Morgan.

Well-known First Nations actor Adam Beach, who starred in Clint Eastwood's Flags of Our Father, was also on hand, his presence adding a touch of celebrity to the looming showdown with Enbridge, whose proposal has received support from Ottawa.

"North or south, it makes no difference - First Nations from every corner of B.C. are saying absolutely no tarsands pipelines or tankers in our territories," said Chief Jackie Thomas of the Saik'uz First Nation, a member of the Yinka Dene Alliance, one of the large groups opposing the project.

"I'm standing in front of a bulldozer if that is what I have to do. It is a certainty that there will be a spill that happens and our water is worth more than oil."

The $5.5-billion Northern Gateway project, which is under review, proposes a pipeline from Alberta's oilfields to Kitimat, a distance exceeding 1,000 kilometres through some of B.C.'s most ecologically sensitive habitat.

On completion it would have the capacity to transport an estimated 525,000 barrels of crude oil a day. The majority of the oil would be shipped to Asia via supertankers, which would have to navigate unpredictable passes such as Hecate Strait before reaching open water.

The Yinka Dene Alliance, whose territory covers 25 per cent of the pipeline's route, recently rejected an ownership stake proposed by Calgary-based Enbridge, and Thomas said no amount of money can sway them from their position.

Haisla leader Gerald Amos, who lives six kilometres from "Ground Zero," the proposed terminal site in Kitimat, called on the B.C. government to step up and support the growing opposition, noting it could turn out to be an election issue.

"They should be backing the majority of people in this province who think this is a bad idea," he said.

colivier@theprovince.com

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