When First Nations Speak, Who Holds the Ink? The Ksi Lisims Deal

Our salmon stocks have hit historic lows and now our Salish Sea is up for bids on the global market.

On June 9, 2026, Western LNG issued three separate press releases celebrating Lax Kw’alaams Band, Gitxaała Nation, and Metlakatla First Nation as they sign benefit agreements with Ksi Lisims LNG and project agreements with Prince Rupert Gas Transmission. Eva Clayton, President of the Nisga’a Nation said, "Our vision for Ksi Lisims LNG has always been about creating long-term prosperity for all communities across northwest B.C.,” but Western LNG is a Houston-based institution that is committed to lining the pockets of the Epstein class. Including Blackstone Inc. CEO, Stephen A. Schwartzman, who holds a networth of $45 billion. In an attempt to increase economic development, it is uncertain when a return on investment will materialize for title and rights holders especially when Canada’s political compass seems to point to true South.

A headline today from LNG Prime reads, “Ksi Lisims LNG inks deals with First Nations,” prompting a cautionary recollection of past deals made with Nations in search of economic prosperity that have led to oil spills in our Salish Sea and increased CO2 emissions in the air. First Nation leaders are currently raising concerns with the federal and provincial governments over the interpretation of our basic human rights to self-governance, self-determination, and consent. The fresh ink, signed with shaking hands, threatens our living protocols and blurs the lines between the distinct definitions of consent.

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While many of our Nations struggle to put dinner on the table because of financial issues, it is our salmon that continue to return to protect the wellbeing of our people. The last time we disrespected our waters by selfishly taking more than what we need, our leaders who were inked with greed, forced the Salmon People to retreat from our shoreline to find safety. When our people shrank into starvation, we pled with Xals, our Great Transformer, and the Salmon People to return to our waters. In response, the Salmon Chief agreed to send the salmon family back to us humans as long as we promised to always throw every single salmon bone back into the water to give back to the circle of life.

The return of our salmon each year serves as a reminder of our own laws that forbid us from taking more than we need in the name of greed. Our salmon run to connect our territories as a reminder of our responsibility to act in the best interest of all our relations. From the vast interior valleys to the great mouths of the rivers that connect to the power of the Water People in the sea, we are one. When the Salmon People were told by Creator to give up their right to talk so we as humans can speak, we gained the responsibility to protect the salmon. A Water Protector’s version of a vision honours this very responsibility.

Environmental Defence warns in a letter campaign of growing concerns that Canada Infrastructure Bank, Export Development Canada and the Canada Growth Fund are considering directing public funds toward the foreign-owned, foreign-built Ksi Lisims floating LNG terminal. Public financing for LNG would contradict Canada’s climate commitments made in the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan, violate our rights and title, and expose Canadian taxpayers to significant financial risk. International gas buyer interest, as seen recently in Germany, only takes up one third of the project capacity which proves a lack of product market demand.

Ksi Lisims and PRGT may have the name, site, and support of the Modern Treaty Nation of Nisga’a and the three new signatories, but there are many who have stated clear opposition that the signatory Nations, industries, investors, and the Government of Canada must answer to. Haida Nation, for instance has not consented to LNG tanker traffic on shared waters and the Gitxan Hereditary leadership has provided a provincial challenge to the PRGT approval. Stemming from a historical opposition to LNG, the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) has recently passed resolutions that call for “Support for UBCIC Filing Complaints at LNG Financiers,” in resolution 2025-55 and, “Unwavering Support for Oil Tanker Moratorium Act on B.C.’s North Coast,” in resolution 2025-58.

Time and time again, First Nations inherent title and rights get in the way of major project progess in Canada where the only path forward is one that benefits the 1%.

Regardless of Canada’s Liberal Party climate commitments, the smell of Steven Harper’s previously proposed Conservative bill is exuding from bill C-5 into the current political atmosphere. On October 18, 2012, the omnibus bill C-45 was introduced in Parliament which excluded 98% of the country’s lakes and rivers from environmental oversight, leaving a majority of water bodies exposed to seepage from oil and gas pipeline projects and increased resource extraction. In response, Indigenous peoples and allies rallied on the streets, bridges, and malls across North America and Europe. The mass movement that was inspired by our obligation to be Idle No More ruffled the feathers of certain Chiefs at the Assembly of First Nations because of the threat of direct action potentially putting a hinderance on Nation-Nation negotiations with a government that refused to recognize Section 35.

Meaningful recognition of our inherent rights implies our self-governed Nations ability to lead economic development projects that are culturally and environmentally sustainable. Xals transformed this Earth for all to enjoy. As major corporations puppeteer Canada to act in this next scene to transform the economy and “Build Canada Strong,” what real agency do First Nations leaders have?

We must continue the legacy of past leaders by carrying the unshakable belief that we were gifted this land to take care of. We now have a responsibility to stand with generations of First Nations Water Protectors by unifying our call to oppose the threats of public financing for LNG projects and Bill C-5’s fast-tracking of major projects. On June 10, 2026, a UBCIC press release states that the UBCIC, “rejects the federal government's proposed reforms to major project assessment and permitting processes as currently drafted,” and, “opposed legislative processes that bypass meaningful consultation and the obtaining of consent”. These proposed reforms strip the right of all First Nations and Canadians from the chance to say no.

Canadian taxpayer dollars will be wasted on projects that are set to fail. In 2024, the International Energy Agency indicates approximately 70% of new LNG projects will fail to return investment. Blackstone Inc. CEO, Schwartzman can risk an ill-advised investment, but we cannot take the risk when we are faced with dollar devaluation, high inflation rates and a technical, non-technical national recession.

First Nations and settler Canadians alike now face an increase in housing and job insecurity. First Nations families are now forced to choose whether or not they should pay their utility bills or go to a canoe race. Meanwhile, Canada’s fossil fuel industry, which for years has predicted that data centres could drive up domestic demand for gas, now have a perceived rationale to boost local economy with proposed data centres such as the three located on the lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) and Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Nations. We should never have to forfeit our access to culture for the sake of development.

Now is the time to invest in major projects that are environmentally and culturally sustainable. The Nations are faced with the opportunity to alter the true trajectory of self-determination by upholding our natural laws while also protecting the socioeconomic wellbeing of our people.

To not be in opposition with the Ksi Lisims and PRGT expansion is a direct violation of the laws of the water and land.

In Our Creation Story, Xals, the Great Transformer, rolled on the land and their hair became the trees as songs of the eagles, hummingbirds, and owls filled the air. When Xals swam in the Salish Sea, they created the octopus, seal, killer whale, and eel. Once Xals was done creating all that swim, fly, crawl, and walk, they created us as humans. The Great Transformer gifted us with our hands and the ability to create while warning us that, “This place is not yours; it belongs to your great great great grandchildren”.

When you take too much, and return nothing, the people suffer.

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