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The protesters called for government to halt construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline near Houston, which is opposed by a group of Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs.

Photo by CHAD HIPOLITO / THE CANADIAN PRESS

Their position is in contrast to at least 20 elected First Nations councils along the pipeline route that have signed agreements with the company. The hereditary chiefs, however, say the band council established by the Indian Act only has authority over reserve lands, not 22,000-square-kilometre traditional territory.

The NDP government supports the project, has issued all the permits and firmly backs the $40-billion LNG Canada terminal in Kitimat which the pipeline is to supply natural gas.

The First Nations LNG Alliance represents the First Nations councils in favour of the pipeline. Alliance chair Crystal Smith — chief councillor of the Haisla Nation, where LNG Canada is being built — acknowledged there was conflict between some Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs and the elected council of the Wet’suwet’en.

However, she said the project had widespread First Nations support and urged “outside interests” to let the Wet’suwet’en deal with the issue.

“We said yes to LNG Canada and Coastal GasLink because the proponents and the provincial government have respected our expertise when it comes to our territory and our culture,” Smith wrote in an oped published Feb. 3, adding the Haisla opposed the failed Northern Gateway bitumen pipeline proposal.