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As opposing protests began outside of the Calgary headquarters of TransCanada Corp. over the contentious Coastal GasLink pipeline, Stephen Buffalo found himself on the front lines of two powerful forces.

The arrest of 14 people from a blockade on the traditional territory of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation in British Columbia has shone an intense spotlight on the natural gas pipeline, the issue of Indigenous consultations and future energy development in Canada.

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Some anti-pipeline protesters marched against the project in the city’s downtown last week, while Buffalo, president of the Indian Resource Council of Canada, joined the pro-development rally.

A member of the Samson Cree Nation, Buffalo backs elected leaders of First Nations along the pipeline route in northern B.C. who have signed on to the development and are counting on the economic benefits it will deliver.

“I wanted to support our communities that were in favour — not only support the industry, but primarily the communities that supported and signed on with that pipeline,” said Buffalo, whose group represents more than 130 First Nations that produce petroleum or have pipelines on their land.