Aboriginal entrepreneur makes case for First Nations involvement in Trans Mountain expansion

At an Indigenous Opportunities conference Friday in Vancouver, Haisla First Nation Chief Councilor Crystal Smith talked about earning “a stake and a say” for her community through a benefits agreement with the $40-billion LNG Canada liquefied natural gas and pipeline project.

While the benefits haven’t eliminated all the Haisla’s problems, Smith said as a community leader, she has gone from managing poverty with few government resources to work with to being able to hold out opportunities for meaningful careers. And not just for the Haisla. Smith said the opportunities from LNG Canada are large enough to be shared, much like First Nations used to do along traditional trade routes such as the coast’s historic oolichan grease trails.