Latest news with #Haisla
Calgary Herald
31-07-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
LNG Canada CEO states bold forecast for Canadian liquefied gas exports
Article content LNG Canada's Kitimat natural gas liquefaction plant has barely begun exporting the super-chilled fuel, but the company's CEO, on Wednesday, touted Canada's potential to become a Top 5 global exporter if all the LNG projects on the books in B.C. go ahead. Article content The $18-billion LNG Canada facility shipped its first cargo of LNG June 30 at the end of a seven-year construction phase and CEO Chris Cooper said that, 'In many respects, our timing couldn't be better.' Article content Article content Article content Cooper added that the other projects on the books in B.C., including the Haisla First Nation-backed Cedar LNG under construction just south of LNG Canada, 'will go a long way to help Canada achieve an even more ambitious but attainable goal to become a world energy superpower.' Article content That was a message that fit the moment for B.C. Premier David Eby, who was in Kitimaat to mark LNG Canada's milestone and to offer $200 million in provincial support to the electrification of Cedar LNG's operations. Article content Eby, on Tuesday, signed an agreement with the Haisla to support infrastructure for Cedar LNG, including a new power transmission line to the floating liquefaction plant the facility will use. Article content Article content Article content Wednesday, Eby used the occasion to position B.C. as a more reliable LNG trading partner, in addition to being more environmentally responsible, at a time 'when we are under direct attack from the president of the United States with clear intentions to cause harm to our economy.' Article content Article content Eby said B.C. received a warm welcome for LNG from this province on his recent trade mission to Asia, where the facility's co-owners stated the importance of its reliability and environmental performance to customers on the world market. Article content In his remarks Tuesday, Eby said the U.S. looks like a riskier trading partner at the moment with Trump showing he will make 'arbitrary and extrajudicial decisions on a whim,' announcing them through his own social media platform, Truth Social.
Vancouver Sun
14-06-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
How the Haisla Nation became a model for Indigenous-led economic development
Chief Crystal Smith has been at the forefront of the Haisla Nation's transformation into a driving force in Canada's LNG sector. The First Nation, which is governed from Kitamaat Village in the northern coastal area of British Columbia, believes 'careful and appropriate economic development will bring our people necessary self-sufficiency,' according to their website. They have partnered with natural gas companies and now own a majority stake in Cedar LNG, a floating liquefied natural gas export facility that is being built off the North Coast. It will accept natural gas coming from the main Coastal GasLink pipeline and liquefy approximately 3.3 million tonnes per year for export to Asia. Smith spoke with National Post about what economic self-determination means, how the First Nation balances growth with cultural preservation, and what others can learn from their experience. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Our involvement in economic development started with a desire to no longer sit on the sidelines. Historically, major projects like aluminum smelters, pulp mills, and methanol facilities were built in our territory without our say — or benefit. We watched as others gained generational wealth while our people lived in poverty. Thanks to leadership like Ellis Ross, we began learning everything about Aboriginal rights and title to leverage that knowledge. When I joined leadership in 2013, we focused on identifying acceptable projects. LNG emerged as the most vital opportunity, and our partnership with LNG Canada and Coastal GasLink was the beginning of something meaningful. It evolved into our own project — Cedar LNG — giving us not just participation but ownership. Success is having a strong, independent nation with people who are mentally and spiritually strong — and who have opportunity. Since 2015, revenues from industry have helped us invest in healing from generational trauma and, perhaps most importantly, in revitalizing our culture and language. One of the biggest was our use of Aboriginal rights and title case law. It gave us the legal grounding to protect our rights and assert our place in decision-making. We also built strong partnerships — not just with companies, but internally, by involving our own people with the technical expertise to evaluate projects on our terms. Our people are always thinking seven generations ahead. Environmental concerns were top of mind. We hosted countless information sessions and brought in third-party experts — but what really mattered was having our own Haisla people, like Candice Wilson with a Masters in Environmental Sciences, review and explain the information in a way our members could trust. In many ways. One of our proudest achievements is investing $5 million of our own-source revenue into a cultural and language department — the first of its kind for us. It employs 20 people who document and teach our culture. My twin sister is one of them, and hearing her sing in our language to our grandsons makes this work worth it. We've also built a 23-unit apartment complex for affordable housing, opened our first proper youth centre, and created fully funded elder programs — all without having to follow external government rules that don't reflect our people's needs. One of the most difficult times was during the Coastal GasLink protests in 2019. There was a widespread perception that all Indigenous communities opposed the project. As one of the nations that supported it, we faced heavy criticism. I was personally targeted, and our community was labelled as 'sellouts' or 'colonized' for supporting economic development. That backlash was deeply felt, especially during events like our basketball tournament, where we invite surrounding communities to come out and play. Our members encountered tension from other communities, but it brought us closer together. We leaned on each other, stayed focused on our long-term vision, and reminded ourselves — and others — that this was about our people, our culture, and our future. Communication. We kept information flowing, held open discussions, and ensured people understood this wasn't just about jobs at LNG plants. It was about choice. Revenues that gave us the freedom to support all kinds of aspirations — whether someone wants to be a tradesperson, a teacher, or a yoga instructor. When Indigenous communities are included in economic development, the whole region prospers. What we've done here in Kitimat has created jobs not just for our people, but for everyone. I often get calls from non-Indigenous residents thanking us for the work we've done in LNG. When our people succeed, everyone benefits. Indigenous communities know their land, their people, and their priorities. When we lead, we ensure projects are done responsibly, and with long-term vision. Respect our ability to lead. Too often, policies treat us like we need to be managed. Give us the room to shape our future on our own terms — because we're doing it, and it's working. This is the latest in a National Post series on How Canada Wins. Read earlier instalments here. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Vancouver Sun
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
Snotty Nose Rez Kids look to rebuild recording studio, businesses after devastating east Vancouver fire
Article content Juno-winning Indigenous rap duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids are hoping to rebuild after a fire gutted their east Vancouver recording studio on April 23. Article content The group lost its studio space, as well as the shop and production facility for both the Savage Kids and RBRTH clothing brands, in the Vancouver fire that claimed a number of buildings on the 2200-block of E. Hastings Street. Article content Article content In a post shared to Instagram, the Snotty Nose Rez Kids members stated it was 'with a heavy heart we had to watch while a fire took out our recording studio, our shop housing RBRTH clothing and our shop for Savage Kids, not to mention irreplaceable items like paintings, artwork, custom mask carving and other items we cherish.' Article content The Haisla rappers recorded much of their recent Juno-winning album Red Future at the facility and had said there were plans to produce many other up-and-coming Indigenous talents in the room. Article content Darren 'Young D' Metz and Quinton 'Yung Trybez' Nyce noted they are not used to asking for help, but the GoFundMe campaign started by Brodie Metcalfe, a Toronto-based arts manager who works with the band, quickly took off. Article content Article content Article content Another crowdfunding campaign has also been launched for the North Country Club following the fire. Article content Billed as Vancouver's newest and 'only genuine Honky-Tonk,' the venue was a performance space run by the North Country Collective roots music group. The venue had only been open a few days when it was destroyed by the same fire. Article content Article content Article content Article content
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Elisapie, Snotty Nose Rez Kids early winners at Juno Awards industry gala
VANCOUVER — Inuk singer-songwriter Elisapie and Haisla hip-hop duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids were early winners at the Juno Awards industry ceremony. The Saturday evening soiree saw Elisapie's pop covers collection "Inuktitut" pick up adult alternative album, while Rez Kids' sixth record "Red Future" landed rap album of the year. It's their first Juno win. "I had a good cry walking here," said Darren Metz from Rez Kids in the press room. "When you work so hard towards something for so long, and then finally get it, all the emotions that you endured throughout that journey just come out." Other early winners included Tate McRae whose "Exes" was named single of the year. McRae was absent from the Junos because she was booked to appear at a music festival in Brazil. Elizabeth Lowell Boland won the first songwriter of the year award created for non-performers. She picked up the prize for her work behind the scenes on Beyonce's "Cowboy Carter" album and the Beaches' "Takes One To Know One." The Calgary-raised Boland pushed for splitting the songwriting Juno category into two awards — performer and non-performer — after seeing the only Juno songwriting trophy consistently won by well-known stage performers. "I've been fighting for this award," Boland said. "I chased down people at parties. I was really annoying. I joked that people would run away from me when they saw me at parties, because I wasn't really interested in mingling. I just wanted to change this one little thing. The Junos hardware was handed out during an industry gala event in Vancouver where prizes in more than 40 categories will be awarded, including single and album of the year, as well as a new Juno recognizing South Asian music. Other winners included "No Time" by Interplanetary Criminal and SadBoi which earned dance recording of the year. "This But More" by Priori won electronic album. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 29, 2025. David Friend, The Canadian Press
CBC
30-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Elisapie early winners at Junos industry gala
Inuk singer-songwriter Elisapie and Haisla hip-hop duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids were early winners at the Juno Awards industry ceremony. The Saturday evening soirée saw Elisapie's pop covers collection Inuktitut pick up adult alternative album, while Rez Kids' Red Future landed rap album of the year. The Junos hardware was handed out during an industry gala event in Vancouver, where prizes in more than 40 categories will be awarded, including single and album of the year, as well as a new Juno recognizing South Asian music. Other early winners included No Time by Interplanetary Criminal and SadBoi, which earned dance recording of the year. This But More by Priori won electronic album. Country singer Josh Ross and pop star Tate McRae headed into the weekend as the top contenders with five nominations each. WATCH | 5 reasons to be excited about the 2025 Junos: 5 reasons to be excited about the 2025 Junos 1 day ago Duration 2:23 Vancouver is hosting the 2025 Junos on March 30, turning the Rogers Arena into a celebration of all musical genres — from country ballads to South Asian rap. Canadian crooner Michael Bublé will host, and that's reason enough for senior entertainment reporter Eli Glasner to get excited. Folk singer Sarah Harmer will receive this year's humanitarian award for her advocacy of environmental and human rights issues. The ceremony, which streams live on CBC Music's YouTube page starting at 6 p.m. PT, is a precursor to Sunday's televised CBC broadcast hosted by Michael Bublé.
