As the United States threatens to impose tariffs on Canada as early as Feb. 1, B.C. First Nations are asserting their voice in negotiations, with some leaders abandoning previous positions on controversial energy projects in light of new realities. 

Perhaps the most public articulation of First Nations' demands for a seat at the table came during opening remarks at the two-day First Nations Leaders' Gathering, wrapping up in Vancouver Wednesday. 

The meeting brought together more than 1,000 people representing more than 200 First Nations in B.C. to discuss issues important to First Nations, whose members are 鈥� in the words of Premier David Eby 鈥� "disproportionately" impacted by the "very significant challenges" facing British Columbians at large. Cited issues include housing, the opioid drug crisis, inflation and the state of the economy. 

A new issue has since joined this catalogue: the threats of tariffs from the United States. A trio of senior First Nations leaders used Tuesday's (Jan. 21) start of the gathering to stake a specific claim when it comes to formulating any responses to the U.S. trade threats. 

"There needs to be the understanding that First Nations are owners of the lands here in this province and that there is recognition of our rights and our title to these lands, " Cheryl Casimer, Chief of First Nations Summit, said during a joint press conference with Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs and Terry Teegee, Regional Chief of the B.C. Assembly of First Nations. "Having said that, that is why we need to be full partners sitting at the table with whomever is government."

She added good stewardship of the lands and its resources is critical. "(That)'s why it is critical we sit at the table," she said. However, she added that "we haven't been invited to be part of Team Canada yet." If that does not happen, "we are going to find ourselves in a situation where there could be potential conflict and we don't want that." 

First Ministers involving the Prime Minister as well as provincial and territorial leaders have so far not included any specific representatives from the major organizations representing First Nations in Canada, with the proviso that Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew is a member of the Onigaming First Nation. 

In B.C., Premier David Eby said Tuesday that a task force "gathering to support the province's response" to the tariffs will include a representative from the First Nations Leadership Council. Bridgitte Anderson, head of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, Jonathan Price, CEO of Teck Resources, and Tamara Vrooman, CEO of the Vancouver International Airport, will co-chair the task force, which also includes labour. 

Eby said "it might not be immediately intuitive to people about why Indigenous governments need to have a critical role at the table." But he added "it is important to understand that for major projects looking to accelerate across the province ... it's hard to think of one right now that doesn't involve some level of Indigenous government participation, whether on the ownership side or the permitting process." 

He added that "having that Indigenous voice at the table will help us all move together in the same direction." 

One of the most prominent Indigenous voices in B.C. Tuesday caused surprise when Phillip reversed his opposition to the Enbridge Northern Gateway Project in light of the threats from the United States.

The proposed project is to build a twinned pipeline from Bruderheim, Alta. to Kitimat, B.C.. The 1,150-kilometre-long project would have delivered tar sands diluted bitumen for export, but would have also impacted the ecosystem of the Douglas Channel part of the Great Bear Rainforest. Environmentalists, and some but not all affected First Nations, opposed the project, which eventually failed to get federal approval because it crosses provincial borders. 

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith suggested to reporters Tuesday that construction of the pipeline needs to 鈥渋mmediately start鈥� to diversify the country鈥檚 export markets, in light of Trump鈥檚 threatened tariffs on Canadian exports.

"As most of you, I really fought against the pipeline as well as Kinder Morgan," Phillip said Tuesday. "When I look back on that, that was a different time ... so I would suggest that if we don't build that kind of infrastructure, Trump will, and there will not be any consideration for the environment or the rule of law, along those lines. I think we can do better."

He added that Northern Gateway could be built in a way that "respects the integrity of the land and the waters and the rights of our people and the interests of other British Columbians in regard to lifting our economy" through the relationships that FNLC and government have established over the years. 

That position appeared to put Phillip on the opposite side of Teegee, who also opposed the project when proposed. "We had to go to Northern Gateway," Teegee said with a note of exasperation, when a journalist had raised the question. Teegee, who previously headed the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council, said he is not aware that his Nation's position against the project has changed. This said, he acknowledged that some First Nations supported the project, while others opposed it. 

"So that really speaks to the approval process and the ability for First Nations to make decisions," Teegee said. "I think it's really important that we get that right in terms of Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the ability to create a framework of not only provincial and/or federal governments to approve projects, but First Nations to be part of the decision-making process in terms of the many of these types of linear (pipeline) project and further perhaps even mining and/or forestry."