A First Nations group is advocating for a new oil pipeline project, which they are calling "Northern Gateway 2.0." This proposal comes despite the controversies surrounding the original Northern Gateway pipeline, which faced significant opposition from many Indigenous communities. Dale Swampy, the chief executive of the National Coalition of Chiefs, believes that this new pipeline could provide economic opportunities for Indigenous groups and help alleviate poverty.

In an interview, Swampy stated, "A northwest tidewater bitumen pipeline is the answer to being able to increase our production or increase our economic activity." He argues that a pipeline to the northern coast of British Columbia would enable First Nations to benefit economically from natural resource development.

The original Northern Gateway project, proposed by Enbridge Inc., aimed to transport oil from Alberta to a terminal in Kitimat, British Columbia. However, the project was effectively halted by the Trudeau government after facing strong opposition from environmental groups and many Indigenous communities. Concerns about potential oil spills and their impact on local ecosystems and communities were significant factors in the opposition.

The Federal Court of Appeal ruled against the pipeline, stating that the previous government under Stephen Harper had not adequately consulted with Indigenous groups. The court noted that while Enbridge had engaged with surrounding Aboriginal groups, the government's approval process was flawed.

Swampy, a member of the Samson Cree Nation, was involved in Enbridge's Indigenous consultation team and worked on negotiating economic benefits for communities along the proposed route. After the Northern Gateway project was canceled, he established the National Coalition of Chiefs to promote resource development as a means to combat poverty on reserves.

He supports Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's plans to transport Alberta oil to the Port of Prince Rupert, which differs from the original Northern Gateway route. Swampy emphasized the need for Indigenous communities to access international markets for their resources. He stated, "We need to get our oil to international markets."

By mid-November, Premier Smith aims to have the federal government include two additional projects in its nation-building agenda: the proposed oil pipeline and a multi-billion-dollar carbon capture network by Pathways Alliance. At a recent event hosted by Swampy's coalition, Smith expressed her desire for Indigenous communities to have equity in major resource projects, stating that her government could partner with these communities to help reduce poverty.

Smith highlighted the importance of Indigenous communities having their own revenue sources, saying, "They don’t have to wait on Ottawa to give them a new transfer, or Ottawa to sign a new agreement. They are empowered to make these changes themselves."

Swampy added that any partnership with the province should extend beyond mere ownership stakes in infrastructure. He argued that Indigenous communities must have representation on the boards overseeing these projects to influence employment and contracting opportunities effectively. "We can’t protect the environment as much as we’d like to unless we have a seat on the board," he said.

He believes that this is a crucial moment for Indigenous communities to assert their rights and seize opportunities in resource development. "This is a prime time, because we’ve got a lot of rights, we’ve got a lot of opportunities, and we’ve got to take advantage of it," Swampy concluded.