Hamilton – On September 5, 2024, the Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI), a delegated institution for the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council (HCCC), met with representatives from Enbridge Inc. to address the failure to engage, consult, and obtain consent for the Hamilton Reinforcement Project and the Line 11 Maintenance Project.
During the meeting, HDI Delegates Brian Doolittle and Aaron Detlor emphasized that both projects infringe on treaty and inherit rights and neither development has been provided consent to proceed work on Haudenosaunee territory.
Under Canadian and Haudenosaunee law, both projects are obligated to obtain formal consent from the HCCC to ensure that treaty rights are respected and that the projects align with Haudenosaunee values. Despite these legal obligations, neither project has secured the necessary consent and continues to proceed regardless of the concerns raised.
Enbridge has demonstrated a pattern of bad faith by refusing to adhere to the processes established by the Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI) to foster a respectful and constructive relationship with treaty partners. Despite being fully aware of these protocols, Enbridge has failed to submit the necessary application to initiate the engagement process. Instead, Enbridge has stalled engagement efforts by insisting that discussions about accommodations require Crown involvement—a stance not shared by the HCCC. Successful negotiations of a similar matter have been formalized by the HCCC without the participation of the Crown on numerous occasions.
During the meeting, delegates further highlighted Enbridge’s dismal track record of obtaining consent. In 2023, HDI extended an invitation to Enbridge to engage in a good faith process by drafting a series of agreements for the Line 11 Maintenance Project. However, the offer to enter into a number of agreements was rejected by Enbridge with no legitimate reason provided. Line 11 continues to operate, generating $2.9 billion in revenue annually, while the Haudenosaunee receive no benefits from the pipeline.
Given Enbridge’s history of inadequate engagement with both the Line 11 Maintenance Project and the Hamilton Reinforcement Project, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council (HCCC) asserts that no further work should proceed on these developments until Enbridge demonstrates good faith in addressing treaty infringements.
The HCCC remains committed to protecting Haudenosaunee rights and interests and requires Enbridge to revisit their approach, engage in meaningful dialogue, and adhere to legal and ethical obligations to ensure that treaty rights are respected and that projects align with Haudenosaunee values.
Until these conditions are met, the HCCC will continue to withhold consent and oppose any further development efforts that disregard our rights and concerns.
