The Lummi Nation in Washington state, whose traditional territory includes parts of BC, is challenging the federal government’s approval of a controversial marine terminal expansion in the Lower Mainland. The Nation was not consulted on the project and claims that if the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 initiative goes forward, its fishing rights will be gravely impacted. A judicial review on the approval of Roberts Bank T2 is expected to be filed on the premises of a Supreme Court ruling that implies the Lummi Nation is owed the same rights of consultation as Indigenous groups in Canada. The Lummi feel they had the right to be consulted about the project – and were not. If the Nation in Washington state succeeds, it will clear a path for others south of the border to seek financial compensation from industrial projects on Canadian soil.
