The protest followed the Canadian government's decision on Tuesday to approve an LNG project which is slated to sit across the water from Haida Gwaii off the BC coast. The Council of the Haida Nation has long opposed Petronas' LNG proposal because it would export the fuel on tankers. The Nation fears the increased tanker traffic would put its coast at risk and disrupt the area's delicate marine ecosystem. In 2014, a Russian cargo ship carrying 400 tonnes of bunker fuel nearly ran aground on Haida Gwaii, which only increased those fears. The opposition to the LNG project also stems from other First Nations' opposition to the project on their territories, and because the natural gas is extracted through fracking in northeast BC. Ahead of the visit, Haida elders, matriarchs and community members met to discuss how to both respect their royal visitors and also make it known that they did not accept the federal government's approval of the project. Though the Haidas' "No LNG" t-shirts appeared in photos in international media, the protest itself received little, if any, attention. Follow Hilary on Twitter.It's a sea of Orange Shirt Day shirts and blue No LNG signs as students line up to see the royals tour the Carving House — Andrew Hudson (@andybythebeach)September 30, 2016
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Haidas Wear ‘No LNG’ Shirts While Paddling Will and Kate in Canoe
The royals were treated to a more political welcome than expected when they ventured out into the waters of BC.