Trans Mountain Pipeline Approval Could Spark '20 Standing Rocks': Chief | HuffPost

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There could be serious pushback.

Sarah Rieger— The Huffington Post Canada

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If Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline violates First Nation land in B.C., it's going to face serious pushback.

A Quebec Mohawk chief says there will be civil disobedience if the government breaks its promises to First Nations communities.

“If the government insists on ignoring its commitment to First Nations, we’re looking at unrest in many areas of the country, not just in British Columbia," Kanesatake Grand Chief Serge Simon told the Montreal Gazette.

Simon co-founded the Treaty Alliance Against Tar Sands Expansion, a group of 115 First Nations chiefs from across North America.

Grand Chief Serge Simon, Mohawk Council of Kanesatake speaks at a conference in Winnipeg on November 29.

The Alliance is opposed to any pipeline project that would lead to an expansion of Alberta's oilsands, including the newly approved Trans Mountain and Line 3 pipelines, and the high-profile Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that both the Trans Mountain expansion project and Enbridge's Line 3 would be allowed to move forward.

If both pipelines are constructed, they will have the capacity to ship over 1.5 million barrels of crude each day.

Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr said Thursday that the federal government won't require First Nations' consent for the pipelines to go forward.

"I don't care what Jim Carr says that no consent is necessary ... Consent, it's what we are demanding and he will never get our consent, not for something like this ... What if we gave Canada 20 Standing Rocks? I wonder if his position will change then?" Simon said in an interview with APTN.

Carr has warned opponents of the projects to keep their resistance non-violent.

“If people choose for their own reasons not to be peaceful, then the government of Canada – through its defence forces, through its police forces – will ensure that people are kept safe,” Carr said, according to BNN.

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Standing Rock Protest

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe protests oil pipeline(01 of22)

Native Americans march to a sacred burial ground that was disturbed by bulldozers building the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), near the encampment where hundreds of people have gathered to join the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's protest of the oil pipeline slated to cross the nearby Missouri River, September 4, 2016 near Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Protestors were attacked by dogs and sprayed with an eye and respiratory irritant yesterday when they arrived at the site to protest after learning of the bulldozing work. (credit:ROBYN BECK via Getty Images)

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe protests oil pipeline(02 of22)

Ron His Horse Is Thunder, a spokesman for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, explains the tribe's opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), during an interview with AFP at an encampment of Native Americans and their supporters near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, September 4, 2016. (credit:ROBYN BECK via Getty Images)

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe protests oil pipeline(03 of22)

Flags of Native American tribes from across the US and Canada line the entrance to a protest encampment near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, where members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and their supporters have gather to voice their opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), September 3, 2016. (credit:ROBYN BECK via Getty Images)

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe protests oil pipeline(04 of22)

A volunteer moves food supplies in the main kitchen area of the Standing Rock Sioux protest encampment near Cannon Ball, North Dakota where members of the tribe and their supporters have gathered to voice their opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), September 3, 2016. (credit:ROBYN BECK via Getty Images)

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe protests oil pipeline(05 of22)

Dana Yellow Fat of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe welcomes newly arrived supporters at a protest encampment near Cannon Ball, North Dakota where members of the tribe and their supporters have gathered to voice their opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), September 3, 2016. (credit:ROBYN BECK via Getty Images)

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe protests oil pipeline(06 of22)

A Standing Rock Sioux flag flies over a protest encampment near Cannon Ball, North Dakota where members of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and their supporters have gathered to voice their opposition to the Dakota Access oil Pipeline (DAPL), September 3, 2016. (credit:ROBYN BECK via Getty Images)

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe protests oil pipeline(07 of22)

A youth rides a horse along a fenced off area of land for a new oil pipeline, near Cannon Ball, North Dakota where members of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and their supporters have gathered to voice their opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), September 3, 2016.Drive on a state highway along the Missouri River, amid the rolling hills and wide prairies of North Dakota, and you'll come across a makeshift camp of Native Americans -- united by a common cause. Members of some 200 tribes have gathered here, many raising tribal flags that flap in the unforgiving wind. Some have been here since April, their numbers fluctuating between hundreds and thousands, in an unprecedented show of joint resistance to the nearly 1,200 mile-long Dakota Access oil pipeline. (credit:ROBYN BECK via Getty Images)

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe protests oil pipeline(08 of22)

Native Americans ride with raised fists to a sacred burial ground that was disturbed by bulldozers building the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), near the encampment where hundreds of people have gathered to join the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's protest of the oil pipeline slated to cross the nearby Missouri River, September 4, 2016 near Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Protestors were attacked by dogs and sprayed with an eye and respiratory irritant yesterday when they arrived at the site to protest after learning of the bulldozing work. (credit:ROBYN BECK via Getty Images)

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe protests oil pipeline(09 of22)

Evan Butcher of the Chippewa Tribe plays basketball with younger boys September 4, 2016 at the encampment near Cannon Ball, North Dakota where hundreds of people have gathered to join the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's protest of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) that is slated to transport approximately 470,000 barrels of oil per day from the Bakken Oil Field in North Dakota to refineries in Illinois. (credit:ROBYN BECK via Getty Images)

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe protests oil pipeline(10 of22)

Youths hold signs in English and the Najavo language before the start of a march to a burial ground sacred site that was disturbed by bulldozers building the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), near the encampment where hundreds of people have gathered to join the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's protest of the oil pipeline that is slated to cross the Missouri River nearby, September 4, 2016 near Cannon Ball, North Dakota. (credit:ROBYN BECK via Getty Images)

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe protests oil pipeline(11 of22)

Native Americans march to a burial ground sacred site that was disturbed by bulldozers building the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), near the encampment where hundreds of people have gathered to join the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's protest of the oil pipeline that is slated to cross the Missouri River nearby, September 4, 2016 near Cannon Ball, North Dakota. (credit:ROBYN BECK via Getty Images)

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe protests oil pipeline(12 of22)

People sign a teepee with words of support for protestors at an encampment where hundreds of people have gathered to join the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's protest against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipe (DAPL), near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, on September 3, 2016.The Indian reservation in North Dakota is the site of the largest gathering of Native Americans in more than 100 years. Indigenous people from across the US are living in camps on the Standing Rock reservation as they protest the construction of the new oil pipeline which they fear will destroy their water supply. (credit:ROBYN BECK via Getty Images)

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe protests oil pipeline(13 of22)

Boys enjoy a late afternoon horseback ride at an encampment where hundreds of people have gathered to join the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's protest against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipe (DAPL), near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, on September 3, 2016. (credit:ROBYN BECK via Getty Images)

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe protests oil pipeline(14 of22)

Alan Carter, 29, of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in grass dancer garb poses for a photograph at an encampment where hundreds of people have gathered to join the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's protest against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipe (DAPL), near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, on September 3, 2016.The Indian reservation in North Dakota is the site of the largest gathering of Native Americans in more than 100 years. Indigenous people from across the US are living in camps on the Standing Rock reservation as they protest the construction of the new oil pipeline which they fear will destroy their water supply. (credit:ROBYN BECK via Getty Images)

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe protests oil pipeline(15 of22)

Lamar Armstrong of the Mojave Paiute (R) instructs graduate student Tyesha Ignacio of the Najavo Nation (L) how to prepare donated bison meat in the main kitchen area of the Standing Rock Sioux protest encampment near Cannon Ball, North Dakota where members of the tribe and their supporters have gathered to voice their opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), September 3, 2016.Drive on a state highway along the Missouri River, amid the rolling hills and wide prairies of North Dakota, and you'll come across a makeshift camp of Native Americans -- united by a common cause. Members of some 200 tribes have gathered here, many raising tribal flags that flap in the unforgiving wind. Some have been here since April, their numbers fluctuating between hundreds and thousands, in an unprecedented show of joint resistance to the nearly 1,200 mile-long Dakota Access oil pipeline. (credit:ROBYN BECK via Getty Images)

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe protests oil pipeline(16 of22)

Nantinki Young of the Rosebud Sioux tribe, the head cook supervising all the kitchens poses for a photograph at an encampment where hundreds of people have gathered to join the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's protest against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipe (DAPL), near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, on September 3, 2016. (credit:ROBYN BECK via Getty Images)

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe protests oil pipeline(17 of22)

People gather at an encampment by the Missouri River, where hundreds of people have gathered to join the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's protest against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipe (DAPL), near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, on September 3, 2016. (credit:ROBYN BECK via Getty Images)

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe protests oil pipeline(18 of22)

A view of a protest encampment near Cannon Ball, North Dakota where members of some 200 Native American tribes from across the US and Canada have gathered to lend their support to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL, September 3, 2016. (credit:ROBYN BECK via Getty Images)

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe protests oil pipeline(19 of22)

A protestor leans on a fence blocking access to a construction site for a new oil pipeline near an encampment where hundreds of people have gathered to join the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's protest against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipe (DAPL), near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, on September 3, 2016. (credit:ROBYN BECK via Getty Images)

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe protests oil pipeline(20 of22)

Women and girls from the Colorado River Indian tribes dance after arriving at a protest encampment near Cannon Ball, North Dakota to lend their support to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) September 3, 2016. (credit:ROBYN BECK via Getty Images)

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe protests oil pipeline(21 of22)

Members of Colorado River Indian tribes arrive in a procession at a protest encampment near Cannon Ball, North Dakota to lend their support to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) September 3, 2016. (credit:ROBYN BECK via Getty Images)

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe protests oil pipeline(22 of22)

Protestors march to a construction site for the Dakota Access Pipeline to express their opposition to the pipeline, at an encampment where hundreds of people have gathered to join the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's to protest against the construction of the new oil pipeline, near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, on September 3, 2016. (credit:ROBYN BECK via Getty Images)

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