Should Indigenous Peoples Adapt to the Oil and Gas Industry, or Resist It?

I recently heard a First Nation’s Chief in British Columbia say this about the pipeline that crosses his territory. “Whether I support it or not, we have to get on board and reap what benefits we can.” I totally disagree with this because it treats the pipeline as a foregone conclusion. Working within the system to gain from it just reinforces the system that colonized Indigenous people in the first place. The pipeline will accelerate climate change, and it represents a direct threat to the habitat it crosses. Why are you willing to accept this in exchange for a few dollars?I much prefer the philosophy of the Mapuche. The Mapuche are an Indigenous people of southern Chile and Argentina. Their name means land people. They repelled the Spanish by alternating between armed resistance and treaties and held independent territory for fifty years after Chile declared independence in 1810. They do not ask for a seat at the table. They block the machinery. In October 2025, Mapuche communities stopped fracking equipment from crossing their land. The Oil and Gas Industry’s plan was to drain a lake to supply 700 new fracking operations. The Mapuche have taken their case to international bodies, testifying about mining, oil, and gas projects. Women lead as spiritual authorities, teachers, and defenders of territory.Someone in my comments might say this is the problem with First Nations in Canada. They are just obstructionists. What about the people of Albania who have been protesting for months against Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner’s resort because they want to protect their ecosystem? Are they all just obstructionists that should either be bought off or swept aside? Instead of using the term obstructionists, I would prefer to use the term defenders.We should demand our leaders defend us against the harmful practices of the oil and gas industry. I reject the idea that a pipeline is a foregone conclusion. It reminds me of the Star Trek episode about the Borg who said “resistance is futile” as they tried to assimilate the human race. Just like Captain Picard, I will never accept that resistance is futile. In many cases, resistance is a moral duty. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit quietcanines.substack.com/subscribe