Washington State First Nations Denounce Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion

US and Canadian First Nations leaders address Wednesday the National Energy Board (NEB) to explain why they believe the proposed Trans Mountain pipeline expansion will hurt their culture, their rights treaties and their way of life.

The hearings are part of the federal government's latest round of consultations after the Federal Court of Appeal overturned the approval of the $ 9.3-billion pipeline project.

"Our way of life is compromised," said Lisa Wilson, Lummi Nation member.

"We are here to do everything in our power to save our family, the killer whale. Save our people, not just our people, but also all animals and all people who depend on a healthy ecosystem.

"We came here to tell our stories about the impact of the Kinder Morgan pipeline on our way of life."

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BEFORE CHRIST. Aboriginal Leaders Consider Talking Trans Mountain Pipeline at Kinder Morgan AGM

The NEB heard this week from people in Victoria talk about the pipeline project.

The Federal Court ruled that ONE had not properly consulted with First Nations nor considered the effects of an increase in tanker traffic during the initial approval of pipeline twinning .

Four American coastal Salish tribes – the Swinomish Indian tribal community, the Tulalip tribes, the Lummi nation and the Suquamish tribe – traveled to the British Columbia capital to denounce the project.

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BEFORE CHRIST. First Nation says at pipeline hearings that its population faces uncertainty about potential impacts of Trans Mountain

One of the main concerns is that the expansion of the pipeline would increase tanker traffic seven times off the coast of British Columbia.

First Nations communities along the coasts claim that this increases the risk of spills and that an oil tanker disaster could "release toxic pollution" into a sensitive marine environment that would be catastrophic.

"In the United States, we are not strangers to the courtroom either. This is usually our last resort, but we are trying to find a way to fulfill the responsibility of our ancestors, "said Leonard Forsman, president of the Suquamish tribe.

"We will continue to fight for our treaty rights and we will do so today."

WATCH: Morneau pledges tanker support via Trans Mountain as protesters protest in Calgary

Both the federal and Alberta governments said that the pipeline expansion was of interest to the whole country. Ottawa can not continue to build the pipeline, which it now owns, until this updated NEB process is complete.

The federal government still has a hard time getting all the first nations involved. Reuben George of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation has been fighting this project for nine years.

"We all have a reciprocal relationship with the waters and lands you can not put a price on," said George. "There are too many risks.

"We will always be here and we will never leave."