Haida Gwaii could be leading the way, said two activists who came to the islands to meet with the local Enbridge Awareness group.People from across the northwest are banding together against the Enbridge Pipeline project, said Pat Moss, Smithers-based chair of the Friends of Wild Salmon coalition. But so far, Haida Gwaii boasts the first incorporated communities or regional district areas that have made proclamations against the project.Masset, Queen Charlotte, Sandspit, along with the Council of the Haida Nation, Skidegate and Old Massett Band Councils have all opposed the project. Only Port Clements was undecided at the time of her visit last week. Ms Moss and Jennifer Rice, Prince Rupert-based energy campaigner for the T. Buck Suzuki Environmental Foundation, were on the islands recently for what they called an informal visit and were impressed with the communities' awareness."These are the only communities who have actually taken a stand against the project," says Ms Moss. "Hopefully an all islands position will come out at the Protocol meeting (June 24)."Several high profile people like David Suzuki, Margaret Atwood, Bruce Cockburn, writer Yann Martel, Yvon Chouinard of Patigonia and more have stated their opposition to Enbridge's pipeline along with dozens of organizations, businesses and First Nations.The fight against Enbridge feels familiar, says Ms Moss. She came to the north in the 1970s to help fight an earlier west coast oil port project. That time, an Alaskan company was hoping to ship oil to Kitimat and have it piped to Alberta to feed into the pipeline system that ships oil into the mid-west United States.Fighting this was an easier argument in some ways. "British Columbia would have received no benefits, but would be taking all the risks," she said.With the Enbridge pipeline, she says the risks are the same, but the company has tried to shift the benefit argument by saying it's a project of national importance. Ms Moss, on the other hand, believes, that except for some short-term jobs, the pipeline offers no benefits. Ms Rice said her goal is to stay more connected with coastal people who will be affected by the pipeline, especially now that the company has filed their application with the National Energy Board and the Canadian Environmental Assessment agency."Before the project was just an idea," she says. "Now we are stuck in a process that is long-winded and onerous." Not only that, but it's not clear how people can participate, even though it's said to be an open process.Most First Nations along the pipeline route are opposed to the project, said Ms Moss, yet still the company is proceeding. Their new slogan is, "we're going to change no into yes," she says.Ms Moss thinks the company is used to working with First Nations in Alberta who all have signed treaties. In BC, they received a different reaction, but after a couple of year's hiatus, are moving forward again. But the company is taking a different approach to communications, she said. For example, they've now hired former politicians from the region, for example, like Roger Harris, a former islander and one-time MLA in Terrace.