Wow! Where to begin? First of all this occurred in Canada and as such it is a Canadian issue with Canadian sensitivities. Canadian "Tribes" are known as First Nations, and I'll bet that US Tribes would agree this is the Heiltsuk's privilege (for want of a better word) to express their concerns. These are their lands and waters and they are more than a special interest group! If this had occurred off Neal Bay, I wonder what the Makah Tribe would have said? Furthermore, most of the First Nations in these areas have expressed similar and united concerns on tanker traffic.
I've seen the Nathan E. Stewart in these areas and it was way, way off course. And if it had been way, way off course with a full barge it would have been much worse.