The Vancouver Sun reports in its Monday edition several Northern B.C. first nations are refuting claims there is consensus on the Eagle Spirit Energy proposal. The Sun's Gordon Hoekstra writes the consortium has issued three news releases in the past week, claiming it has signed agreements and has the support of chiefs along the route of its proposed project. Eagle Spirit -- backed by the Aquilini Group -- hoped to win native support because the project would be led by first nations and would ship upgraded oil, not the bitumen seen as particularly harmful to the environment in the event of a spill. First nations representing vast traditional territories in north-central B.C. say it makes no difference that oil might be upgraded, adding they still oppose the Eagle Spirit project because it would help expand oil sands production and pose a risk to salmon-bearing rivers ocean waterways. "They can say whatever they want. Any expansion of the oil sands is something we are very much opposed to, so that hasn't changed. That will not change," said Yinka Dene Alliance co-ordinator Geraldine Thomas-Flurer. Eagle Spirit is seen as an alternative to Enbridge's stalled $7.9-billion Northern Gateway project.