The Vancouver Sun reports in its Thursday edition that a Haida clan has made the extraordinary decision to strip two of its hereditary chiefs of their titles for secretly supporting Enbridge's proposed Northern Gateway pipeline. The Sun's Jeff Lee writes that the decision is being closely watched by first nations across Canada. The rebuke, delivered last week in an elaborate ceremony witnessed by more than 500 people, came as the Haida Nation rejected what they say is a growing trend by companies to enlist the support of hereditary chiefs as a way of claiming broad first nations support. On Aug. 13, members of the clan stripped Carmen Goertzen and Francis Ingram of their titles, effectively removing them as representatives of two houses, the Yahgulaanaas Janaas of Daadens, and the Litjaaw Yaahl Naas. Mr. Goertzen, a well-known Haida artist, had held the position for 25 years. The Haida are made up of 22 house clans, each overseen by hereditary chiefs. The men were part of a group of eight, including two other hereditary chiefs, who signed a letter to the National Energy Board in March supporting Northern Gateway's request for a time extension to its permit for the bitumen transport pipeline.