The president of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs is apologizing and walking back comments suggesting he supported reviving the Northern Gateway pipeline project, and now says he doesn鈥檛 support 鈥渞esuscitating dead projects.鈥�

In a statement released by the union, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip says the pipeline rejected in 2016 鈥渨ould have been an absolute disaster鈥� for British Columbia鈥檚 land and waters, and his participation in opposition to the project was 鈥渁n absolute honour and privilege.鈥�

The union says in the statement that the answer to the Northern Gateway pipeline from Alberta to the Pacific 鈥渋s still no,鈥� while Phillips says he wants to 鈥渟incerely apologize for any confusion.鈥�

Phillip was asked at a news conference on Tuesday about Alberta Premier Danielle Smith鈥檚 suggestion of reviving the Northern Gateway pipeline plan in light of U.S. President Donald Trump鈥檚 threat of tariffs on Canadian exports.

The chief responded that Canada had 鈥渘o choice鈥� but to reconsider such projects because, 鈥渋f we don鈥檛 build that kind of infrastructure, Trump will,鈥� and the president would do so without considering the environment or rule of law.

Phillip says in Wednesday鈥檚 statement that while everyone should be planning for the possibility of U.S. tariffs, it does not mean building more pipelines.