Some First Nations leaders are heading to Washington Monday to persuade officials to reject a pipeline project they say would pump more "dirty oil" from Alberta into the United States.
Francois Paulette, of the Smith's Landing Treaty 8 First Nation, says he wants to talk to U.S. politicians about pollutants from the oilsands.
Mr. Paulette says more than 30 downstream First Nations communities are already affected and he says that increasing oilsands production would make matters worse.
Mr. Paulette, who is one of two Canadian community leaders heading to the U.S., wants a moratorium on the Keystone XL pipeline expansion.
The leaders are in the U.S. for three days.
They have meetings scheduled with the State Department, a White House environment council, the Department of Interior, the Canadian Embassy, and congressional offices.