It\’s Getting Hot In Here

Written in collaboration with local organizers

Several pipelines are planned and due to be built through Northern British Columbia, carrying tar sands crude to ports off the west coast of Canada for exporting this bottom-of-the barrel oil. In Smithers, BC, with the leadership of the ‘Unist’ot’en of the Wet’suwet’en Nation, many grassroots indigenous activists along with their allies and supporters rallied to assert their title and rights on their own ancient lands. The rally primarily targeted the Ministry of Forests offices and the Ministry of Environment office. The following is the list of demands that were delivered to the Ministry offices who issue permits and licences for industry and private interests.

Float of the Tar Sands Gigaproject

1. The Unist’ot’en are a legitimate governing body who have never ceded our surrendered our ancient lands to any party. A regulatory regime will be resurrected to ensure that all interests on ‘Unist’ot’en lands are solely and primarily directed to the rightful owners;
2. The ‘Unist’ot’en law (‘Inuk nu’ot’en) for any outside parties who want to do business on ‘Unist’ot’en Yintah (traditional territories) requires meaningful “Free, Prior, and Informed Consent” with legitimate Clan/House Group membership prior to any development on unceded traditional territories. This is a measure that will be enforced to prevent the infringement of their section 35(1) rights and title and infringement on ‘Unist’ot’en ‘Inik nu’ot’en;

The resurrected regulatory regime will give power to the ‘Unist’ot’en people to manage their lands unimpeded by institutions or agencies who have previously assumed jurisdiction or authority over their traditional lands.

The rally also provided the ‘Unist’ot’en with an opportunity to offer support to the allies who have come to Smithers to support this action. The Tsilhqot’in Nation members from Tl’etinqox(Anaham)  and Tl’esqox are asserting their rights to stop a proposed plans for Prosperity Mine to develop a copper and gold body that will destroy and drain a sacred lake called Teztan Biny (Fish Lake) in their traditional territories. The Lubicon Cree of central Alberta are working at having their rights and title asserted on unceded lands. The Athabasca Dene and Mikisew Cree of Northeastern Alberta are fighting for their very lives with the ongoing Tar Sands contamination of their aquifers and ecosystems which are creating a deadly epidemic of rare cancers among their population.

With the help of some reputable Non-Governmental Organizations and Indigenous Peoples organizations such as the Indigenous Environmental Network, Rainforest Action Network, the Council of Canadians, Oil Sands Truth, and No One is Illegal, as well as many helpful and generous volunteers, the ‘Unis’to’t’en have erected a permenant camp on the Morice River to cease plans with all Oil and Gas Pipelines, including the KSL and Enbridge Gateway Projects, from traversing their lands and waterways. These proposed projects threaten the livelihood of the ‘Unist’ot’en people and the delicate ecosystems which they depend on and will be stopped by any means necessary.

Local resistance towards tar sands expansion projects are beginning in different communities across Turtle Island and all over the world. Organizers are targetting local tar sands refineries and corporations involved in the dirty industry and tomorrow will mark the first International Stop the Tar Sands Day.

For more information contact:

Freda Huson, spokesperson for the ‘Unist’ot’en people in the C’ilhts’ekhyu Clan. Any communication regarding ‘Unist’ot’en business will be brought to the attention of the new ‘Unist’ot’en company called Tse Wedi ‘Elh at: (778) 210-1100 or tsewedielh@explorenet.com

Knedebeas (Warner William), Hereditary Chief of the ‘Unist’ot’en. Home: (250) 847-3694, or Cell: (778) 210-1949