From the beautiful unceded Unis’tot’en Yintah (Territory):
At 10am on the morning of November 21, 2012, surveyors from Can-Am Geomatics were denied access to Unis’tot’en territory at the bridge crossing of the Wezin Kwah (Morice River).
Wet’suwet’en hereditary chief Toghestiy engaged the surveyors in a Free Prior and Informed Consent protocol. As the surveyors declined to share information obtained from their unauthorized entry the previous day, the decision was made not to allow the surveyors back into the territory to collect their equipment.
After the protocol at the bridge, Toghestiy stated, “The surveyors claimed they were working on a contract for Apache, an American oil and gas company. Apache is the leading partner in the Pacific Trails Pipeline project which intends to connect shale gas fields in Northeastern BC with LNG Terminals in Kitimat.” The Likhts’amisyu chief reasserted that “the Unis’tot’en and Grassroots Wet’suwet’en have consistently stated that they will not allow such a pipeline to pass through their territory.”
The Unis’tot’en (aka C’ilhts’ekhyu) and Grassroots Wet’suwet’en reject Apache’s claim to have support from a majority of indigenous groups along the pipeline route. Freda Huson states, “Apache’s claim that they have support from 15 out of 16 First Nation groups is extremely misleading. They are following the government’s direction to not deal with Hereditary Chiefs who are the legitimate title holders of these lands. Instead they are attempting to deal with Indian Act governments who have no jurisdiction off of their Indian Reservations. The Supreme Court of Canada’s Delgamuukw decision explicitly shows that they are breaking their own laws.”
After the surveyors were turned back, a crew from Unis’tot’en camp snowmobiled out to Crystal Road, some 20 kms from camp to retrieve materials left behind by the work crew the previous day. The materials were successfully retrieved and brought back to camp where they are being held until Apache and PTP agree to open up appropriate lines of communication with the Unis’tot’en and grassroots Wet’suwet’en according to the Free Prior and Informed Consent Protocol and laws of their sovereign unceded territories
The Unist'ot'en Camp is a resistance community whose purpose is to protect sovereign Wet'suwet'en territory from several proposed pipelines from the Tar Sands Gigaproject and shale gas from Hydraulic Fracturing Projects in the Peace River Region.
Hang in there! From Tx
I posted both the announcement and the video to my facebook page. I did a radio show about the situation- told how you are holding firm against the pipelines. Trying to get more awareness here in California. It is our Thanksgiving today in the U.S.- I am grateful for your actions and rock firm stance against the extractive industries that are destroying the web of life.
I absolutely love this and support the Indigenous Resistance. Is it possible to show me, on a map, where this altercation is taking place? Where the pipeline wants to go and show the area of un-ceded land that belongs to the Natives? That would make it so much easier for me to see and grasp all the implications. Thank you.
Your resistance is the right thing to do. Your resistance is pure; their insistance greedy. The lack of ethics by such corporations is something all should stand firmly against. Push for broader media coverage of this – as more hear, more will back you. More power to you!