Wet’suwet’en at Moricetown Protesting Pipelines on December 6, 2012 from terracedailyonline on Vimeo.
“This is a 40 minute edited compilation of Chiefs and Matriarchs demanding respect and demanding the pipeline considerations come to a full stop. The demands were expressed as, “When we say no, we mean no, when will you understand this?”
The considerations of money ie “Impact benefits” were not accepted and were considered an insult. The land is not for sale at any price.”
Dini Ze’yu, Tsakiy Ze’yu, Skiy Ze’yu, and our countless supporters! I am glad to report that a real victory for our future has just happened!! Last night our strong community membership decidedly showed who makes the decisions on unceded Wet’suwet’en lands to the elected Moricetown Band Chief and Band Council. The Band Council had called an “Information Session” and invited representatives from PTP First Nations Limited Partnership (FNLP). The meeting was repeatedly interrupted by hereditary chiefs and clan members who bravely spoke their minds and made statements about protecting the lands. During the meeting one of the elected councillors decided to be arrogant and demand that the members be quiet to hear out the representatives. He said that we needed to be respectful of our guests. But the millions of dollars that was dangled in front of the membership in potential partnership agreements meant nothing to the community. Throughout the meeting the resounding message voiced in anger was, “WE WILL PROTECT OUR LANDS AND WATERS AGAINST ANY AND ALL THREATS! IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILTY!! WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE TO US IS DISPRESPECTFUL!”
The Unist’ot’en interrupted the meeting and Unist’ot’en spokesperson Freda Huson read out their Declaration to the pawns of PTP and said that the only people who will be making any decisions on Unist’ot’en Lands are the Unist’ot’en People. Tsakiy Ze’ Lhtat’en of the Unist’ot’en said to the Band Council and presenters, “Knedebeas – Christine Holland told us not to lose the land. The Unist’ot’en have never lost any of our battles, and we won’t lose this one!!” As Freda Huson began reading a declaration to the presenters and band council, large banners were unfurled warning against pipelines on the territory and the ‘Ewkh hiyah hoz dli Drum Group began singing the powerful Wet’suwet’en War Song and performing the ancient War Dance in front of the elected council and presenters. The spirits of our Warriors could not be stopped. The War Song is likely still echoing in the hallways of the Moricetown Multiplex. At the end of the presentation there was a time set aside for questions but the council and presenters only heard statement after statement from the membership, “NO MEANS NO!” The meeting was abruptly put to a halt and the presenters from the FNLP quickly packed up and left denying the media in attendance any comments or interviews. Sne Kyalh Yah (Thank you) to all of our friends and family for attending and standing strong alongside our proud and strong ancestors. The future of our unborn is in your hands, let’s all keep making them proud!! – Toghestiy of the Likhts’amisyu & Freda Huson, spokesperson for the Unist’ot’en
To support the camp donations can be made to VIC-FAN
unistotencamp 