For the last while, we Canadians have come to clearly understand that we live next to a country that has elected a megalomaniac as their President…an individual, who we know is a convicted felon, a narcissist, who has not only insulted our country but threatened us with tariffs unless we bend to whatever his latest whim is, not the least of which is the annexation of Canada. Yes, we will stand up to this bully…yes we will make some concessions to appease his win/lose philosophy…but as Christopher Holcroft wrote today in the Tyee, “But while Trump can damage our economy, he cannot diminish our values. He cannot change how we view and treat one another, nor challenge our commitment to truth and civility. He cannot chip away at our rights and our freedoms, nor cheat our most vulnerable out of their share of the Canadian dream.”
At this precarious time, there are many voices discussing how Canada needs to reassess our trading strategies, and to strengthen our interprovincial trade, including building west to east pipelines to ensure energy self-sufficiency. The US President is threatening the very sovereignty of Canada…we must ensure that we do not infringe on the sovereignty of unceded Indigenous territories. Equally, does this current situation not present us a wakeup call that we need to hasten our transition away from burning fossil fuels to power our energy and transportation grids towards a climate safe future?
Which brings us to the following letter from Yintah Access who speak for the Wet’suwet’en people in British Columbia, who have for many years been defending their lands and their waters against the building of pipelines across their land.
For several years, Canoe Foundation has been financially supporting their defence through the Wet’suwet’en legal defence fund at RavenTrust. Here is the letter…
Decision Day |
|
Yintah Access — February 3, 2025 |
|
The Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs have repeatedly affirmed in our balhats (feast hall) that there are to be no pipelines cross our yintah (land). In 2018 Justice Church granted Coastal GasLink, a fracked gas pipeline company, an injunction to trespass and complete their work without resistance. The Wet’suwet’en fought back. After a series of militarized raids and catch and release, charges were laid in 2021 that saw several Wet’suwet’en and indigenous allies face off with the colonial court system. Last year Sleydo’ Molly Wickham (Gidimt’en), Shaylynn Sampson (Gitxsan) and Corey Jocko (Haudenosaunee) filed an Abuse of Process Application against the RCMP (Canadian police) for the violence they experienced during the enforcement of the injunction obtained by Coastal GasLink. In the last year we have heard testimony of their Charter Rights being breached and the atrocious experiences of their arrests and violations of their human rights while in custody. We presented evidence on the flawed enforcement plan and lack of planning to protect our rights by leadership within CIRG and the RCMP. One officer testified that he was instructed to not take any notes during enforcement, a directive given by his commander during a briefing the night before. The time for Justice Tammen’s decision is coming on February 18th, 2025 at 10am PST in Cas Yikh yintah (Smithers, BC). If Justice Tammen rules in favour of our application we are asking him to stay the charges. In January 2024 he found all three guilty of criminal contempt for violating the injunction on Wet’suwet’en yintah obtained by Coastal GasLink. Alternatively, if he decides against our application and proceeds to sentencing we are asking that he determine all three have served their time while in custody in November of 2021. His decision in this case will be precedent setting. Justice Tammen also saw the cases of Sabina Dennis and Diní 'ze’ Dtsa’hyl in 2024 who were also charged with criminal contempt of the injunction. At the end of those proceedings he found Sabina not guilty and found Diní ze’ Dtsa’hyl guilty and sentenced him to 60 days of house arrest. Each of the cases had very different circumstances and outcomes. There is not a case yet that follows the facts of the case before him now. These proceedings have taken over a year to date. This has meant time away from family, undue stress and hardships and the criminalization of indigenous people upholding Wet’suwet’en law. Through ‘anuk niwh’iten all five clans of the Wet’suwet’en nation have passed laws within our balhats to ban all pipelines from our yintah. We have very strong trespass laws as well that have been violated by industry and the state. We continue to stand firm in our knowing and ways of our ancestors who have protected these lands since time immemorial. We have done this work with our ancestors, Diní ze’ and Tsakë ze’, allies, comrades and supporters. We are asking everyone to pay attention to this. If you can come support in person please do so. Watch our social media pages for updates. Check our website for ways to support. Light your sacred fires and send prayers for everyone involved in upholding our sacred responsibilities. “In the very violent and unjustifiable manner in which they conducted themselves, against our Charter Rights and against UNDRIP, the RCMP and the courts have proven that we are living under a Police State guided by a Petroleum State.” - Diní ze’ Na’Moks |
