Broadcast your support for the Unist'ot'en as they stand up for us.

13/12/18
Author: 
First Nations Leaders
 
 

Send Your Pledge of Solidarity by Phone, Fax or Email - Speak Truth to Power

This morning, Freda Huson and Dini ze’ Smogelgem (Warner Naziel) are appearing in court in Prince George, B.C. as Coastal GasLink attempts to get an injunction against the Unist’ot’en Camp.

As we await news from the court hearing, we are calling on you to send an email, fax or phone message  to key political figures.

We know that politicians are limited even in their best moments but all routes of resistance are needed at this crucial moment

Please express your concern and support for the  wellbeing and success of the Unist’ot’en Healing Center and Anuk Nu'at'en (Wet’suwet’en laws) and collective title.

At the end of this message is contact information for the RCMP and federal and provincial political leaders. Pick one, several or all of them and let them know you Stand With the Unist'ot'en.

Please also consider making a one-time or monthly donation to the camp HERE. As they continue their ongoing legal and land defense they urgently need your financial support as well.

Thank You,
Unist'ot'en Solidarity Brigade

 

Suggested Message. Send as is or personalize to your own words.

Dear [XXX],

Today, as the Unis’tot’en Camp faces Coastal GasLink in the Supreme Court at Prince George, 65 organizations and 3,213 individuals are demanding that Coastal GasLink, RCMP, and Federal and Provincial governments take no actions in violation of Wet’suwet’en collective title and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

On November 27, Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd. served notice for a civil lawsuit, claiming financial damages for “occupying, obstructing, blocking, physically impeding or delaying access” and applied for an injunction against the Unist’ot’en Camp.

1. WE COMMEND the courage and vision of Unist’ot’en Camp.

2. WE ARE WATCHING across the province, country and internationally.

3. WE DENOUNCE any attempt by Coastal GasLink Pipeline, federal government, provincial government or RCMP to interfere in the rights of the Unist’ot’en to occupy, manage or maintain their Lands.

4. WE DEMAND that any and all actions taken by the federal and provincial government, industry, and policing agencies must be consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Anuk Nu'at'en (Wet'suwet'en laws) and collective Title.

5. WE PLEDGE support to the frontline land defenders of Unist’ot’en Camp and affirm the collective hereditary governance of the Wet'suwet'en who are enforcing Wet'suwet'en laws on their unceded lands.

According to Smogelgem, Hereditary Chief of the Laksamshu Clan, “The legal notice personally names me and Freda Huson. This as an attempt to individualize, demobilize and criminalize us in order to bulldoze through our home. Our house groups and hereditary chiefs collectively hold title according to our Anuk Nu’at’en (Wet’suwet’en law). What we are doing to live on and protect our lands, as our ancestors did, is an expression of collective will.”

“The use of legal injunctions and litigation against the Unist’ot’en is part of a long colonial history of criminalization against Indigenous peoples. As noted in a recent UN report, criminalization of Indigenous land defenders is an attempt to silence Indigenous peoples voicing their legitimate opposition to projects that threaten their livelihoods and cultures,” adds Pam Palmater, Chair in Indigenous Governance at Ryerson University.

According to Freda Huson, Unist’ot’en Hereditary Spokesperson, “All Wet’suwet’en Clans have rejected the pipeline because our medicines, our food, and our water are all here and not replaceable. These legal challenges ignore the jurisdiction and authority of hereditary chiefs and our feast system of governance, which was recognized in the 1997 Deglamuukw-Gisday’wa Supreme Court case.”


Sincerely,

[Your name]

 

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR RECIPIENTS

RCMP
British Columbia (E Division)
Telephone: 778-290-2929
Email:  bcrcmp@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

RCMP
National Headquarters
Ottawa, ON
Telephone: 613-843-5999
Email: RCMP.HQMediaRelations-DGRelationsmedias.GRC@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

Provincial Government
David Eby
Attorney General of BC
Phone:  250-387-1866
Fax: 250-387-6411
AG.minister@gov.bc.ca

Honourable Michelle Mungall
Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources
PO Box 9060, Station Prov Gov, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2
Phone: 250-953-0900
Fax: 250-356-2965
EMPR.Minister@gov.bc.ca

Honourable George Heyman
Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy
ENV.Minister@gov.bc.ca
Phone: 250 387-1187
Fax: 250 387-1356

Honourable Scott Fraser
Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation
IRR.Minister@gov.bc.ca
Phone: (250) 953-4844
Fax: (250) 953-4896

Federal Government
The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
mcu@justice.gc.ca
Fax: 613-954-0811