Gitanyow are asking all supporters of Indigenous rights to march with them to the B.C. Supreme Court - Postponed
Due to recent developments at the Supreme Court of Canada, the start of the Gitanyow title case has now been postponed to May 28th.
The Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs remain strong, focused and committed to protecting Gitanyow Lax’yip, but the march and rally that were planned for May 5th are not proceeding at this time.
Follow Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs on social media to stay updated on ways to show your solidarity and support.
On Monday, May 5 the Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs will launch an epic court case in Vancouver, seeking to prove title to their 6,200 square kilometre territory. You’re invited.
The Gitanyow are asking all supporters of Indigenous rights to march with them to the courthouse, where chiefs from the Gibuu (wolf clan) and Ganeda (frog and raven) will address the crowd before starting the 10-month trial.
RSVP for directions and a reminder e-mail the weekend before.
Gitanyow territory is under imminent threat from the PRGT pipeline, which would punch through an Indigenous Protected Area meant to safeguard salmon in the Nass, Cranberry and Kiteen rivers.
This is a key moment to stand with the Gitanyow in their pursuit of justice. And it’s a chance to show the B.C. government how many people support the Gitanyow fight against PRGT – and the billionaire Trump donors who are funding it.
Here’s the plan for Monday, May 5:
8-8:45 a.m. - Gather behind the Vancouver Art Gallery, next to Robson Square Ice Rink
8:45-9:15 a.m. - March up Hornby Street toward the B.C. Supreme Court
9:15-9:45 a.m. - Speeches outside the courthouse at 800 Smithe Street
RSVP for a reminder e-mail the weekend before.
Hope to see you there,
Kai
P.S. We’ve included more details about the case below from Gitanyow head chief Malii.
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On May 5, 2025, the Gitanyow will enter the BC Supreme Court for the first phase of our landmark Aboriginal Title case: Malii v. King. This case, which will run until February 27, 2026, represents the culmination of decades of work to assert our inherent rights and responsibilities over our Lax’yip—our Territory.
Gitanyow governance is based on a centuries-old hereditary system organized through our Wilp (House Group) system. It is through this system that our Ayookxw (laws), Adaawk (oral histories), and management of the land have been sustained and passed down for countless generations. Today, we continue to uphold these laws and our sacred stewardship responsibilities.
We are pursuing recognition of Aboriginal Title over the entirety of our 6,200 km2 territory—an area roughly the size of Puerto Rico. In accordance with the legal test set by the Supreme Court of Canada in Tsilhqot’in, we are required to prove three key elements: exclusivity, continuity, and sufficiency of occupation. To that end, we have submitted 14 comprehensive expert reports that demonstrate our deep, unbroken connection to the land, both past and present.
Our Title case is structured into three phases:
Phase 1 – Title: Establishing Gitanyow Title over the Lax’yip
Phase 2 – Rights: Recognition of Gitanyow governance and stewardship rights
Phase 3 – Damages: Seeking compensation for past and ongoing harms
Our expert report on damages estimates that over $3 billion in resource revenues have left our territory without our consent or benefit, alongside incalculable cultural loss.
This case is not just about the Gitanyow—it is a vital test for the recognition and respect of Indigenous governance and Title in Canada. As we enter court, we do so with the strength of our laws, our people, and our ancestors behind us. But we also need your support.
We invite Nations, organizations, and allies to stand with us:
Share our story and amplify awareness of this historic case
Attend or observe proceedings in court where possible
Provide moral, political, or financial support to help offset the costs of litigation and community engagement
If you would like to learn more or discuss ways to support, please contact Joel Starlund at e.d@gitanyowchiefs.com , Debbie Pierre operationsmanager@gitanyowchiefs.com, or Chasity Daniels at ghc.communications2023@gmail.com.
Your support will help ensure that justice is not only heard in the courts, but felt across the lands.
In unity and strength,
Malii, Glen Williams
Simogyet Gitanyow
Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs
On May 5, 2025, the Gitanyow will enter the BC Supreme Court for the first phase of our landmark Aboriginal Title case: Malii v. King. This case, which will run until February 27, 2026, represents the culmination of decades of work to assert our inherent rights and responsibilities over our Lax’yip—our Territory.
Gitanyow governance is based on a centuries-old hereditary system organized through our Wilp (House Group) system. It is through this system that our Ayookxw (laws), Adaawk (oral histories), and management of the land have been sustained and passed down for countless generations. Today, we continue to uphold these laws and our sacred stewardship responsibilities.
We are pursuing recognition of Aboriginal Title over the entirety of our 6,200 km2 territory—an area roughly the size of Puerto Rico. In accordance with the legal test set by the Supreme Court of Canada in Tsilhqot’in, we are required to prove three key elements: exclusivity, continuity, and sufficiency of occupation. To that end, we have submitted 14 comprehensive expert reports that demonstrate our deep, unbroken connection to the land, both past and present.
Our Title case is structured into three phases:
Phase 1 – Title: Establishing Gitanyow Title over the Lax’yip
Phase 2 – Rights: Recognition of Gitanyow governance and stewardship rights
Phase 3 – Damages: Seeking compensation for past and ongoing harms
Our expert report on damages estimates that over $3 billion in resource revenues have left our territory without our consent or benefit, alongside incalculable cultural loss.
This case is not just about the Gitanyow—it is a vital test for the recognition and respect of Indigenous governance and Title in Canada. As we enter court, we do so with the strength of our laws, our people, and our ancestors behind us. But we also need your support.
We invite Nations, organizations, and allies to stand with us:
Share our story and amplify awareness of this historic case
Attend or observe proceedings in court where possible
Provide moral, political, or financial support to help offset the costs of litigation and community engagement
If you would like to learn more or discuss ways to support, please contact Joel Starlund at e.d@gitanyowchiefs.com , Debbie Pierre operationsmanager@gitanyowchiefs.com, or Chasity Daniels at ghc.communications2023@gmail.com.
Your support will help ensure that justice is not only heard in the courts, but felt across the lands.
In unity and strength,
Malii, Glen Williams
Simogyet Gitanyow
Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs
Date:
Monday, May 5, 2025 - 08:00
