Statement of Solidarity

- University of Northern BC Faculty and Staff  -

We, the following faculty and staff at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), are expressing our solidarity with the Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chiefs who have evicted Coastal Gas Link (CGL) and their employees from their territories. We call on the Government of British Columbia and the Government of Canada, as well as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to respect this eviction that is based on the fact that the Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chiefs have never ceded their jurisdiction to the lands they have governed for thousands of years.

The Supreme Court of Canada, in Delgamuukw-Gisdaywa, upheld the fact that Aboriginal Rights to traditionally occupied, unceded lands in British Columbia have not been extinguished and that provincial laws cannot extinguish Aboriginal Rights.

Our federal government talks of reconciliation and our provincial government has recently passed a bill that says they will honour the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). These are hollow promises if they continue to support resource development projects like CGL against the expressed will of the Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chiefs.

Our university has a long history of recognizing and honouring Aboriginal leaders who have fought for the land rights of their people. The late Dr. Alfred Joseph held the name Gisdaywa and spent a great deal of his life fighting for the land rights of the Wet'suwet'en people. Dr. Roger William led the Tsilhqot'in land title case that was decided by a unanimous decision in the Supreme Court of Canada. Our present Chancellor, Dr. Joseph Gosnell was a key figure in the Nisga'a, fight for self-government of their lands. These individuals were all awarded honourary degrees from UNBC.

At this pivotal point in Canadian history, we ask our elected leaders, provincially and federally, to insist the RCMP stand down. We also ask our elected leaders to begin honourable and respectful negotiations with the Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chiefs in regards to their rights and title to the lands they have been responsible for since time immemorial.

(January 10, 2019)

This article was published in

Volume 50 Number 1 - January 25, 2020

Article Link:
Statement of Solidarity - University of Northern BC Faculty and Staff 

    

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