Wet'suwet'en News
United We Shall Win the Battle against Enbridge
December 05, 2011
~ WATER: LIFEBLOOD OF OUR COMMUNITIES
December 5, 2011
United We Shall Win the Battle against Enbridge
Moricetown, British Columbia
The Wet’suwet’en feel compelled to address our many friends and supporters in the fight to resist the pressures of the tar sands. It comes as no surprise to us that the money of the oil barons is being used to drive a wedge between the Nations who stand united in opposition to the Northern Gateway pipeline.
“We are very familiar with the ’divide and conquer strategies’ of industry and governments but we stand firm in resisting these pressures”, says Chief Kloum Khun. “There is a lot at stake in this fight. From First Nations in the Athabascan/Mackenzie watershed who are suffering from the chronic consequences of tar sands development out to BC coast with the threat of oil tankers through the waters of Coastal First nations.”
Wet’suwet’en territory encompasses the headwaters of the Fraser watershed and major tributaries of the Skeena watershed (Morice/Bulkley River) and feed BC’s most vibrant salmon fisheries. Enbridge’s proposed pipeline route will rip the heart out of our traditional lands and place our functioning ecosystems in dire peril.
Chief Na’moks says, “This pipeline proposal does not meet the need of current and future Wet’suwet’en people. This decision was made through a series of clan meetings held with Wet’suwet’en people using our traditional laws. Today we continue to stand firm in our opposition to Enbridge.”
“For the Wet’suwet’en, we will not risk our culture and livelihood for a few petro dollars.”
Regarding, the internal conflict currently being experience by our Gitxsan cousins, we feel deeply. We remain committed to continued collaboration in our fight against the Enbridge tar sands pipeline. This is merely the beginning of a lengthy fight and collectively we must remain steadfast, and honourable and stay the course.
The Wet’suwet’en have a history of collaboration. We jointly worked with the Gitxsan Chiefs in the historic Delgamuukw/Gisdayway court case. We supported the Tsilhqot’in First Nation’s fight against the Prosperity Mine proposal and the destruction of Fish Lake. We are supporting the Tahltan First Nation in their opposition to Royal Dutch Shell’s attempt to develop coalbed methane in the Sacred Headwaters. We are interveners in the Hul’qumi’num petition to the Inter-American Petition on Human Rights.
UNITY ABOVE ALL ELSE & WE SHALL WIN THIS BATTLE. Be strong friends!
Chief Kloum’Khun (Alphonse Gagnon)
Chief Smogelgem (Gloria George)
Chief Nedabees (Warner Williams)
Chief Samooh (Herb Naziel)
Chief Hagwilnegh (Ron Mitchell)
Chief Wah’Tah’Kwets (Frank Patrick)
Chief Wah’Tah’Ghet (Henry Alfred)
Chief Nam’oks (John Ridsdale)
Chief Wigitamschol ( Dan Michell)
Chief Kweese (alternate Bill Naziel – Mutt)
Chief Madeek (Jeff Brown)
Chief Gisday’wa (Dr. Alfred Joseph)
Chief Woos (alternate Darlene Glaim – Gyolo’ght)
Contact Information:
Office of the Wet’suwet’en
250-847-3630
A high resolution copy of this picture is available through the Office of the Wet’suwet’en.
