UNBC Faculty Solidarity

Letter supports West’suwet’en

Jan 13, 2020 | 4:23 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – A First Nations Professor at UNBC has weighed in on the ongoing conflict between the Wet’suwet’en and Coastal Gas link over a natural gas pipeline proposed through their traditional territories.

“I just really needed to do something,” explains Dr. Ross Hoffman. “I was watching the social media feed and, we have a Prime Minister, we have a Premier who have stood up for this project.”

In the letter, Dr. Hoffman writes:

UNBC Faculty and Staff in Solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs We, the following faculty and staff at the University of Northern British Columbia, are expressing our solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs who have evicted Coastal Gas Link 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 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 & Gisday wa, 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 honor 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 honoring Aboriginal leaders who have fought for the land rights of their people. The late Dr. Alfred Joseph held the name Gisday wa 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 honorary 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 honorable 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.

Initially the letter contained 69 signatures of support, including one from Dr. Daniel Weeks, President of UNBC. But he maintains his support is personal and not the position of the university.

“As an educator, myself, as an academic, I think here is a perfect moment of dialogue. A perfect moment for conversation. And I remain so proud of this province and its leadership to have embraced UNDRIP [United Nations Declaration of Indigenous People]. I think that was an incredibly bold move and the right thing to do.”

He says Coastal GasLink has a legal right to move ahead with the project and is urging a conversation.

In the meantime, Dr. Hoffman says he understands the wishes of those elected First Nations governments that are in support of the pipeline in order to provide employment to their community and hopes the letter, and the support that has come with it, will lead to some form of resolution.

“The only possibility of that coming about is for people to sit around a table on equal footing and to weigh this out and to build a relationship based on respect and trust.”

However, today, Premier John Horgan says the pipeline will be built despite ongoing protests and an eviction notice from the hereditary Indigenous leaders. The premier says the courts have ruled in favour of the project and the rule of law will apply to ensure work continues on the Coastal GasLink pipeline across northern B.C. to a coastal an export terminal.

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