Hereditary vs Elected

Hereditary Chiefs well within their rights to protest Coastal GasLink project says UNBC professor

Jan 16, 2020 | 3:51 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs continue to blockade the Coastal GasLink pipeline despite Elected Chiefs being OK with the project. The ‘divide and conquer’ approach, as UNBC First Nations Studies professor Dr. Ross Hoffman calls it, dates all the way back to the Indian Act.

According to Dr. Hoffman, the Hereditary Chiefs are responsible for governing their territories but Elected Chiefs govern just the reserves. Prior to Indian Act being signed, when BC joined the confederation, the Province never dealt with the Aboriginal land question which is again the focus point for the hereditary chiefs in regards to the Coastal GasLink project. The underlying issue is likely to take time to sort out, as new generations continue to inherit unresolved business.

The 20 Elected Chiefs affected have signed benefits agreements to allow the pipeline through. Those deals can often support reserves and First Nations who struggle with issues such as employment.

In it’s latest update, from January 14, Coastal GasLink President David Pfeiffer requested a meeting with Chief Namoks. CKPG did reach out to Coastal GasLink for comment on the matter but they have not answered our requests.