Indigenous Climate Action: Solidarity w/ Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs Eviction of Coastal Gas Link

January 7, 2020 - Indigenous Climate Action (ICA) supports the people of the Wet’suwet’en Nation in their actions to hold the line in protecting their lands, territories and rights of their communities by resisting continued colonial violence carried out by the RCMP and the Coastal GasLink (CGL) pipeline company.

ICA understands that the rights of the environment and natural world are inextricably linked to human and Indigenous rights. ICA supports the development of alternative climate solutions driven and directed by Indigenous worldview, rights frameworks, and knowledge built from millennia of ancestral knowledge and direct relationships with Mother Earth. 

The Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs issued an eviction notice to CGL on January 6, 2010 that applied to “Camp 9A” on Dark Horse territory, as well as the neighbouring Gidimt’en, Tsayu, and Laksamshu clan territories. 

ICA calls on the Coastal GasLink to peacefully comply with the eviction notice, and ask that British Columbia uphold its commitment to implement UNDRIP and instruct RCMP to respect Indigenous rights and sovereignty and refrain from interference in Wet’suwet’en law. The Coastal Gas Link project represents the expansion of the fossil fuel economy and the continued colonization of Indigenous lands and territories. Climate justice demands that these processes stop and that Indigenous sovereignty is respected as it deserves. 

We support and acknowledge that Anuc ‘nu’at’en remains the highest law on Wet’suwet’en land and must be respected. Anuc ‘nu’at’en (Wet’suwet’en law) is not a “belief” or a “point of view”. Indigenous peoples, our rights, our laws and way of knowing and being are a way of sustainably managing territories in direct relationship with the natural world. These practices have proven success in maintaining lands and territories for millennia demonstrated by the fact that 80% of the world’s biodiversity remains in Indigenous lands and territories.

Colonialism caused climate change and Indigenous rights and sovereignty are the solutions to the climate crisis.

We call on all people to step up and show solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en. Check the links below for how to get involved. 

Wet'suwet'en Supporter Toolkit - http://unistoten.camp/supportertoolkit/

Facebook Events: Solidarity actions across Turtle Island - https://www.facebook.com/events/3117435991815112/