Author Topic: BC v Wet'suet'en  (Read 11543 times)

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Offline Granny

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Re: BC v Wet'suet'en
« Reply #405 on: March 13, 2020, 09:42:02 am »

your, "try to divide and conquer" phrasing is gold! Of course it presumes upon a cohesive united Wet'suwet'en being divided... which is, of course, you simply showcasing more of your agenda-driven bullshyte! Should I repeat that post where I detail the monetary and benefits packages negotiated between the province, CGL and the 20 First Nations impacted by the CGL pipeline route... the same post where I also further detail specific monetary/benefits realized by the Wet'suwet'en?

your personal agenda-driven divide & conquer strategy is one that has you completely ignoring the 5+ year relationships struck between the respective Band Councils, the Province of B.C. and CGL... and the resulting negotiated settlements with their most significant monetary and benefits realized. More pointedly, your personal agenda-driven divide & conquer strategy has you belittling the will of the First Nation Band Councils/members

I belittle no one.

As I said above:

The one thing I do know for certain is that Wet'suet'en people have many millennia of sticking together, and a very strong pull to continue that way. That should never be underestimated.

As one pro-pipeline elected band chief, Dan George, recently said to the CBC:
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-monday-edition-1.5491009/elected-chiefs-should-have-been-at-the-table-for-wet-suwet-en-deal-says-chief-dan-george-1.5491011

“If we can come together and create a governance system and work together, I think that’s the only silver lining that can come out of this.”

I think all Wet'suet'en people have the same strong desire to be unified, to reach the "silver lining", to "come together".

Do not underestimate the power of that desire for unity. It has sustained the Wet'suet'en Nation for thousands of years, will continue to, and clearly does continue as evidenced by 'Chief' Dan George's statement.

Hereditary/traditional governance is reviving, after being outlawed by Canada, penalized, jailed, punished, decimated by Canada (via the RCMP) through most of the 20th century. Wives of traditional leaders were targeted for sterilization to disrupt hereditary lines, their children were targeted and treated most harshly in the 'Indian' Residential Schools. Ceremonies, regalia, wampum belts and other sacred things were stolen (RCMP), destroyed ... criminalized ... in Canada's attempts to make way for resource industries by stomping out traditional Councils, because they are the rights holders and protectors of the land.

Today's divisions - via CGL bribery, smear tactics and other colonial/industry attempts to divide-and-conquer the Wet'suet'en Nation, with RCMP continuing their 150+ years of complicity in carrying out the wishes of governments and industry and also protecting their own pension plan investments, to gain a for-profit (not for domestic use) gas pipeline - are just more of the 20th century tactics.

But as you see from Dan George's statement, even a pro-pipeline band chief still has a strong desire for unity among all Wet'suet'en people.

That unity may blossom through the current talks about the Federal process for establishing rights and title. It's quite likely that all Wet'suet'en members will come together and embrace an opportunity for declaration of Aboriginal title.

I make no predictions about agreement on the pipeline, though I will note that CGL's abrupt rejection of alternative routes proposed by hereditary Chiefs, and then walking away from talks with them, will no doubt again be a topic of discussion (following 'title' talks).

I also note that the current pipeline route is most destructive to the territory of the Clans that are most involved in the blockades. That unfairness may be a topic of discussion too.

There is space for Wet'suet'en people to come together around routing of the pipeline. It is a space -alternative routes - that CGL/TCEnergy has adamantly refused to consider.
If appealed, that failure to meaningfully consult and adequately accommodate concerns and alternate routes could be seen by the Supreme Court of Canada as a failure by the Crown/BC to fulfill its duties.
In that event, a project can be shut down.

My only prediction is ... it isn't over.  : - )
« Last Edit: March 13, 2020, 11:03:25 am by Granny »