Blog Archives

Gitxsan industry meets Gitxsan activism in B.C.

Gitxsan blockade mill site

(Members of Wilp Nikate’em maintain a protest camp outside the former Gitxsan Mill. Photo: John Murray/APTN)

by John Murray, APTN National News, October 11, 2017

In the early morning hours in late August, and under cover of darkness, a group in camouflaged dark clothes snuck into the locked compound of the Gitxsan Forest Incorporated (GFI) in South Hazelton, B.C, retrieved keys from an office, started seven vehicles and proceeded to drive away. Read the rest of this entry

Luutkudziiwus First Nation on Petronas Cancelling PNW LNG project

Gitxsan Madii Lii logoMadii Lii, August 14, 2017

Mohd Anuar bin Taib, Executive Vice President and CEO of Upstream at Petronas announced cancellation of the Pacific NorthWest LNG (PNW) project on July 25th.

In light of that decision, Richard Wright, who serves as the spokesperson for the Luutkudziiwus, says “the federal government breached its constitutional obligations to consult and our court challenge to quash the approval order still stands.” Read the rest of this entry

Twenty years after historic Delgamuukw land claims case, pipeline divides Gitxsan Nation

gitanmaax

Gitanmaax is a reserve in northern B.C. where Gitxsan members discovered confidential documents revealing that some hereditary chiefs had given their consent for the PRGT pipeline in exchange for money. Trevor Jang

Revelations that Delgamuukw is among chiefs who accepted money to support LNG development without consulting all members threaten to undermine landmark court victory

Earl Muldon sits at his kitchen table surrounded by family, sipping coffee. His wife Shirley brings over a plate of cream cake topped with huckleberries. They’re hand-picked from the land surrounding his two-storey home in Gitanmaax, a village of about 800 people from the Gitxsan Nation in northwestern British Columbia, near the town of New Hazelton. Read the rest of this entry

Gitxsan launch legal challenge over LNG project on Lelu

gitxsan-lelu-island-court-papers

Richard Wright holds up a federal judicial review application at a press conference in Vancouver, sitting among hereditary leaders.— image credit: Contributed: Mychaylo Prystupa

by  Shannon Lough, The Northern View, January 10, 2017

The federal government is facing another lawsuit filed by a northern First Nation dissatisfied with the consultation process during the environmental assessment of the Pacific NorthWest LNG project.

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Gitxsan First Nation launches court challenge against LNG approval

Lelu Island proposal graphicPacific NorthWest LNG project to be built near Prince Rupert

The Canadian Press January 10, 2017

Members of a B.C. First Nation are launching another legal challenge of a massive liquefied natural gas project proposed for the province’s north coast.

Several hereditary chiefs with the Gitxsan First Nation are in Vancouver today to announce their opposition to the Pacific Northwest LNG project, a project backed by Malaysia’s state oil company Petronas.

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Protesters continue to occupy Gitwangak band office

gitwangat-occupation-1

Gitwangak members occupying the band office, Dec 20, 2016.  Photo: CFNR FM.

Gitwangak band members continue to occupy parts of the band office.  They say they’re concerned that the Gitwangak Band Council is taking over the administration of education services.  Previously, education for the community was provided by the Gitwangak Education Society. Read the rest of this entry

Photo Essay: Trail Building in Maxhla Didaat

trapping-trail-7

Looking north from the cabin at Maxhla Didaat.

I recently had the opportunity to travel to Maxhla Didaat, a Gitxsan territory belonging to the House of Gwininitxw.  I was part of a crew working on building trails for trap lines in the territory, which is located about 100 km north of Kispiox, “BC.”  Read the rest of this entry

Anti-pipeline Gitxsan angry over province’s deal with unelected band chiefs

Gitxsan blockade Dec 2014

Gitxsan protest against proposed LNG projects, including the Pacific Northwest LNG pipeline.

‘You’ve brought shame to Gitxsan’

By George Baker, Andrew Kurjata, CBC News, October 20, 2016

Members of the Gitxsan First Nation opposed to pipeline development are outraged that nine unelected hereditary chiefs are working on a deal with the province connected to a natural gas pipeline on B.C.’s North Coast. Read the rest of this entry

Northwest B.C. Aboriginal Nations Decry “Deeply Flawed” LNG Assessment Process

lelu island hereditary chiefs

Indigenous leaders gather on Lelu island where the Lax Kw’alaams First Nation has set up camp to protest the construction of the Petronas LNG terminal. Photograph: SkeenaWatershed Coalition

“Our disappointment is profound”

Market Wired, September 1, 2016

TERRACE, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwired – Sept. 1, 2016) – Northwest Aboriginal nations have emerged from two days of meetings with the federal government demanding that its “deeply flawed” environmental assessment of a massive LNG proposal be delayed, in light of unfair and incomplete consultation with affected First Nations.

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Indigenous artist ‘putting Gitxsan people on the map’ in China

sterritt-china-mural

Gitxan artist and CBC journalist Angela Sterritt spent five days in China creating this mural. (Angela Sterritt)

‘Maybe my art will provide a small glimpse of seeing our people in a … more accurate light’: Angela Sterritt

CBC News, August 31, 2016

A Gitxsan artist from British Columbia is among several artists from around the world chosen to create murals at a mountain village resort in China.

“To be able to put Gitxsan people on the map and shed light on the reality and history of Indigenous people in Canada is something I am very grateful for,” Sterritt said.

Angela Sterritt, who is also an award-winning journalist, spent five days painting her mural on a 10-seven-foot wall in a resort on Mount Longhu in Jiangxi, a province in southeast China. Read the rest of this entry