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| Jan. 16, 2013 Photo Lizzy Williams via APTN |
by Dini Ze Toghestiy on Wednesday
Press statement
Posted at Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com
Gitwangak, BC – The Gitxsan of Gitwangak announce that there will be a CN Rail Blockade happening on January 16, 2013, between the times of 10:00 am and 6:00 pm.
As Idle No More moves ahead with blockades throughout North America Gitwagak moves ahead to show their support for the Idle No More actions as well as the ongoing blockade with the Unist’ot’en Camp.
“We the people of Gitwangak, of the Gitxsan Nation, stand unified on this day of action to answer the call of all first nations across Canada in support of idle no more and to oppose Bill C-45. Bill C-45 is designed to provide quick development access to resource extraction industries, which operate on First Nations lands. Bill C45’s amendments to the Indian Act will give the ministry of Aboriginal affairs access over First Nations lands and the government authority to determine the surrender of any portion of any first Nation territory at any given time.
Furthermore, new changes to the Fisheries Act undermine Canada’s Ecology and removes legal barriers to oil, pipeline and other companies. Under the new changes, the developer will no longer be responsible for fixing the environmental and habitat damage they cause. We are the stewards of the land. We will continue to fight for future generations.” States Fred Johnson, Spokesperson for the Gitwangak people.
The Gitxsan vow to escalate actions in the near future if genuine progress is not made between the Federal and Provincial Governments and the Indigenous Peoples of Canada. Indigenous peoples of Canada have inspired a movement that has gone global. The Idle No More movement focuses on Treaty and Non-Treaty experiences with injustices as in the recent Omnibus Bill passed by the majority Conservative government of Canada. For the Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en, the famous 1997 Delamuukw v. Queen Supreme Court of Canada Case stated that meaningful negotiations between government agencies and Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en Peoples must happen in a timely manner.
The Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en have not seen any form of meaningful negotiations since that court case more than 15 years ago.
“As long as meaningful negotiations are not engaged in between the parties the members of the Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en Nations will keep on pressing the issue with the governments of Canada and British Columbia. We will not go away or be silenced. We’ve come too far and fought too hard for that to happen.” Stated Fred Johnson.
For More Information Contact: Fred Johnson (250) 849-5573
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