The Musgmagw Dzawada’enuwx Nation have stood in opposition to fish farms in their territory for nearly 30 years. Since time immemorial they have protected their salmon and herring  for future generations.

Our people have spoken.

Fish farms must be removed from our territories.










Video link:Musgamagw Dzawada'enuxw Cleansing Our Waters

To donate and more information here: cleansingourwaters.com

Secwepemc Women's Warrior Society takes on Imperial Metals

link to full article.

YUCT NE SENXIYMETKEW CAMP Video Link

"an investigation by Discourse Media, which sent two reporters to Lax Kw’alaams, suggests that no vote in favour of the project ever occurred."


This is the worst find of divisive, manipulative DECEPTION and the Clark government should be ashamed!


Click here for full story.

Statement of Concern

Statement of Concerned Scholars on the Site C dam project, Peace River, British Columbia 

Based on evidence raised across our many disciplines, the undersigned scholars have concluded that there were significant gaps and inadequacies in the regulatory review and environmental assessment process for the Site C Project, a hydroelectric dam on the Peace River currently in the preliminary stages of construction. Our assessment is that this process did not accord with the commitments of both the provincial and federal governments to reconciliation with and legal obligations to First Nations, protection of the environment, and evidence-based decision-making with scientific integrity.

Read more here: https://sitecstatement.org

A variety of ways to fight Site C at this link:

keeping the peace

BC Hydro dropped off an impressive stack of paper yesterday claiming they are making an application for an injunction in B.C. Supreme Court to keep people who are protesting the Site C dam project from camping overnight at its Vancouver office at 333 Dunsmuir. So it is not an actual injunction even--just the threat of one. 

The camp has been operating 24 hours a day at the Dunsmuir Street building since it began on March 13, 

Hydro claims the camp 1) poses "health and safety risks" 2) "impedes emergency evacuation routes," and 3) camp members "are intimidating employees and passers by."

All of these claims are false. A fire marshall has inspected the site and cleared it. BC Hydro itself has blocked exits and removed door handles. The camp members are all polite and helpful to all passers by. 

So this is (another--similar to the Rocky Mtn Fort injunction) bullying measure trying to stifle the right to peceful protest and the truths about the Site C project that the camp are expressing.

The provincial context for the Rocky Mountain Fort camp and the Treaty 8 Stewards of the Land resistance to the controversial project includes the Lelu Island Declaration opposing Petronas and LNG development, the Unist’ot’en camp resisting TransCanada/Enbridge/Pacific Trail pipelines, the Secwepemc protest in the Mount Polley disaster aftermath, the Tahltan defence of the Sacred Headwaters against development on Klappan Mountain—all within the context of the legal rights and rightful occupation of traditional lands established in the Supreme Court of Canada’s 1997 Delgamuukw decision.

Read more. . . Links to full articles:

Northword articles - Campfire Sites of Decolonization

On the Wedzin Kwa

The Tricky Business of Protocol and Permission

- This is a crucial time to support Lelu Island in every way we can! On January 23rd, 2016, the nine allied tribes of Lax Kw'alaams signed the Lelu Island Declaration calling for protection of Lelu Island and Flora and Agnew Banks from corporate resource extraction for all time. The Declaration, also signed by Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, MLAs Jennifer Rice, Doug Donaldson, and Robin Austin, and MP Nathan Cullen, came about in response to continued attempts by Petronas and its North American branch, Pacific Northwest LNG, to begin work on a liquified fracked gas facility at Lelu.

- The federal government released its Draft Environmental Assessment for the project on Feb.11 - in spite of its lack of authority on traditional, unceded indigenous territory. On March 11th, the 30-day comment period for the assessment will end, and the Government will release its final decision on the project by March 22. The company has said they are ready to begin construction immediately. 

- In May 2015, the Lax Kw'allams people voted 100% NO to the LNG project, despite being offered $1.4 Billion from Petronas. Lax Kw'allams hereditary leaders have been occupying their territory since August to turn away contractors pushing the rejected project forward. 

"Our Traditional ways of life and the resources which have sustained our people are not to be pawns in the Christie Clark Government's LNG dreams. Development within our Traditional territories must have our Free, Prior and Informed consent. The people of Lax'walams spoke very clearly in their rejection of the 1.25 billion dollar offer from Petronas, and this camp builds upon that rejection. This issue is not just a First Nations issue but one that will affect all British Columbians, especially those who rely upon healthy and abundant Fish stocks, of a variety of species at the mouth of the Skeena River."

                        - Lax Kw'alaams Hereditary Chief Yahaan (Donald Wesley) 

"Construction crews on the Site C dam failed to adequately control sediment and runoff into the Peace River, potentially hurting fish populations, Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) investigators have found." See more at The Alaska Highway News

Prince Rupert Port authority demands Lelu Island Camp be dismantled. Although its 'authority' is questionable. See full story at The Northern Review

Join supporters / hunger strike / tent city against Site C 

outside BC Hydro offices downtown Vancouver.

Lelu Island / Flora Bank video

Click here for a great interactive map of sites of indigenous resistance to industry and development.

Photo by Christy Jordan-Fenton

The Rocky Mtn Fort began to be dismantled after BC Hydro's injunction was upheld by Mr. Justice Butler at the Vancouver courthouse Monday, Feb 29. Betsy Trumpener capture the sadness at the setback here. Since then a hunger strike outside the BC Hydro office in Vancouver has begun 

and David Suzuki has written a letter expressing his disappointment:

Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2016 11:43 AM

To: Jessica MacDonald

Subject: Letter from David Suzuki

Dear Jessica,

I’m deeply disappointed with BC Hydro's heavy-handed tactics in dealing with Treaty 8 community members and their supporters, who had been camped at the historical Rocky Mountain Fort in the Peace Valley for weeks. I'm told efforts had been made to broker a discussion between people at the camp and you before Hydro sought a court injunction to remove them.

Throughout the regulatory process and consultation with affected First Nations, BC Hydro has never been able to make the case that power from the Site C dam is needed or that the project is worth the enormous cost to Indigenous lands and livelihoods, not to mention prime farmland and wildlife habitat.

Peer-reviewed research by the David Suzuki Foundation found that nearly two-thirds of the Peace region has already been devastated by human land use, from fracking to logging to mining, as well as earlier major hydro developments on the Peace River. The Joint Review Panel concluded that the cumulative impacts of this development are massive, and the negative consequences for First Nations and their treaty rights cannot be mitigated.

With Treaty 8 First Nations still in court, these issues remain unresolved. And yet BC Hydro has chosen to steamroll forward, in the absence of proper due diligence and without social license to proceed. Expert after expert has concluded that halting development on the dam to allow these court cases to conclude will not come at a cost to BC Hydro but will in fact save money for Hydro's customers.

I urge you to use common sense and halt work on the Site C dam and sit down with First Nations. The days of running roughshod over First Nations and local communities must end.

Yours sincerely,

David Suzuki

Also, this protest will take place March 13.

http://raventrust.com/join-the-circle-no-site-c/

Rob Smith has Defiance: The story of Freda Huson. 

She’s so determined to stop a pipeline from crossing her clan’s traditional territory, she’s built her home right on the GPS co-ordinates of Chevron’s proposed Pacific Trail pipeline. Huson believes she’s going to halt big business in their tracks.

http://aptn.ca/news/2016/02/05/aptn-investigates-defiance/

“Our people have a deep connection with this land because our ancestors told the stories and legends that are connected to that valley.” -- Chief Liz Logan, Treaty 8 Tribal Association, testifying before the environmental impact assessment of the proposed Site C hydroelectric dam.

link to Amnesty International letter and petition

from Unist'ot'en Camp:

PLEASE SHARE!! It's been a tumultuous 36 hours here at Unist'ot'en Camp. Our friends at Lelu Island, Madii Lii, and at Site C have all being sorting through political events that have been unfolding around our perfectly legal and legitimate stances against unwanted industrial giga projects. Projects which are threatening our existence as well as the collective existence of all those who depend on potable waters and healthy foods which come from healthy environments. Firstly, we witnessed BC’s Premier Christy Clark travel to Ottawa with her entourage of elected Indigenous officials who willing sell out lands and rights which belong to the larger collective groups of their people. She returned from that emergency meeting feeling bolstered that her frack dreams will not be hindered by Trudeau’s new oil and gas infrastructure regulations. 36 hours ago we heard rumors that she and Trudeau are feeling confident enough about the Bitumen and Frack plans to begin plans to take down the Resistance camps which stand in the way of the ill planned, dangerous, and unfeasible giga-projects. Rumors are that they may want to serve some form of injunction to the camps and accompany them with reasons for immediate arrests. 

Over the last 24 hours we are learning about an interesting development around RCMP tactical training in and around the town of Kitimat. http://cfnrfm.ca/rcmp-training-in-kitimat/ 

We've also just learned that under Justin Trudeau's approval the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency has just released its draft report for the Pacific Northwest LNG project for Lelu Island.
http://www.thenorthernview.com/news/368403011.html… 

There has been a constant optimism amongst those of us who have remained active on these frontlines. That optimism comes from good people like you who have shown us unconditional support since day one of our occupations. We thank you all for that and are asking for your continued vigilance and support through these uncertain times. The Fascism that has revealed itself may attempt to begin ruling with an iron fist. It may be up to good people to oust the tyrants who wield the weapons of injustice for their corporate overlords. It is WE who wield the true power. Collectively we have all awoken from our slumber only to reveal a desperate time for all life forms on this ravaged Earth. Together we can all make it known that this chaos will not continue. It must and will be stopped.

From Rocky Mtn Fort Camp:

"We are raising funds for upcoming projected court legal and legal team battles for the dedicated Rocky Mountain Fort Campers from January 1, 2016 who are willing to be arrested to protect the Peace Valley from further destruction.
We are up against a big Corporation - BC Hydro and government opposing no more of lifetime destruction of the Peace Valley - Peace River & Moberly River. We did not consent to this massive destruction and it is an insult to destroy when there are 5 court cases pending both federal and provincially supreme courts. Thus far they had destroyed forever Eagle's nests, Beaver Dams, many other birds nests and animal dens, timber and changed the landscaping of this region.
-this massive destruction  must be stop or temporary stopped until all 5 court cases are settled.
-And for a complete BC Utilities Commission Report to be conducted and completed. 

We are standing true north and free to Save the Peace Valley. 
Landowners & ranchers & farmers have a lot to lose-their homes, farms and agricultural, if this destruction continues.

Dedicated Rocky Mountain Fort Campers in solidarity are: Treaty 8 Stewards of Land, Treaty 8 members-Elders & youths, Peace Valley Landowners  and others who did not consent to this mega dam project- Dr David Suzuki and UCIBC-Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, and numerous entities and groups. 
Our goal is to continue to protect the Boreal forest all its habitats and environmental benefits we need as humans. It had old growth trees and historical value.

Click here to donate.

All donations accepted will be for legal expenses.
▪Email transfers are not accepted at this time -only go fund me app.▪
■On behalf of the Rocky Mountain Fort Campers thank you. 
▪join our social media champaign as well" 

"Luutkudziiwus is a House Group of the Gitxsan Nation. We continue to use and occupy our traditional Madii Lii territory as we have since time immemorial. 

We are guided by Gwalx Yee’insxw, the most sacred of Gitxsan obligations and responsibilities. Gwalx Yee’insxw is grounded in principles that encompass our ancestral inheritance handed down through generations. This inheritance – the land, rivers, mountains; all life on the land, in the air, and in the waters; our history and culture; our spiritual areas and sites; the tangible and the intangible – is passed from one generation to the next, never extinguishing or diminishing in value. 

We are stopping development proposed for our territories that attempts to exploit our resources, as well as that which directly or indirectly continues the colonization of our House members and culture. Currently, this means we have closed 32 km of our Madii Lii territory to TransCanada's proposed Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) fracked gas pipeline. A permanent Madii Lii home place has been built and a gate erected to control access to the territory. 

Luutkudziiwus plans include community-based cultural revitalization programs for First Nation family and friends, as well as providing opportunities for non FNs to take part in our culture and traditions in order that we may all build a better world. We value your continued support  in our efforts to decolonize, sustain social justice, protect our environment, and slow down climate change by helping to stop fracking and pipelines." 

Hamiiya (with gratitude),

Wilp Luutkudziiwus

More here: Madii Lii

Facebook event link here: Lelu Island fundraiser in Vancouver

The proposed Petronas LNG development on Lax U'u'la (Lelu Island) and Flora Bank, part of the Skeena River estuary near Prince Rupert, will certainly fail. The struggle is being fought out on many fronts--legal, political, scientific, cultural, economic, in the media, out on the land and out on the water--by a coordinated and determined group of Tsimshians who will never back down or be bought off. The resistence is being led by the Gitwilgyoots, with the support of the Allied Tribes of Lax Kw'alaams, other Tsimshians from Harley Bay to Metlakatla to Kitsumkalum, Gitxsan and Wet'sutwet'en hereditary chiefs, crews with Haida, Babine, Tahltan, Nisga'a, Haisla and people from all over. According to an insider at the B.C. Premier's office, Christie Clark is "shitting her pants" over the situation. Petronas is on the verge of cancelling the project.

Please join us for a discussion of on-the-ground-and-water aspects of the resistance with defenders from the camp. The event will be of special interest to people wanting to visit the island and join in direct but disciplined tactical responses to aggression by Petronas contractors and who have respect for the Tsimshian hereditary system. We will also screen the new short film "A Last Stand for Lelu" (https://vimeo.com/152232324).

Donations to help pay for the costs of fuel, one of our main ongoing expenses, are appreciated. Note that seating is very limited.

Dear Prime Minister Trudeau, Premier Christy Clark and Jessica Macdonald (BC Hydro),

For several weeks, Treaty 8 First Nation members have peacefully occupied a winter camp not far from where BC Hydro is preparing to build the Site C dam on the Peace River.

On January 18, Treaty 8 Stewards of the Land, with the support of others who have also occupied the camp, formally called on the federal and provincial governments to suspend approvals for dam construction so that issues of fundamental concern to Treaty 8 Stewards of the Land and many others could be answered prior to any further work commencing.

We asked for:

• A temporary suspension of all construction and land-clearing operations related to the Site C dam project until court challenges initiated by First Nations and local landowners who are opposed to the project are finally determined.
• The federal government to temporarily suspend all federal Site C dam project approvals and the issuance of any future permits pending an expedited, open and transparent federal review of the infringement of Constitutionally protected Treaty 8 rights by the Site C dam.
• The provincial government to temporarily suspend all construction work at the Site C dam site pending an independent review by the BC Utilities Commission of the Site C dam project, with full procedural safeguards, as recommended by the federal/provincial Joint Review Panel and many others.

Just prior to issuing that statement, we were formally approached by BC Hydro officials inviting us to meet with them to discuss our concerns. We were asked by BC Hydro to identify whom we wished to speak to, and when and where we wished to discuss our concerns.

After giving all of you time to consider our three-point plan to protect Treaty 8 lands that would be flooded by the Site C dam, we respectfully request a meeting with each of you or a senior designate to discuss this serious matter and to hear your formal responses.

We believe that a meeting held at a mutually agreeable and convenient location in Vancouver in the near future makes sense. We respectfully ask that that meeting involve Treaty 8Stewards of the Land members along other key First Nation leaders we invite to attend.

We formally invite each of you to be at the meeting. If you are unable to attend, we ask that you appoint appropriate senior designates to attend in your absence. In the case of federal and provincial government designates, we respectfully request that if the Prime Minister and/or Premier are unable to attend that an appropriate Cabinet minister and his or her deputy attend in your place.

As a sign of good faith, we request that until such a meeting takes place any actions contemplated by BC Hydro and/or the provincial government to remove Treaty 8 First Nation members and our supporters peacefully occupying the winter camp near the construction zone for the Site C dam be halted.

Facebook Fundraiser here:
Writing for the Frontlines--Treaty 8 Rocky Mtn Fort Stewards of the Land Fundraiser

"[Indigenous people] were guaranteed in the treaties that they would be able to live the way they want to live as long as the sun shines, the wind blows and the rivers flow," said Suzuki.

"They trusted us and believed us, and to this day this is all indigenous leaders tell me, we just want Canada to live up to what they say."

Read/hear more here: David Suzuki on Site C

Link: The defiance of Freda Huson. APTN

'Take Me To The Water " on PeaceFM.CA tonight live at 9 pm MST tonight and hear the interviews with Helen Knott and David Suzuki which were done down at Rocky Mtn Fort..hope you enjoy and mark your support for the program on our FB site....and here is the three-part show:  https://www.mixcloud.com/wate…/playlists/on-the-river-front/

link to : PG protest planned for Site C job fair

Lelu Island Declaration

The undersigned First Nation leaders and citizens of the Nine Allied Tribes of Lax Kw’alaams hereby declare that Lelu Island, and Flora and Agnew Banks are hereby protected for all time, as a refuge for wild salmon and marine resources, and are to be held in trust for all future generations.

Our ancestral knowledge, supported by modern science, confirms this area is critical to the future abundance of the wild salmon our communities rely on. It is our right and our responsibility as First Nations to protect and defend this place. It is our right to use this area without interference to harvest salmon and marine resources for our sustenance, and commercially in support of our livelihoods.

We hereby extend an invitation to all First Nations, the governments of Canada and British Columbia, and all communities that depend on the health of Lelu Island, Flora and Agnew Banks and the Skeena River estuary, to join us in defending this unique and precious place, and to protect it for all time.

Signed, on this day January 23, 2016, in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada.

The "Protection" of Lelu Island, Flora and Agnew Banks is specific to industrial development and is not designed to curtail traditional or historic indigenous and non indigenous food gathering and harvesting in the area. Commercial and recreational fishing, berry picking and other food gathering activities will continue.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN FORT CAMP, BC, Treaty 8 Territory, Jan. 18, 2016 /CNW/ - First Nation members today called on the Canadian and British Columbian governments to embrace a three-point plan that will protect lands at imminent threat of destruction as preparatory work continues to build the Site C dam. "As Treaty 8 Stewards of the Land, we have been camped out at Rocky Mountain Fort for many days in accordance with our belief that the Site C dam project represents a direct, and unnecessary threat to the traditional lands of Treaty 8 peoples," said Yvonne Tupper. "We call on Prime Minister Trudeau and Premier Christy Clark to work with us to ensure that these lands are protected by temporarily suspending approvals to log forests, build roads, and clear further lands in preparation for dam construction."

The three-point plan calls for:

• A temporary suspension of all construction and land-clearing operations related to the Site C dam project until court challenges initiated by First Nations and local landowners who are opposed to the project are finally determined.
• The federal government to temporarily suspend all federal Site C dam project approvals and the issuance of any future permits pending an expedited, open and transparent federal review of the infringement of Constitutionally protected Treaty 8 rights by the Site C dam.
• The provincial government to temporarily suspend all construction work at the Site C dam site pending an independent review by the BC Utilities Commission of the Site C dam project, with full procedural safeguards, as recommended by the federal/provincial Joint Review Panel and many others.

Today's release of the three-point protection plan marks the 20th day that Treaty 8 First Nation Stewards of Land, joined by local landowners and supporters from across British Columbia, have been camped at the historic Rocky Mountain Fort site. The camp stands a short distance from where the Moberly River meets the Peace River, just up-river from the proposed Site C dam site. The dam, if built, would flood 107 kilometres of river valley lands along the Peace River and its tributaries and lead for example to the permanent loss of numerous First Nation burial grounds, other culturally and historically important sites, and valuable farmland. Historically and still today, the Peace River has been the entranceway to vast bountiful lands and waters, as well as being the foothold that has welcomed and provided for many different groups of people and enterprises. There are two significant events that explain why we are united and with peaceful intent to protect and care for the Peace River Valley.  First, along these waters and islands of the Peace River, battling Beaver (also known as the Dane-zaa) and Cree agreed to a truce so that their future generations could co-exist and be sustained by the land and water in perpetuity. Secondly, the signing of the Treaty in the Peace River Valley between First Nations and the Crown promised that we would live a peaceful shared co-existence. Also, First Nations were guaranteed to be able to always pursue their usual vocations prior to entering into Treaty and without forced interference.

There are other examples of peaceful relationships with First Nations: explorers were guided into new places; fur traders were taught ways to survive and prospered; gold seekers passed through freely; and, pioneer families established farming homesteads. These longstanding relationships and the solemn promises of Treaty are what guide us and it is in that spirit that we are here today at the Rocky Mountain Fort Camp and its surroundings on the south banks of the Peace River Valley.  We, the Treaty 8 Stewards of the Land and our supporters, are direct descendants of the people who were the first inhabitants, Treaty signatories, and later, settlers of the Peace River Valley. 

We are reasonable, responsible, and law abiding citizens.  We are mothers, youth, Elders, farmers, bushmen, business owners, teachers and artists. Our support is not only local but nation-wide.  We are respectful and have no intent to be involved in any occurrences that would be unsafe or harmful to either humans and property. "We continue to be involved in the peaceful, lawful exercise of our Treaty Rights to protect the land and highlight our concerns about the irreversible, negative impacts that this project will have on the Peace River Valley and on the exercise of our constitutionally protected Treaty 8 rights," said Art Napoleon. "We want a binding commitment from the federal and provincial governments that they will honor, respect and take into proper consideration the findings and recommendations emanating from the above three action items. Once the three actions are completed, then the governments can decide whether or not to lift the suspension on Site C's construction or to make the suspension permanent," said Helen Knott. The Treaty 8 Stewards of the Land contacted internationally respected energy expert Robert McCullough to ask whether or not a temporary suspension of construction of the Site C Dam would be costly to BC taxpayers and hydro ratepayers.

Robert McCullough replied,"The short answer is no. The federal/provincial Site C Joint Review Panel found that Site C is being built before it is needed and so the relatively high cost Site C power will be exported at a loss for the first four years of operation. BC Hydro is likely to lose 50 cents on every dollar of Site C power exported during the first four years of operation. This amounts to a loss of hundreds of millions of dollars, which is likely to more than offset the costs associated with temporarily suspending Site C Construction.  Ironically, BC Hydro is concerned about delay while regional bulk power electric prices are falling to their lowest levels in history. The U.S. Energy Information Administration annual on-peak average price for our region has fallen to just 41% of its levels since 2007. Current prices -- and forward prices through 2025 -- are approximately half the price of Site C."

This information demonstrates the economic folly of Site C.  Clearly the Treaty 8 Stewards of the Land and their supporters are acting in the best interests of all British Columbians.

SOURCE Treaty 8 Stewards of the Land: For further information: Helen Knott, Treaty 8 Steward of the Land at (250) 280-2277; Art Napoleon, Treaty 8 Steward of the Land at (250) 818-5626; Yvonne Tupper, Treaty 8 Steward of the Land at (250) 874 0079; On Cost of Delay: Robert McCullough, McCullough Research, at (503) 784-3758