Wet'suwet'en hereditary leaders level human rights complaint during speeches at United Nations forum

Hereditary leaders from the Wet'suwet'en Nation in northern B.C. toldthe United Nations special rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples Wednesday their human rights are being violated by pipeline development on their territory.

Hereditary chief Na'moksand Freda Huson,longtime spokesperson and resident at the Unist'ot'en camp in Wet'suwet'en territory, made statements to the special rapporteuratthe meeting of the UNPermanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York.

They expressedconcern over how tensions between their leadership, Canadian institutions and industry have been playing out in recent years, asking for the UN to take specific action.

"We are troubled by the ongoing trend in Canada that the interests of corporations for natural resource extraction are superseding the rights of Indigenous people on our lands and territories," Na'moks told the rapporteur.

Na'moks asked the UN to emphasize to Canada the need to fully implement the UN Declaration on the Rights ofIndigenous Peoples and that states need to recognize the human right of people to peacefully express dissent to activity in their territories without being criminalized.

Wet'suwet'en hereditary chief Na'moks addresses UN forum

5 years ago

Duration 3:34

Wet'suwet'en hereditary chief Na'moks addresses UN forum

The Wet'suwet'en hereditary leadership has long maintained it does not consent to pipelines being built through the traditional territory.

The Trans-Canada-owned CoastalGasLinkpipelineis part ofa$40 billion project that would move natural gas extracted from northeastern B.C. to the proposed LNG Canada facility inKitimatwhere the gas would be liquefied and shipped overseas.The projecthassecured provincial permits and approvals, as well as agreements with band governments.

CoastalGasLinkand its contractors had been unable to get permission to pass the gates at the Unist'ot'en camp on Wet'suwet'en territory. The company gotan interim injunction fromthe courtin December for access, which was enforced by RCMP in January.

Fourteen people were arrested by RCMP forviolating the injunction. They were facing civil contempt proceedings, but those charges were dropped on April 15. The injunction remains in effect.

In an emailed statement to CBCNewson Thursday a Coastal GasLinkspokesperson stated "There is strong support for this project from local and Indigenous communities along the route, including all 20 First Nations with whom we have agreements."

The company said the pipeline is part of a critical natural gas project that will meet global demands for cleaner energy.

"We remain focused on continuing to engage in constructive dialogue with local and Indigenous communities as we safely execute on this vital project," the statement said.

Wet'suwet'enhereditary leaders tell UNtheir laws are being broken

The Wet'suwet'en hereditary leadership maintainstheir laws are being broken on the territory, not Canadian laws.

"We are a government. We decide who comes on our territory. We are the hereditary chiefs. British Columbia and Canada only have presumed authority on our lands," said Na'moks.

"Indigenous legal orders and Indigenous systems of governance must be recognized and respected and not trampled upon in the interests of corporate development."

Freda Huson addresses UN forum

5 years ago

Duration 3:34

Freda Huson addresses UN forum

Husonalso addressed the rapporteur.

"I am here today to express concerns for human rights violations happening to my people," she said.

"The pipeline company is violating Wet'suwet'en law. Trespassing on our territory and starting to destroy the land."

Husonspoke about the historyof the Unist'ot'en settlement, stating that it's a reoccupation of their territory that has grown from a small footprint on the land to a community comprised of a healing lodge, cabin and pithouse.

"We have reoccupied our lands to prevent industry from invading and polluting them from pipeline projects. We have practiced free prior and informed consent to determine who is given access to our territory," she said.

Na'moks and Huson extended an invitationto the special rapporteur to come and visit their territory. Na'moks said the rapporteur has not responded to their request but hesaid they will be following up on their invitation.

The rapporteur exists under the umbrella of the UN Human Rights Commission and part of their mandate includes addressing specific cases of alleged violations.

B.C. says it's in dialogue with Wet'suwet'enNation

B.C.'s Indigenous relations ministry said it is committed to advancing meaningful reconciliation with the Wet'suwet'en Nation "with the goal of B.C. affirming Wet'suwet'en rights and title, guided by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Canadian jurisprudence such as the Supreme Court of Canada's Delgamuukw Gisday' Wa decision."

This dialogue between B.C. and the Wet'suwet'en hereditary leadership has only just begun and a provincial spokesperson said in an emailed statement that this process is not connected to any specific project.

The federal ministry ofCrown-Indigenous Relations has not yet responded to a request for comment.