Get on the bus for the Summer Action Camp
In August 2012, Forest Action Network sponsored the first caravan to the Unis'tot'en Camp. We brought 100 volunteers and tons of food and supplies to help build the cabins and outbuildings. This summer, we're doing it again. The people of the land are calling for volunteers and donations to stop unethical pipeline companies before they do more damage.
Indigenous leaders from Unis'tot'en and other clans are refusing access to pipeline crews for the Enbridge Northern Gateway, Coastal Gas and Pacific Trail pipelines. This spring, they are expanding the defense of their land with traditional pithouses on the Wedzin Kwah (Morice River) in the path of the pipelines. Sign up now for the summer action camp.
Please support the land defenders
Forest Action Network has pledged a caravan of volunteers, tools, and supplies for the camp.
Want to volunteer? Please scroll down for more info. People with permaculture experience are especially invited to share their skills.
Members of the Wet'suwe'ten First Nation are turning away pipeline workers and surveyors trying to start work on the pipelines. The intruders have been warned about trespassing on unceded land. The Unis'tot'en people are supported by their neighbours in the Likhts’amisyu Clan, the Gidem'ten Clan and other indigenous and non-indigenous allies.
The oil and gas companies are trying to change the pipeline route and get around the cabins we helped build last year. The Unis'tot'en and other clan leaders have pledged to block the new route as well.
Image: Wedzin Kwah, Morice River (center), where grassroots Wet'suwet'en are making a stand to stop pipeline companies from entering their unceded territory. Top to bottom: Unis'tot'en Camp (star), Morice River West Forest Service Road (white line), fracking pipelines Pacific Trail (red) and Coastal Gas (blue); Enbridge Northern Gateway tar sands pipeline (black).
The clan leaders are building traditional pit houses along the Wedzin Kwah (Morice River) at the new pipeline right-of-way, about a kilometer from the camp cabin.
The dates of the camp are being arranged. We are planning for the second week of July, leaving Victoria and Vancouver July 6 and returning July 15.
Cost: A sliding-scale donation of $50-$200 covers fuel, supplies, and a donation to the camp. The WildCoast fund will cover the cost for people who are indigenous.
Thank you for your support!
Can't see the form? Sign up here.
Unis'tot'en defenders order pipeline surveyors off their territory
On the evening of November 20 2012, a Wet’suwet’en chief near Houston BC intercepted a pipeline surveying crew and presented them with a notice of trespass and a verbal warning. The surveyors said they were with the Can-Am Geomatics company, working to prepare the way for Apache’s proposed Pacific Trails Pipeline (PTP). Chief Toghestiy handed the crew leader an eagle feather, which is the first and only notice of trespass in Wet’suwet’en law. The defenders ordered the surveyors (and all other people associated with PTP) to leave the territory and not return to Unis’tot’en land.
As a result of the unsanctioned PTP work in the Unist’ot’en yintah (territory), the road leading into the territory has been closed to all industry activities until further notice. Morice River West Forest Service Road is closed at the bridge over Wedzin Kwah (Morice River) 66 km south of Houston.
Toghestiy states: “I have invoked the Wet’suwet’en Inuk nu’ot’en (Law) called Bi Kyi Wa’at’en (Responsibility of a husband to respectfully use and protect his wife’s territory) to issue a trespass notice to Pipeline workers on her sovereign territory. My Clan’s territory called Lho Kwa (Clore River) is located behind the Unist’ot’en territory adjacent to the Coastal town of Kitimat and it is our responsibility to protect our territory as well. We will be stopping all proposed pipelines.”
After the surveyors were turned back, a crew from Unist’ot’en camp snowmobiled out to Crystal Road, 20 kms from camp, to retrieve materials the crew left behind by the work crew. The materials were brought back to camp where they are being held until Apache and PTP agree to open up appropriate lines of communication with the Unist’ot’en and grassroots Wet’suwet’en, according to the Free, Prior and Informed Consent Protocol and laws of their sovereign unceded territories
The Wet’suwet’en are made up of five Clans, with territories that they are expected to manage for their future generations. The Unis’tot’en clan has been dead-set against all pipelines slated to cross through their territories, which include PTP, Enbridge’s Northern Gateway, and many others. The Unis’tot’en have established a permanent community along the Widzin Kwa (Morice River) directly in the path of the proposed energy corridor and made their opposition extremely clear.
Freda Huson, spokeswoman for the Unis’tot’en Clan, states: “PTP does not have permission to be on our territory. It’s unceded land. We said 'NO!' in their meetings. We’ve written them letters; I’ve sent them emails, saying “absolutely NO!” to their projects. Consider it trespass when you enter our territory without permission. You’ve received your warning. Don’t come back!”
This marks the second time that eagle feathers have been issued to pipeline workers. On August 23rd, 2010, Toghestiy and Hagwilakw of the Likhts’amisyu clan gave Enbridge representatives trespass warnings during a Smithers Town Council meeting where Enbridge attended to attempt to smooth over their recent oil spill on the Kalamazoo River.
More info: Watch subMedia's short video about the Unis'tot'en community. Visit the community’s website.
Please note that the Unis’tot’en People and other Grassroots Wet’suwet’en are not associated with the Office of the Wet’suwet’en.
Call to action
Indigenous people are calling for solidarity to stop the bulldozing of the pipeline route across Northern BC to Kitimat this fall. Pacific Trail Pipeline company has provincial approval to clear hundreds of kilometers of forests, streams, and wetlands for their gas pipeline and the Enbridge Northern Gateway project. Clans in the Wet'suwet'en First Nation say NO. They are calling for support for the Unis'tot'en Camp in the path of the pipelines.
CHEERS TO THE DEFENDERS!
