Big Oil and Gas Resistance in BC: The Unist’ot’en Call to the Land

RESIST: The Unist’oten’s Call to the Land is one of two documentaries on a year-round resistance to exploitative industry, and what it represents in relation to indigenous sovereignty and the environmental, legal, and social issues surrounding pipeline projects in British Columbia.

No Pipelines on Unceded Wet’suwet’en Territory

Published By The Unist’ot’en Camp 

The Unist’ot’en Camp is a resistance community whose purpose is to protect sovereign Wet’suwet’en Nation territory from several proposed pipelines from the Tar Sands Gigaproject and shale gas from Hydraulic Fracturing Projects in the Peace River Region.

Wet’suwet’en territory, which extends from Burns Lake to the Pacific Coastal Mountains, is sovereign territory which has never been ceded to the colonial Canadian state; the Wet’suwet’en are not under treaty with the Canadian government. Their territory, therefore, is and always will be free, and belongs to the Wet’suwet’en people alone.

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The Unist’ot’en Are Holding Their Ground Against Oil & Gas Pipelines – AJ+

Since July of 2010, the Wet’suwet’en have established a camp in the pathway of the Pacific Trails Pipeline. Likhts’amisyu hereditary chief Toghestiy states, “Unist’ot’en and Grassroots Wet’suwet’en have consistently stated that they will not allow such a pipeline to pass through their territory. The federal and provincial governments, as well as Indian Act tribal councils or bands, have no right or jurisdiction to approve development on Unist’ot’en lands. By consulting only with elected Indian Act tribal councils and bands, the Canadian government breaks its own laws as outlined in the 1997 Supreme Court of Canada Delgamuukw decision which recognizes Hereditary adjudication processes.”

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How To Stop An Oil And Gas Pipeline: The Unist’ot’en Camp Resistance – AlJazeera+

Freda Huson, spokeswoman for the Unist’ot’en Clan, states: “Pacific Trails Pipeline does not have permission to be on our territory. This is unceded land. Through emails and in meetings, we have repeatedly said NO. Pacific Trail Pipeline’s proposed route is through two main salmon spawning channels which provide our staple food supply. We have made the message clear to Pacific Trails, Enbridge, and all of industry: We will not permit any pipelines through our territory.”

STORY: SpOIL: Tar Sands Pipelines Threaten Great Bear Rainforest

The Unist’ot’en clan is against all pipelines slated to cross through their territories. This includes Enbridge Northern Gateway, Pacific Trails, Coast Gas Link, Kinder Morgan’s northern proposal, and others. Pacific Trails Pipeline is the most pressing and immediate threat to the community. Enbridge pipeline would be built side by side to – with essentially the same right of way as Pacific Trails, thus raising concerns that the Pacific Trails Pipeline might ‘blaze a trail’ for the Enbridge project.

STORY: Bear Witness: First Nations Protect Grizzlies in British Columbia

All lands of Turtle Island have never been ceded. The Wolf nations, the Bear nations, the Cougar nations, the Tree nations, the Stone nations, the River nations, the Salmon nations, the Feathered nations and on and on NEVER CEDED THESE LANDS to foreign occupying terrorists who call themselve “provincial and federal governments” also known as the “crown” They have no right to say what happens to any of our nations, they have no right to even stand on our lands. GO BACK TO HELL WHERE YOU BELONG!  — Jack Miller

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RESIST: The Unist’ot’en Call To The Land from Simple Matters Films.

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Updated November 22, 2015