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30 May 2003
Gali Aks Gitxsan
 The Hereditary Chiefs of the Gitxsan are poised to sign an interim agreement with the Province of British Columbia scheduled for 12:00 noon, Sunday, June 1, 2003 at the Kispiox Community Hall, Kispiox Village, BC. The Hereditary Chiefs of Kispiox will receive Micheal de Jong, Minister of Forests, and Geoff Plant, Minister of Attorney General and Responsible for Treaty Negotiations about 11:30 AM, a feast lunch will be served about noon, followed by the formal signing of the agreement about 1:00 PM.
British Columbia will recognize that the historic and contemporary use and stewardship of land and resources by the Gitxsan wilp are integral to the maintenance of Gitxsan society, governance and economy within the Gitxsan traditional territory. They will also acknowledge that the Gitxsan simgigyat represent the huwilph Gitxsan, the Gitxsan extended families. Forest tenure, reforestation, business development, and cash are other considerations.
The purpose of the interim agreement is to facilitate peace in the valley, with the firm understanding that in subsequent short-term and long-term agreements the province will accommodate Gitxsan interests. The most fundamental entity in Gitxsan Society is the wilphl Gitxsan, the Gitxsan extended family, led by the simogyat, the hereditary chief. The domain of each family includes and are inseparable with their respective territories.
In December 10, 2002, Justice Tysoe of the BC Supreme Court, in Yal et al v. MOF et al, found that the Gitxsan have a good prima facie claim of aborigina title and a strong prima facie claim of aboriginal rights. At the June 15, 2003 report to Justice Tysoe and regarding the incremental approach to seeking workable accommodation commencing with the interim agreement, to be followed by a short-term agreement, and later, a long-term agreement, Mr. Justice Tysoe says “It is excellent that the parties are approaching this on an incremental basis. I understand fully that some issues may be too overwhelming for just one agreement. This is an excellent approach.”
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For more information, contact:
Elmer Derrick, Chief Negotiator, Gitxsan Treaty Office, (250) 635.5532 or (250) 842.6780 Local 319
Bev Clifton-Percival, Gitxsan Negotiator, Gitxsan Treaty Society, (250) 842.6780 Local 370
Gordon Sebastian, Legal Counsel for the Gitxsan, (250) 842.0078
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