GITXSAN ALTERNATIVE (your choice)

11 March 2010
Posted in Self Determination - Issue Papers

ISSUE - This question has been asked, "Can anyone ratify an agreement on Gitxsan rights and title - on your behalf, or make changes in your status, without your having a voice in that change?"

You have the vote

At some point in negotiations with Canada and BC, the issue of a change in status of every Gitxsan will have to be voted on. Only you, as a Gitxsan person, can ratify (and make valid) any proposed agreement to keep your rights and title to your lax yip, or to continue your life under the Indian Act. Canada, BC and the Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs will require that every person of Gitxsan descent must have an opportunity to vote on this issue. That is, to ratify or approve - by a vote - a treaty regarding Gitxsan rights and title. Ratification is defined as:

"To give formal approval to something - usually an agreement negotiated by somebody else - in order that it can become valid or operative."

33.000 sq kin (lax yip)

In the current negotiation process, the Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs, Simgiigyet, (authorized by the Delgamuukw decision to reconcile the pre-existence of Gitxsan society (1846) with crown legislation and in the BCTC tripartite process) have authority based on the ayokim Gitxsan to represent the Gitxsan people:

1. The Hereditary Chiefs sued the Province for 33,000 sq km under the Gitxsan land tenure system - on behalf of himself/herself and members of his house, wilp. (Delgamuuw, '97; Yal et a!, '02)

2. The governments have legally recognized the hereiitary system in three agreements: GWA Fisheries Agreement (22 years), Interim Forest Agreement, Short Term Forest Agreement (2006) and the Kemess Environmental Assessment process, 2007.

3. The hereditary chiefs of each of the 9 watersheds are in creation for all people in the area and revenue sharing between wilp and corporations/government departments. Legal tools have been created such as trusts, corporations and policies. (i.e., Suskwa, Gitsegukla and Gitwangak)

4. In 1987, at a Gitxsan Convention, the hereditary system took over full representation of 13,000 members of wiphl Gitxsan according to the ayookw (Gitxsan laws). Your Simogyat is your leader and you show your support in the feast hall - by contribution.

Historically, between 1977 and 1987 the Gitxsan were represented by the elected chief councilor in each of the eight bands, including Hagwilget and Moricetown - known then as the Gitxsan Wetsuwet'en Tribal Council (Indian Act). In that tribal council only 8 people voted in the executive, including the president. (Band members were not allowed to vote.) This ended in 1987.

This Gitxsan alternative is best understood through economics rather than politics, although both elements are center to its origins and its effects. However the choice is in your hands, no one has the authority to make that choice for you.

GITXSAN ALTERNATIVE?

02 February 2010
Posted in Self Determination - Issue Papers

ISSUE - What's in it for you?

33.000 Sq km (lax yip)

Because of the steps we took, there are Gitxsan people employed now who may otherwise be unemployed: 14 on the Suskwa watershed, 8 on the Gitwangak watershed Northwest Transmission Line; fl on the trail from Gisgaga'as to Bear Lake (Dam Smaex); 20 on Gitsegukia watershed, and . were on the Administration Building in the Gisgega'as Village.

What makes this possible is the Gitxsan hereditary system - the Gitxsan alternative. Simgiigyet are very happy to see their wilnathahl' earning a living. But you don't have to take their word for it. Talk to their children that are happy in school, and can afford things like their own hockey equipment. Talk to the workers that were skeptical about the direction of the Gitxsan alternative until they were employed on lax yip that they own - earning a living as our ancestors have done!

We realize that for every success story, there are other stories, of men and women who wake up with the anguish of not knowing where their next paycheck will come from; welfare brings in $180 per month; those that have needs and week after week hear nothing in response from the band office (DIA).

The true engine of job creation for the Gitxsan are the nine watersheds, 33,000 sq. km run by the Simgiigyet. We are building this infrastructure.

The only way to move to full employment is to lay this foundation for long term economic growth and make serious investments for all people: GFEI forest license, New Ice Arena, Gitxsan Major Food store, and our youth: hockey clubs like the Bulldogs and Wolverines, basketball teams and school projects. Projects like the Suskwa Cogen, (400 employees).

After nearly a century of trying - DIA administrations, Band Council Administrations - we are closer than ever to bringing a better life to many Gitxsan people. The approach we have taken will protect every Gitxsan from living in poverty on forgotten reserves. This is a complex issue and as Simogyat Luutkudziiwus, I take my share of the blame for not explaining it more clearly to you. With all the misinformation and misguidance by "nay sayers" the alternate process has left most Gitxsan wondering, "what's in it for me?"

Most people view the Gitxsan hereditary system as a vast improvement over the status quo. If the DIA system has a better approach that will bring down the high unemployment on our reserves, take our bands out of third party management, and take our people out of poverty, let us know. Rather than fighting the same tired battles that has dominated the Indian Act process, it is time to try something new.

As Simgiigyet, let us meet our responsibility to you - let's try some common sense.

THIS IS THE GITXSAN ALTERNATIVE?

30 November 2009
Posted in Self Determination - Issue Papers

ISSUE - What are the Gitxsan Rights and Title?
33,000 Sq km (lax yip)
To refresh your memory; the Gitxsan are an organized society with four clans; the frog, the wolf, the fireweed and Lax Skiik.The core unit is the wilp which is connected to specified tracts of land, the lax yip - loaded with wealth. This land tenure system is the basis for aboriginal rights and title as we have been recognized as an organized society since before 1846.
Those of you that pay into feasts help guarantee the "continued" existence of the ancient Gitxsan land tenure system. Your Simogyat is the decision maker for this land tenure as a result of paying top money into the feasting system. When you contribute money and food to a feast you support your Simogyat as a decision maker.As a result, our rights and title are re-affirmed every time we have a feast!
How you benefit from your lax yip:
You are entitled as a result of: (a) being born from the womb of a Gitxsan mother; (b) regular participation in the feasts of your clan and wilp; (c) upholding your name from Kubawilsa up to Simogyat, and (d) those of us with privileged adoption into a willp - no one is left out
There are many projects that are benefiting the following:
(I) individual house groups (wilp),
a) Logging on cut blocks, silviculture, mining exploration, Sedan Creek Hydra, etc.
(2) individual watersheds (huwilp)
a) Kemess Mines, Suskwa Cogen ($ 155 million), Kispiox Forest Products(mill), Gitsegukla Pilot, Suskwa Sustainability project ($ I million), Enbridge project, Gitwangak (BC Hydra)
(3) the whole Gitxsan territory:
a) Forest Licenses (GFEI, BCTS), Northwest Transmission Line ($600 million), Stewart Omineca Resources Road (Thudade Lake to Stewart) and sea ports.
Your Simgiigyet are doing the best they can to ensure you benefit from your territory.There are-many of you working for your Simogyat now, you must feel so proud —your participation in the work farce sustains your personal rights in the feast hall and the la yip.

BUILDING A NORTHWEST ECONOMY
For purposes of a definitive relationship with government and corporations, and for greater economic development and employment for us, the hereditary chiefs have divided the 33,000 sq. km into nine watersheds - economic units.The chiefs have developed economic plans for our watersheds based on policies (forestry; fishery, water, wildlife, carbon credits,) for the whole territory.
e/1'-
Next Week: "What is the tax issue? Do we pay taxes?"

WHAT IS THE GITXSAN ALTERNATIVE?

23 November 2009
Posted in Self Determination - Issue Papers

ISSUE - Will the federal and provincial governments change their mandates to negotiate with the Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs?

33,000 Sq km (lax yip)

Before changing mandates, both governments are exploring:

I) What exactly is the Gitxsan Hereditary System: the Simogyat, the wilp, and the lax yip?

2) How will they accommodate the decisions of the Hereditary Chiefs, Simgiigyet?

3) How will they accommodate the ayookw, adaakw, and gwalx ye'insxw?

4) How will the benefits from the resources be shared with the wilp, watersheds, and kali ax? Progress has been made

British Columbia agrees that the Gitxsan should go down this "new path:' Minister Abbott is involved with all discussions, he has sent a supporting letter to federal Minister Strahl, and he has already survived positive questions in the provincial legislature in Victoria.

Canada views this "new path" as providing hope for the Gitxsan people - there are greater benefits on the 33,000 sq km lax yip. The Senate Committee on Aboriginal Issues will hear submissions on Gitxsan Hereditary system on December 8, 2009 in Ottawa.As well, Minister Strahl will meet with the Gitxsan negotiators on the same day. Both the Senate Committee and the Minister of Indian Affairs are very interested in the Gitxsan approach as an alternative to the way of life on the reserve.

Band Councils on Gitxsan Territory

Chief and Council from the four bands are very concerned about this recognition of the Gitxsan Hereditary chiefs.These bands were created by the Indian Act, 1951 .They administer poverty on reserves due to being chronically underfunded and restricted to 70 sq km of reserve land. (This is the government mandate now and we are seeking to change it.)

The band councils have knowledge of the Gitxsan Hereditary system as each village has hereditary c1Iis with no less than two clans per village. Every time a person dies there is a feast: the passing of names, territories and fishing sites. Each feast puts no less than $30,000 into the local economy - it is not small.The result is that the hereditary chiefs pay to be the leader and decision maker within a family and clan.

Negotiations

Once the governments are satisfied with the "exploration" stage, they will change their mandate to begin negotiations on the whole 33,000 sq km of territory (lax yip).

THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO VIEW THIS. NEXT WEEK:

"WHAT ARE THE GITXSAN RIGHTS AND TITLE?