Extinction Rebellion Calgary stands in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en in claiming governance of their traditional and unceded territory. We believe that Indigenous sovereignty is congruent with climate justice, and that climate action without justice is not possible.
Supreme Court Canada, in 1997 and 2014, recognized Aboriginal title to “unceded” territory in Canada – those lands never signed away through a treaty or conquered in war. The land that Coastal Gaslink proposes to build through is exactly that: unceded Wet’suwet’en territory. Therefore, according to the Supreme Court of Canada, Wet’suwet’en law that governs the territory in question today must be heeded.
Furthermore, there is no way to reconcile this invasion of Indigenous land with British Columbia’s recent adoption of the UNDRIP (United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples).
Government Canada has acknowledged committing an ongoing genocide of Indigenous peoples’, and has said it wishes to change paths and instead pursue truth and reconciliation with the Indigenous brothers and sisters. But a government sponsored invasion of Wet’suwet’en territory in support of the energy industry is just more of the same old genocidal and colonial behaviour.
To truly start on a new path, Government Canada should call on the RCMP at Unis’tot’en to stand down immediately. Defending Indigenous territory against industrial interests is a second step on a new path. Allowing Indigenous communities time and space to heal from colonization without constant pressure on their territories for resource development is a third step. Finally, respecting Indigenous law and Indigenous sovereignty must be the way forward.
We call on the Government of Canada and Coastal Gaslink to stand down, and all Canadians to do their part to demand truthful and respectful Indigenous relations going forward.