Wet’suwet’en pact with Ottawa and B.C. disputed by elected chiefs
‘Grassroots’ leaders disagree with way agreement was reached
SMITHERS, B.C.—Elected chiefs of a First Nation that’s split over a natural gas pipeline through its territory say they will not sign a deal on rights and title, a day after the hereditary chiefs backed the agreement.
The elected chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en Nations say they don’t support the proposed memorandum of understanding on rights and title reached with the federal and British Columbia governments.
Gary Naziel, a Wet’suwet’en hereditary subchief, said most of the “grassroots chiefs” are opposed.
“Because the way business is being done is not our Wet’suwet’en way and it was done behind closed doors and nothing’s out in the open.”
It’s not about the pipeline but about the proper way of making decisions, he said in an interview on Friday.
“We’re trying to put a stop to it. Before we move forward, we need to fix things in a feast hall. The way decisions are being made — it’s so erratic now,” Naziel said.
“Our system is falling apart before our own eyes.”
The hereditary chiefs’ decision to sign the memorandum was announced Thursday in a joint statement they issued with the federal and provincial governments.
A spokesman for the hereditary chiefs could not be reached for comment.
Five elected Wet’suwet’en councils have signed agreements with Coastal Gaslink, the company that is building the 670-kilometre natural gas pipeline through northern B.C. to Kitimat on the coast.
The Wet’suwet’en are governed by both a traditional hereditary chief system and elected band councils.
Coastal GasLink has government approval for construction of the pipeline, but hereditary house chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en say the company has no authority to build the pipeline through their territory without their consent.
Their opposition sparked demonstrations and blockades that shut down large parts of the national economy in February.
Details of the memorandum haven’t been released, but Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs and the federal and provincial governments agree it commits them to implementing the rights and title of the First Nation.
Elected chiefs say that the memorandum consultation process “lacked any semblance of credibility,” and they are asking for withdrawal of the hereditary chiefs’ “premature” announcement.
“The federal government, the provincial government and the hereditary chiefs have completely ignored many clan members and elected chiefs,” said the statement signed by five elected chiefs.
The negotiation process did not include openness or respect, it says, and fails to give a voice to all clan members.
“Negotiations cannot move forward until all parties agree to discuss governance amongst the Wet’suwet’en people so that we can work together with all levels of government,” the statement said.
In announcing the proposed memorandum of understanding, senior governments and hereditary chiefs agreed there’s a lot of work ahead in the negotiation process, including how all sides will work together.