Who’s in charge of making decisions?

Re: 14 arrested over pipeline blockade in northern B.C., Jan. 8

The hereditary chiefs of the Gidimt’en Clan of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation have taken upon themselves to protest the installation of this LNG pipeline despite an agreement having been reached between the company and the elected members of the tribal council.

In Canada, we only have one rule of law. For instance, sharia law does not, and never will have an effect in Canada. Canadian constitutional law overrules such religious precedents. It’s no different here — the tribal council must have the final say in negotiations, otherwise no one would know where they stood legally.

Why is Ottawa being silent on this issue?

Dave Collins, Calgary