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31 January 2006
GITXSAN PLANNING
The Gitxsan continue to hold title to their lands and resources. Gitxsan title will never be forfeited.
Gitxsan title gives the title holders the responsibility to decide to what uses the lands may be put.
The first step in land use planning through the Gitxsan process is to determine the areas that need to be protected.
Areas that need to be protected include all the water; the salmon bearing streams; areas where medicines grow; mushroom picking areas; critical wildlife habitat; access routes; cedar trees; and other areas that are required for Gitxsan people to be Gitxsan.
The ongoing work on Inside the Gitxsan is critical to defining who we are and the values that we uphold. The people that work on this project are those that are able to reach back and recall what their grandparents instilled in them. This knowledge is then captured on tape and paper and it is hoped that a reference book will be available for use by upcoming Gitxsan leaders. An audio visual version of Inside the Gitxsan should be developed in the coming years so that a very Gitxsan version is available for all of us.
Following the designation of protected areas the House groups and the Watersheds can decide collectively on approaches to development planning. The development planning has to be undertaken with the stipulation that anything that happens should not in any way negate the process and status of being Gitxsan. Paragraph 166 of the Delgamuukw decision clearly states that development activity that takes place can only happen so as not to jeopardize being Gitxsan.
The process of enforcing the decisions about protected areas can be carried out by House groups that have cabins on their territories. I know that all House groups had cabins on their lands. Most of the old cabins have been either burned down by loggers and BC Forest Service staff or they have fallen down. Part of what we can do to implement the Delgamuukw decision is to ensure that all the cabins are re-built and occupied.
The goal for development planning is to enable Gitxsan citizens to be able to earn a modest living off their endeavours. That is not to say that wealth creation should be limited. The Supreme Court of Canada clearly recognizes the pursuit of aboriginal people living off the lands and resources. Not all Gitxsan want to be miners, loggers, drug dealers, truckers, nurses, or tourism operators.
Following agreement around the Watershed table the House groups can then engage in business planning. The process of putting together business plans does not need anything more than formalizing goals; putting together the necessary resources; putting the financial data in a package; getting the required investment funds together; and putting action to the plan. The major hurdle that has to be overcome is to get the equity, the financing; and operating capital in place.
Currently a large number of worthwhile projects that House groups have thought about are viable. There is not enough wealth and funding in the Gitxsan community for people to invest in businesses.
The Bands have no money, very few Gitxsan people have money to invest in projects, the Government Commission has no money, Tricorp has not offered any real help, and the 16-37 organization does not have sufficient funding to help Gitxsan businesses get started.
We need to find seed money to invest in Gitxsan businesses. We also continue to look for potential business or investment partners that could help us realize dreams so that the young Gitxsan can earn a living.
January 31, 2006
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