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09 May 2011
Economic Development
Economic development is a very big matter to the Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs. Many a house member are hurting out there, but what are we doing about it?
The law requires that we are consulted and accommodated, and as a result, we have had some big projects contact this office. They have been:
Run of River — The Suskwa Hereditary Chiefs are still awaiting a decision.
B.C. Hydro — The first phases of this $404 million transmission line to pass will through the lower Skeena watershed. As a result, some house members are collecting traditional use information and will be involved to protect water, animal corridors, etc.
The Anthracite Coal Project — This will be in Tahltan country, but the project wants access through eight Gitxsan hereditary house territories. We anticipate the same type preliminary work will happen as soon as those eight hereditary Chiefs agree to the terms required to do the work.
Enbridge and their pipeline proposal — We realize there is much opposition to it, but the Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs are giving them the courtesy and hearing them out. We anticipate one more meeting with them and decision making process internally can go two or so meetings. C.N. is talking to the Hereditary Chiefs about double tracking a long portion of their existing tracks. We’ll have to await reaction to that idea.
Any big development on the 33,000 km2 of Gitxsan territory is required to pass through the Hereditary Chiefs. For now, industry leaves behind the governments in following the law when it comes to the Gitxsan. Since the Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs expect much more of these big ticket developments, they are working hard to move the Gitxsan Corporation forward.
Our Chief negotiator Elmer Derrick is staying on top of different interests and educates potential projects of the protocol to follow when talking to the Gitxsan. For now we have no Treaty, but life goes on. The law says how we are to be treated.
Art Wilson
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