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21 July 2011
‘N aahisyadja
Blazes to mark a trail, a term used by the Gitxsan in not losing sight of matters at hand, goals of our ancestors are what the term signifies. Then we look at the 1977 declaration where it clearly gives direction how our goals be settled with governments. At the time of the declaration we were simply ignored, the Albert Tait’s, Mary Johnson’s, Stan William’s wanted to leave a legacy of making that difference for those of us here today. After the winning of Delgamuukxw, says they did their job. The many reminders today, say don’t mess it up.
In keeping with that “Naahisyadja, our economic plan is basically implementing what is now a part of the body of the law of Canada, Delgam’uukxw. It says many things such as:
- We have to be consulted;
- We have to be accommodated;
- and other.
To take care of that 90% unemployment, eventually we want that to be history as we have rights on 33,000 square kilometres. There is no reason why we should be poor. First the system needs to accept that the courts have laid out a blueprint as to how we can live together, and we intend to do just that.
To accept land selection would have meant we fell by the wayside of that all important ‘Naahisjadja, and what is put forth by our negotiators is being considered now. All parties call it, exploration. Nothing is being signed away. The rules say an overall concept agreed by all parties of negotiators has to be run past our own than further steps happen, if they happen. At some point our negotiators will explain to our own, the logic behind their stance on our behalf. To do that right now may not be possible because of interference in the courts launched against the Hereditary Chiefs, for now, just a word of assurance.
Art Wilson
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