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15 June 2011
“Implement Delgam’uukxw!”
These are the words used by our Chief negotiator, Elmer Derrick, in explaining the significance of the Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs’ final decisions in kick starting the Gitxsan Development Corporation. Yesterday was, indeed, very historic for the Gitxsan in voting approval for the interim Board of Directors of the Gitxsan Development Corporation.
Names were put forth “to start”; these people agree to volunteer on the Board for now, and the clans will meet later to appoint permanent directors that bring to the table their unique credentials or standards required by any corporation.
We are now in a situation where we no longer trip over the crown, Elmer says. Paragraph 166 fully recognizes our responsibility over land use, and it also speaks of that inescapable economic component.
Fighting over scraps will be history as we are, indeed, at the threshold towards betterment for all Gitxsan. One day the Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs will look back with pride at their historic vote. Anyone who chooses to be a lone ranger will indeed be a lone ranger.
Corporations are likened to the Hereditary Chief; it lives forever, like a person, though not actually a living person. An umbrella for GFEI to respond to China’s interest in our wood, with the interest in energy, investors will know who to talk to.
The Hereditary Chiefs have policies for all our resources and we are fully ready. We are in a position to lure back our Gitxsan people with degrees as there will not be enough of us to do the work that will need doing. History will show that we are holding the course, as Mary Johnson says, “We will no longer be caged up like pigs on our land.”
Art Wilson
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