|
06 August 2014
NEWS RELEASE
Aug 5, 2014
8 pm PST FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GITXSAN TO CLOSE DOWN RAILWAY THROUGH GITXSAN TERRITORIES
GITXSAN TERRITORIES – At 10 pm PST tonight, Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs and members of the Gitxsan Nation will shut down the railway running through the Gitxsan territories to all traffic. The closure comes after notice was given to all sports fisheries, the forest industry and CN Rail to cease all activities by August 4th.
Following a meeting August 4th between Gitxsan Simgiigyet (Chiefs), Federal and Provincial representatives as well as CN Rail, the Crown has failed to confirm a process to withdraw offers of Gitxsan lands and rights to the Kitselas and Kitsumkalum Indian Bands (Tsimshian). That failure leaves no choice but to continue through with the evictions. The Gitxsan have been making efforts for two years to work with both levels of government to solve the matter.
“Minister Rustad claims they are working with the Gitxsan on this, yet we have received what amounts to a non-response to our solution to the impasse” says negotiator Gwaans (Beverley Clifton Percival) “This is why the reconciliation process is not working in British Columbia. Despite court rulings there seems to be no willingness to follow the law.”
The Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs are committed to resolve the issue quickly and are inviting Federal and Provincial representatives to meet with them Thursday August 7th to come to a solution and avoid further closures
The 33,000 sq km of Gitxsan territories are located in northwestern BC, to the east, near Smithers; to the west, near Terrace; to the north near Iskut, and northeast of Thudade Lake and Bear Lake.
30 -
Gwaans (Beverley Clifton Percival) Office (250) 842-6780 Cell: (250) 847-0603
|
