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26 June 2014
NEWS RELEASE
June 26, 2014
2 pm PST FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GITXSAN HEREDITARY CHIEFS CONGRATULATE THE TSILHQOT'IN NATION
GITXSAN TERRITORIES – The Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs extend huge congratulations to the Tsilhqot’in nation on their victory in the Supreme Court of Canada. The Supreme Court has granted an historic title to a nation in British Columbia, a province whose nations have led the way in defining S. 35 rights
Reference was made to the Delgamuukxw decision of 1997 further building on the work of the Gitxsan and Wetsuwet’en that Aboriginal Rights and Title belong to the proper title holder. We have an organized society with social structure, land tenure and Ayookw (Laws). In 1987 Gwis Gyen (Stanley Williams) testified “All the Gitksan people use a common law. This is like an ancient tree that has grown in the roots right deep into the ground. This is the way our law is. It’s sunk. This big tree’s roots are sunk deep into the ground, and that’s how our law is.”
This ruling sets the Province of B.C. on its heels by virtue of the fact that the Crown must “reconcile general legislation with Aboriginal Rights in a sensitive way” and the only way this can be done is through the constitutional lens of Section 35.
“When I woke up this morning the earth has shifted… I was thinking of our collective ancestors and how they must be celebrating… this decision has huge implications on resource development in the Province and Canada…. The courts have demonstrated yet again the B.C. perspective of small spots Aboriginal title and Rights is not on…. Proper Title Holders must achieve Reconciliation with the Crown… not the flawed Made in B.C. for B.C. Treaty Process” said Gwaans (Beverley Clifton Percival) Negotiator for the Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs.
Further she commented “For the Gitxsan it means the Crown Canada and B.C. must immediately withdraw the illegal offer of Gitxsan Lands in the neighbouring treaty offers.”
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Gwaans (Beverley Clifton Percival) Office (250) 842-6780 Cell: (250) 847-0603
To read the news release in PDF form click here.
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