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NEWS RELEASE -- Gitxsan Territories

GITXSAN TERRITORIES – Gitxsan hereditary chiefs announced today that potential adverse effects on their traditional territories from coal bed methane exploration and development at the headwaters of the Skeena River compels the provincial government to consult with them on the initiative.

“It is a case where our aboriginal rights and title may be adversely effected by these developments and that is a clear example of a situation that requires consultation and, potentially accommodation, as ruled by the Supreme Court of Canada in our Delgamuukw decision,” said Gitxsan Chiefs’ Office executive director Luutkudziiwus (Gordon Sebastian).

The hereditary chiefs sent a letter to Minister of Mines, Energy and Petroleum Resources Richard Neufeld Jan. 7 addressing the issue of coal bed methane development and specifically the exploration tenure granted to Royal Dutch Shell by the province for an area encompassing the headwaters of the Skeena, Nass and Stikine Rivers in northwest BC.

In the letter the hereditary chiefs make note that there was no consultation with the Gitxsan Chiefs’ Office before the provincial government granted the 400,000 hectare, eight year exploration tenure to Shell. It further states that the chiefs “are particularly concerned about the effects of coal bed methane exploration and development, and the potential for any adverse effects these developments create, to have impacts further afield from the permitted area. Of note in this regard is the potential for adverse effects on water, both ground and surface, and the impact this will have on salmon habitat and salmon within the Skeena system.”

The coal bed methane initiative by Royal Dutch Shell in area that has become known as the Sacred Headwaters is of concern to many First Nations and communities in the northwest including the Gitanyow hereditary chiefs who noted a lack of consultation in a letter to Minster Neufeld in November; the Village of Hazelton, which met with Shell representatives in August; and the hereditary chiefs of Iskut who began a court action in January against the provincial government over failure to consult.

“Our win in the Kemess case shows the provincial government needs to deal with us before they permit mining companies to start activities,” said Gitxsan negotiator Gwaans (Beverley Clifton-Percival). “Otherwise it’s lose situation for the government, for the people of BC and for the companies, when it could be, given the right circumstances, a win situation for all of us.”

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