Issue Papers

ISSUE - Will the federal and provincial governments change their mandates to negotiate with the Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs?

33,000 Sq km (lax yip)

Before changing mandates, both governments are exploring:

I) What exactly is the Gitxsan Hereditary System: the Simogyat, the wilp, and the lax yip?

2) How will they accommodate the decisions of the Hereditary Chiefs, Simgiigyet?

3) How will they accommodate the ayookw, adaakw, and gwalx ye'insxw?

4) How will the benefits from the resources be shared with the wilp, watersheds, and kali ax? Progress has been made

British Columbia agrees that the Gitxsan should go down this "new path:' Minister Abbott is involved with all discussions, he has sent a supporting letter to federal Minister Strahl, and he has already survived positive questions in the provincial legislature in Victoria.

Canada views this "new path" as providing hope for the Gitxsan people - there are greater benefits on the 33,000 sq km lax yip. The Senate Committee on Aboriginal Issues will hear submissions on Gitxsan Hereditary system on December 8, 2009 in Ottawa.As well, Minister Strahl will meet with the Gitxsan negotiators on the same day. Both the Senate Committee and the Minister of Indian Affairs are very interested in the Gitxsan approach as an alternative to the way of life on the reserve.

Band Councils on Gitxsan Territory

Chief and Council from the four bands are very concerned about this recognition of the Gitxsan Hereditary chiefs.These bands were created by the Indian Act, 1951 .They administer poverty on reserves due to being chronically underfunded and restricted to 70 sq km of reserve land. (This is the government mandate now and we are seeking to change it.)

The band councils have knowledge of the Gitxsan Hereditary system as each village has hereditary c1Iis with no less than two clans per village. Every time a person dies there is a feast: the passing of names, territories and fishing sites. Each feast puts no less than $30,000 into the local economy - it is not small.The result is that the hereditary chiefs pay to be the leader and decision maker within a family and clan.

Negotiations

Once the governments are satisfied with the "exploration" stage, they will change their mandate to begin negotiations on the whole 33,000 sq km of territory (lax yip).

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"WHAT ARE THE GITXSAN RIGHTS AND TITLE?