28 April—The Lax Kw’Alaams Band took to the streets to protest the second reading of the Kitselas Treaty.
The Wei Wai Kum first nation, Nine Allied Tribes, and Lax Kw’alaams Band have called a pause of the bill 20 K’omoks Treaty Act and Bill 21 Kitselas Treaty Act to address their land disputes for 180 days.The BC goverment has not heard their pleas and the bills are now proceeding to a second reading of the bill.
Furthermore, the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs Have communicated their support of Wee Wai Kum First Nation, Nine Allied Tribes, And Lax Kw’Alaams Band. The president of the union said in a press release the following:
“Advancing Treaty legislation with unresolved boundary issues is irresponsible and will be challenged. This approach is not aligned with the province’s commitments to support nation-led work to address territorial overlaps”
Lax Kw’alaams Band also added that without meaningful consultation, the bill risk creating economic uncertainty especially around Port of Prince Rupert as approximately $60 billion in annual trade moves through the port and bill will disrupt the trade.
The Wei Wai Kum first nation, Nine Allied Tribes, and Lax Kw’alaams Band and to reinstate the Aboriginal Affairs Committee. During the pause, nations anticipate working with the government to address the outstanding issues.
The press release also included statements from leaders of every nation.
Garry Reece, Mayor, Lax Kw’alaams Band, stated the following “Canada and the US have clear borders, and for generations our Tsimshian nations won wars to protect our boundaries like any other state - now Eby wants to redraw our boundaries because it suits him? When Trump threatened to annex Canada, the whole country was outraged and stood strong against a bully. It’s the same thing that’s happening to us now, and we will never stand for it.”
Stan Dennis Jr., Nine Allied Tribes hereditary leader, said “I can’t understand why Eby’s refuses our simple and fair request for a pause. If these treaties took decades to negotiate, what’s another 180 days to do the right thing? We’ve said this over and over, but Eby blew his chance to make this right. Now we have no choice but to take serious action.”
And Chris Roberts, Chief, Wei Wai Kum, said “Reconciliation begins and ends with relationships. This process, however, is eroding trust and undermining transparency with our Nation. If this were truly about reconciliation, the province would have respected our repeated requests to pause. We asked them not to proceed with the handshake, and they moved forward. We asked them not to initial the treaty, and they proceeded. We asked again that it not be introduced into the legislature, and still, they advanced. This approach reflects a process that is being rushed without regard for our concerns or our rights. Wei Wai Kum has been engaged in the treaty process since 1993. After decades of work, it is difficult to understand the province’s decision to accelerate and push this treaty forward in this manner. Our laws and governance have not been respected in this process. Continuing down this path risks forcing Wei Wai Kum and other Nations into the courts, which is not the outcome we have been working toward”