Photo courtesy of Indigenous Climate Action.

Lekwungen Territories/Victoria, British Columbia, Canada - Indigenous Youth in Solidarity with Wet’suwet’en today delivered a letter to NDP MLA Michelle Mungall and are now occupying Mungall’s Office.

Mungall is the BC Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for Nelson-Creston and a member of the British Columbia New Democratic Party.

The letter demands that the government uphold Indigenous Rights and advocate for the removal of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Coastal GasLink from Wet’suwet’en territory. The controversial Coastal GasLink pipeline would deliver natural gas from the Dawson Creek area to the Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) Canada facility near Kitimat, B.C.

The group includes the youth from the Nuuchahnulth, Tla’amin, Sto:lo, Namgis, Heiltsuk, Lil’wat, Xwlemi, Qayqayt, Lue Chogh Tue, Shishalh and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nations. The letter states:

“As Indigenous youth we stand with Wet’suwet’en assertion of sovereignty because we understand that Indigenous Peoples will cease to exist without our land; our languages, cultures, and future generations cannot survive without our it. Indigenous youth are not only inheriting a climate crisis driven by fossil fuel projects like CGL, but Canada’s legacy of colonization, genocide, and gendered violence against Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people. In protecting the lands from industrial development, we are protecting our bodies from violence.

“Indigenous people defending their lands from destruction are not criminal or disposable. As Indigenous youth, we urge you to uphold Indigenous rights and Wet’suwet’en law by advocating for the removal of CGL and RCMP from Wet’suwet’en territories,” the letter from Indigenous Youth in Solidarity with Wet’suwet’en continues.

“We call upon you to do all you can in opposing CGL and the harm it will bring to the people and the land. The Canadian government’s narratives of reconciliation and climate leadership become moot while simultaneously using lethal force to push a pipeline through Indigenous lands against the collective will of the hereditary leadership. Indigenous Peoples defending their lands from destruction are not criminal or disposable. As Indigenous youth, we urge you to uphold Indigenous rights and Wet’suwet’en law by advocating for the removal of CGL and RCMP from Wet’suwet’en territories. British Columbia has recently commited to implement UNDRIP and follow free, prior, and informed consent. The world is watching to see how you will respond,” the letter said.

The letter delivered by the youth to the MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly) included a list of four demands made by the Hereditary Chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en Nation. The demands include:

• that the province cease construction of CGL’s pipeline and suspend all permits for the project;

• that UNDRIP and free, prior and informed consent are respected by the government and the RCMP;

• that the RCMP and associated security services be withdrawn from Wet’suwet’en lands;

• and that all levels of government, RCMP, and CGL respect Anuk nu’at’en (Wet’suwet’en Law) and refrain from using force to access the territory or remove Wet’suwet’en people and their supporters.

“Over 45 international actions in support of the Wet’suwet’en Nation have taken place so far in 2020, including actions in Montreal, Ottawa, Hamilton, Halifax, Aotearoa/New Zealand, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and New York state,” according to a press release from the youth. “Statements in support of the Wet’suwet’en have been issued by the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, numerous Nations, academic institutions, youth groups, anti-poverty groups and others.”

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was legislated by the province in November, 2019. Additionally, the BC Human Rights Commissioner and the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) have called for a cease to construction and the immediate withdrawal of the RCMP.

“The Canadian government cannot continue to ignore these actions while also claiming commitments to reconciliation and climate action. It is long past time that Canadian politicians no longer perpetuate Canada’s shameful status quo in relation to Indigenous rights and instead respect our sovereignty as Indigenous Peoples. That is the minimum,” according to the youth.

Update 10:09 am, January 22: This morning dozens of the youth were arrested after occupying the offices overnight: www.cheknews.ca/...

