Last Wednesday night, Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs and community members established a blockade on their laxyip against the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Line, a 48" wide pipeline (like Coastal Gaslink) that is proposed to cross Gitxsan territory. Announced by Watakhayetsxw Deborah Good via Facebook live. 

At 5pm on Thursday, to underline their point, Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs burned the Pipeline Benefit Agreement it signed back in 2014, as it no longer is consistent with their own laws. They further questioned how PRGT can go ahead within colonial law, with an environmental assessment now 10 years old, and with the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People Act now in force.

This morning, in response to the beginning of PRGT's construction, grassroots members of the Nisga'a blockaded access to their territory. After several hours of successfully stopping construction traffic, the police removed the blockade - no arrests were made. Richard C Mercer, the spokesperson for Nisga'a opposition to these projects indicated that it was just the beginning, and that his group is pursuing multiple avenues to stop both the PRGT pipeline and Ksi Lisims LNG facility before it's too late. Richard also shared that "Now is a crucial time to stop this pipeline. They've brought equipment to make a 1000-person man camp. LNG is going to do a lot of damage to our nation and so we're stopping it" said Richard C Mercer, a Nisga'a who, along with 200 other Nisga'a members from all four of its communities, has been working within his nation to protect the territory.

Please stay tuned on deeper ways to show up in solidarity as this important struggle evolves.

To support:

• Donations: 

• To support the Gitanyow blockade, send an e-transfer to wil@kitwancool.com (Simogyet (Hereditary Chief) Gamlakyeltxw, Wil Marsden)

• Nisga'a Legal Challenge GoFundMe - 200 grassroots folks are moving to hire a lawyer to challenge the Nisga'a Lisims Government's purchase of the pipeline ... and trying to get an injunction this fall to halt construction damage. More donors needed. They've raised enough to start research on a case, but it could be a long battle.

• Amplify posts from @GitanyowChiefs; @KolinSutherlandWilson 

• Watakhayetsxw Deborah Good also highlighted in that video message: “For those people that are defending the Gitanyow, the Gitxsan and the Wet’suwet’en, I invite you to stand on the lines with the Gitanyow. Come and stand with my Wilp.”

• More information to come on solidarity needs. Useful to evaluate capacity for rapid response to frontline support needs as these blockades evolve. 

To stay in the loop:

• Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs - Instagram only

• Git'luuhl'um'hetxwit Media

• @KolinSutherlandWilson - elected Chief of the Kispiox Band

• Facebook: Wil Marsden (Hereditary chief - Gitanyow blockade)

• Tyee reporter, Nick Gottlieb @ngottliebphoto - sharing Instagram story updates and reporting on the ground for next two weeks

• Narwhal reporter, Matt Simmons @writermjs (X)

Media attention:

• Aug 26 - National Observer 

• Aug 24 - Global National News

• Aug 24 - Narwhal "Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs Burn PRGT Agreement"

• Aug 23 - Tyee - New Pipeline Battle Looms BC
  

PRGT Background:

Some of you may remember this zombie pipeline. It's the one that, back in 2014, received its Environmental Assessment permit and was also immediately blockaded by a different Gitxsan house group, Luutkudziiwis, at Madii Lii. Then, the pipeline was mothballed because of the defeat of the LNG terminal project at Lelu Island on Tsimshian territory that would have been PRGT's terminus.

Now, the pipeline has been bought by Western LNG, a Texas based corporation, and the Nisga'a, and a new terminus is being proposed on Nisga'a territory at a terminal called Ksi Lisims. Construction is being pushed ahead ASAP to try and keep the original EA permit active. Gitxsans like Kolin, the elected Chief of the Kispiox Band, have emphasized that within colonial law, since 2014, a new Environmental Assessment Act has been passed, UNDRIP has been adopted, and BC has made commitments around climate change that all should nullify this project.

At two Gitxsan community meetings organized in recent months, Gitxsan people have understandably been pointing to the immense repression of Wet'suwet'en people through the CGL fiasco, and the importance of upholding their own laws in protecting the laxyip for future generations, as reasons to oppose PRGT.

Further background resources on PRGT struggle:

Announcement of blockade by Gitanyow chief (5 mins): https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1541738376462499&id=730810294&mibextid=oFDknk&rdid=mdQ89lWi50YF6neU 

Webinar with Tara Marsden (Gitanyow), Kolin Sutherland-Wilson (Git'luuhl'um'hetxwit), Kai Nagata (Dogwood Initiative) and Maryam Adrangi on PRGT: https://pbicanada.org/pbi-videos/

Longer analysis of PRGT from Kolin (pathway 0-9:00; development and benefits process going back to 2014 (9.00-29.00) : https://www.facebook.com/Gitluuhlumhetxwit (July 22nd video)

Gitxsan youth action against PRGT three days ago: https://www.cfnrfm.ca/2024/08/21/gitxsan-youth-against-prgt-pipeline-and-ksi-lisims-terminal/

Brent Patterson from PBI on how Bechtel has been hired to oversee the PRGT's construction: https://pbicanada.org/2024/08/12/bechtel-implicated-in-the-water-war-in-bolivia-will-oversee-and-manage-the-execution-of-the-prgt-pipeline-on-gitxsan-territory/

Recent overview of tactics used to build CGL by Kai Nagata: https://dogwoodbc.ca/news/tc-energy-intelligence-operation-lng/

Excellent analysis of the broader settler colonial context right now: https://breachmedia.ca/economic-reconciliation-is-a-false-promise-for-indigenous-peoples/

Written by: Emily Lowan, Climate Action Network Canada, emilylowan@climateactionnetwork.ca

As we come up to another set of trial dates we are asking for your support for our allied land defenders.

Our relatives/allies Shaylynn (Gitxsan) and Corey (Haudensosaunee) are gearing up to travel to the yintah for another week and a half of the colonial court system September 3-11. There are more dates set for November 4-8 and again in December 9-13.

While we are so very grateful for all the support towards legal fees we recognize that Shaylynn and Corey have to take time away from work, family, home and responsibilities to attend trial for supporting us in asserting our 'anuk niwh it'en. We are asking all our supporters to help them make this process a bit more bearable so they don't have to worry about things at home like rent and bills. They are dealing with so much already fighting for their lives for doing the right thing.

This colonial system takes so much from us already. It's not reasonable to also have to worry about their housing security and capitalism while they are already facing a system designed against us.

Please give generously and share with your networks.

Tabï misiyh.

After nearly two years, two of our supporters had trumped up charges of dangerous driving, failure to stop and obstruction dropped yesterday. This comes after having shown up for trial twice and having the judge be overbooked. Both supporters and lawyers travelled, booked time for trial and prepared themselves for court.

The trauma and violence they and others experienced for a “traffic stop” escalation, through no fault of their own, is a case in point for the harassment and intimidation that has been ongoing. While we are relieved that they are no longer facing charges for being pepper sprayed, one while handcuffed, we are continuously frustrated with the colonial systems that aim to oppress our people.

We encourage everyone to continue living as your ancestors did. Continue speaking the truth. Stand strong and be loud. While we continue to care for ourselves, support each other and and those that are facing state violence, we continue to love and protect the yintah.

Stay safe out there.

#WetsuwetenLandWetsuwetenLaw #DefendLandDefenders #ChargesDropped #RCMPOfftheYintah