COME TO CAMP — Gidimt'en Yintah Access

COME TO CAMP

Donate your time and come to camp. Please understand that this form is for the Gidim’ten Camp - all visitors to Wet’suwet’en Territory who wish to also travel to Unist’ot’en will have to follow their protocol for entry.

Volunteer as a Legal Observer

COME TO GIDIMT’EN CAMP

We are accepting applications from SKILLED, SEASONED and SELF SUFFICIENT supporters to come support us on the yintah. Please allow 1 - 2 weeks for applications to be processed.

For more secure applications, please email yintahaccess@protonmail.com with thorough answers to all of these questions.

Our remote camp is 44 km down logging roads. There is no cell service out at camp. There are no bus routes to Houston - supporters need to be able to coordinate rides or fly in. Driving is preferred at this time. .

Drivers - make sure your vehicles are in good repair, have seasonally appropriate tires and are able to be on logging roads.

Flying in - The nearest airport is Smithers. If you need to rent a vehicle, consider flying into Terrace or Prince George

Ongoing on the ground support is needed year-round to ensure the smooth operation of camp. It is a physically, emotionally and mentally demanding environment that requires supporters to be able to hold themselves in and be accountable.

If you are thinking of coming to camp, please fill out this form to the best of your ability and camp will get back to you in 1-2 weeks. Please allow enough time for your application to be processed.

COVID-19 PROTOCOL

All people that want to visit the Gidimt’en territory are reminded to send a request with the date and time through our COME TO CAMP form. All applicants should be ready to meet rigorous safety measures. Community members can contact Jen Wickham directly. Visitors are asked to stay out doors during their visit, wear masks for the duration of their stay and practice social distancing with long-term camp supporters. Hand sanitizer for outhouses is provided. Arranging times for every visitor is necessary as part of our COVID-19 prevention protocols to maintain the safety of the Gidimt’en Access Point.

Thank you for your support and respect.Come prepared with appropriate masks at least 4-ply, always properly fitted to your face with no gaps, there will be some masks available at camp for the duration of your stay.
All volunteers are expected to isolate prior to coming to camp. If this is not possible please make arrangements with the contact you are given once you are approved to come to camp. Isolation time is 10 days from any contact outside of your household.
Full covid protocols and orientation will occur at camp.

Name

First Name

Last Name

Are you available for a phone interview? Please leave your number.

When are you available to come to camp and for how long?

How will you travel? Are you in need of an Indigenous Travel Grant?

What outdoor/organizing skills do you bring?

What is your relationship to anti-colonial organizing?

What experience do you have following Indigenous leadership?

Do you have camp or personal references? Please provide the names (not family members) and contact information of 2 people that have known you for at least two years who can speak to your character and organizing experience.

Have you thoroughly read through the website? Do you have any questions?

If you are a journalist requesting to come to camp please provide links to your previous work

I understand that by coming to Gidimt’en Checkpoint I will be contributing labour to communal living and current projects and will be respectful yo Wet’suwet’en leadership.

Yes

Fall Gear: The days can still be warm so bring a water bottle and hat, also layers of clothing including coat, boots and rain gear. The nights are getting cooler and you should bring a warm sleeping bag.

BE PREPARED

After receiving confirmation that you are able to visit, please be well prepared for camp. Understanding Wet’suwet’en history, the action happening, and the varying weather conditions are important before departure.

For supporters, educating yourself through the links on this website is crucial to understand the political context supporting this anti-colonial effort. This website provides thorough historical and contemporary information for understanding the work of Indigenous Resurgence happening at the Gidimt’en Access Point. Please take the time to research and familiarize yourself with the long and broad work of protecting the water and the land happening on Wet’suwet’en territories.

The camp is active and there is always a to-do list. Upon arrival, be prepared to follow Indigenous leadership and engage with the work that needs doing. The tasks are seasonal and evolving with the needs of camp and pressures from industry and government. Some ways that supporters can contribute is through cooking, cleaning, organizing shared spaces, chopping firewood, participating in construction projects, shoveling snow, or doing child care. It is not appropriate to spend your days at camp simply consuming resources and food with entitlement. Be mindful that all material and resources out on the yintah (lumber, food, gas, etc) has been acquired through camp costs or valuable donations. It is not a “free for all” - please respect camp visions for that material, gain consent for projects before consuming resources, and consider taking personal responsibility for anything that is broken by either repairing, replacing, or donating the cash for it. Finally, it is also important to recognize that labor performance looks different for everyone. If you are someone very skilled with lots of access to tools and experience, please consider the ways that you have been privileged to be in that position, and hold space through teaching those with less access to those skills. Please assess your ability to meaningfully contribute to shared work before arriving and hold yourself well in your work.

Another aspect of preparedness is being ready for all weather conditions. In the summer time, please bring sunscreen, a hat, a water bottle, bug spray and rain gear. In the winter, having appropriate snow tires and vehicle is important to driving on remote logging roads. Wool under layers and socks, snow pants, snow boots and a winter jacket, gloves, scarf and a hat, a warm sleeping bag are basic elements for living and working in a bush camp in the winter season.

Finally, understand that you could be asked to leave at any time by camp leaders. Should you be asked to leave, please be ready to make travel plans to leave camp efficiently and without requiring support or resources from camp.

If you wish to also travel to and support Unist’ot’en Healing Centre, please visit their website and apply HERE.