New arrests at Wet’suwet’en camp, Gitxaala Nation challenges B.C. mining regime in court

Gitxaala Nation members marching in Vancouver
Gitxaala Nation leaders and members march in Vancouver, after they launched their legal challenge of B.C.'s Mineral Tenures Act. Photo: Handout
Daniel Mesec - CICK - SmithersBC | 04-04-2023
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On March 29th, the RCMP’s Community Industry Response Group (CIRG), executed a search warrant and again raided the Gidim’ten camp at 44 kilometre along the Morice River Forest Service Road and arrested five people, according to police. This is just the latest incident in a string of high profile incidents at the camp in recent months.

RCMP allegedly sought to recover stolen property from a CGL worksite believed to be the camp. After a search of the grounds however, police have yet to recover any of the items listed in the search warrant.

In a statement on social media, Molly Wickham, also known as Sleydo’, said, "This harassment and intimidation is exactly the kind of violence designed to drive us from our homelands. The constant threat of violence and criminalization for merely existing on our own lands must have been what our ancestors felt when Indian agents and RCMP were burning us out of our homes as late as the 50s in our area."

This latest incident even reached the ears of the Permeant Forum on the Rights of Indigenous People, and the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, with the help of Chief Na’Moks of the Wet’suwet’en.

"The world has to know what's happening up here," Chief Na'Moks said. "So the orator and I worked on a statement, and it just so happened to be the very same day that the doctrine of discovery was repudiated {by the Catholic Church]. So it all tied together perfectly. But getting the truth out to the world is what has to be done. I've spoken there three times previously, twice in New York, once in Geneva. They are well aware of what is happening in Canada."

Listen to the full episode below.