Across the land there are hundreds and thousands of voices speaking about the irresponsible and exploitative conduct of Band Councils, and the Canadian Government. It’s unfortunate, but many of these voices seem to be drowned out by the empty promises of better days, and by flimsy government assurances that everything’s alright.

As discussed in the letter below, in this one example, it occurs while the integrity of a Nation and the land that sustains it is twisted, hollowed out and sold on the stock market.

Dear Honourable Members and Respected Chiefs

My name is Sim git Luu t’aa, from the House of Sganisim Sim’augit Sagaw’een and my husband Niy’s Wii Amootka from the House of Nii’is’lis’eyan, and we are both elders in our community of Gingolx B.C, and in our nation, we have never been so appalled with the action of our elected representatives who are suppose to be looking out for the best of interest our people in our respected nation.

There is an celebration happening in June 11 to the 14 2007, in New Aiyansh when all the BC Indian Chiefs are coming to our Nation to apologize for not been in support of the Nisga’a treaty as we understand. What happen to the views of Saul Terry of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs back in August 1998? Has there been a change of heart?

We do not see anything to celebrate with honour of all the theft that is happening with our treaty monies, the taxpayer’s money, Ancestral land titles, Aboriginal titles and Hereditary Names.

No Justice has been served and it seems our people suffer in silence, our respected elders are not been heard, which once again reminds us of the Residential School strategy where you are stripped of your native identity, and then when occasions like this celebrations happen, we are told to wear your regalia and dance like a good little Indian. Where is the dignity in all this?

Our Ancestral Lands are been sold illegally on the stock market in Germany and no one is saying anything, our respected Elders were once again been used for this by enticing them with 15000, shares of Ancestral lands that are still in dispute in the court. With all respect due to these elders, the deceased’s names were also used to pass this through with no remorse for the dead. A Package was delivered to my husband for his shares and he bluntly told the young lady Miss Wright “I WILL NOT SIGN FOR THIS CERTIFACATE, and her answer was “YOU DON’T HAVE TO, WE ALREADY SIGNED IT FOR YOU.” Our rights to say no are been violated.

We are reminded of letters written concerning this modern day treaty and what we will become in the future. And even back then no one was listening. I have included sections of a letter written by Saul Terry of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs. Did this letter also fall on deaf ears? And we don’t understand why the BC Indian Chiefs are apologizing when letters were written like Saul Terry’s and then turn around to support this treaty.

Why The Nisga’a Agreement Must Not Be The Blueprint
Khatou News, August 1998, by Saul Terry – Union of BC Indian Chiefs

Treaties and their certainty provisions are really about ‘TAKING – OUT’ (extinguishing) the Indian Nations. Changing Nations to mere delegated village council or federal municipalities. In some parts of the world it is now called “ethnic cleansing”. It is practiced to a much more subtle level upon our people but it is still genocide. The most deplorable fact in this case is that they expect us to provide our consent. Genocide may seem harsh terminology, but this treaty once and for all, alters the reality of Indigenous Nations. We are being asked to give our consent to eradicating or renouncing that we are distinct Peoples, with distinct identifiable territories, with our own governing systems, with our own distinct languages and histories.

Nowhere in any of the media, is it seriously reported that lawsuits have been filed by Nisga’a hereditary chiefs and ordinary citizens against the apparent neo-colonial administrations that have been negotiating these treaties of surrender and capitulation. There seems to be a deliberate policy of hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil, therefore report no evil. The Gitanyow people, as a part of the Gitk’san Nations have experienced first hand the dishonour of the crown as demonstrated in the land overlap issue. This has exposed the Canadian treaty policy of first come, first served. (read the full article)

Every level of Government has seem to ignored these letters of concern, which has been continually emailed to all recipients, AND PERHAPS THEY ARE PRACTICING THE TREATY LAWS THAT QUOTE: NISGA’A LAW PERVAILS.AND NO ONE IS ACCOUNTABLE-WHAT FUTURE DO YOU SEE FOR OUR CHILDERN AND GRANDCHILDREN YET TO BE BORN IF THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABLITY NOW-IS THERE NO JUSTICE IN OUR COUNTRY WE SO PROUDLY LIVE IN.

We continually pray everyday for our Nation and Leaders and as the word of God tells us, we can take comfort in knowing that one day we will give account for everything we do whether it be good or evil. We will give account.

As you may know, there is a Chief Mountain Court Challenge on June 14 2007 against Federal and Provincial Government and the Nisga’a Treaty, at the BC Supreme Court of Canada, where we are in full support to get our Aboriginal titles and Ancestral Lands back. And if you believe that this treaty Alters the reality of Indigenous Nations you are more than welcome to show your support.

We are in full support of treaties and self-government but just not this Modern Day Nisga’a Treaty that has stripped us our Ancestral lands and Aboriginal Status, AND OUR RIGHTS TO SPEAK WITH OUT BEEN OSTRACIZED

Thank you,

Sincerely

Niy’s Wii Amootkw gans Sim Git Luu T’aa20
Mr, & Mrs Fred and Rose Doolan
612 Front Street20
Kincolith BC V0V 1B0
(250) 326 2363