|
At ISTA (Fogg Creek) I see that the loggers have rights – the roadbuilders have rights –
and the logging companies have rights. And they have the RCMP to back up their rights.
As Hereditary Chiefs and Nuxalkmc we are protecting and defending our forest and our
land and our rights. But there is no law enforcement or the RCMP to enforce our rights.
In order for us to protect and defend ISTA we have to do it ourselves.Under the BC Treaty Commission process
the loggers, the road builders, the logging companies, and the RCMP are at the negotiations table and I see that
they are in a major conflict of interest.
We are not signing the BC Court release forms because of our principles and morals. As
Hereditary Chiefs, we cannot accept guilt on behalf of our Nuxalk People. We cannnot
sign release forms on that basis. We cannot accept the destruction of the forests of ISTA.
We call ourselves "political prisoners." We are opposing the destruction of ISTA and we
will not back down. The exploiters came to ISTA to defend the colonial system that they
profit from. They took us prisoners because of our beliefs and idealism. This is not an
enforcement issue, it is a political, environmental and human rights issue.
We will stand fast for what we believe in.
Way!
|
