As I reflect on 1995 and ISTA there is a great feeling of success and pride. There is also a great sadness in me: on my losses and our losses. We must have felt that we faced all the adversities possible then we can ever face. It is a great feeling knowing that we are still here standing to our commitments.

I, Charlie Nelson, am one of the Nuxalk Nation Hereditary Chiefs. I am currently in jail for protecting our land from destruction. There are two other Hereditary Chiefs, Lawrence Pootlass and Edward Moody, who are also in jail for the same reason. We are political prisoners of the Canadian Government.

On 26 September 1995, the RCMP abducted us from our own land. They drove us by boats and flew us in planes to politically imprison us for practising our traditional duties. Today we had our preliminary hearing. This is why I am not able to speak for myself. We have been placed in the HOLE (isolation) for trying to exit the court room peacefully.

We are doing this to show people of the world the injustice that occurs to our people. We are doing this to show that the Canadian Government is detaining us for protecting our land. It is our duty through the potlatch system to protect out land.

Our songs, stories and dances remind us of these duties. Just as the RCMP and the judges enforce their law, we must enforce our laws. We must protect our land because it provides our plant medicines, plant foods, our deer and fish.

The Canadian monetary system imposed on us leaves our people 80% unemployed. We very much depend on our Nuxalk economic system because the Canadian system is not sufficient. The Canadian laws could help and protect us but it could also criminalize us. It depends politically who is in control of the system and who they uphold.

Today, it has been shown who they prefer to uphold. They uphold International Forest Products (Interfor) because of national interest and economic sense, not justice. For the future of our children, grandchildren and children yet to be born . . .

Way!