Dear Sir:
This is regarding the news of (supposedly) Gitxsan chief Elmer Derrick and Enbridge official Janet Holder signing a deal providing the Gitxsan with an equity stake in Enbridge’s Northern Gateway oil pipeline. I strong believe the Gitxsan nation is not behind this deal that was signed Dec. 2. This was done by the Gitxsan Treaty Society.
There is a big difference between the Gitxsan Treaty Society and the Gitxsan people in general. The majority of the Gitxsan hereditary chiefs did not know of this signing until it came out in the newspapers across Canada.
The Gitxsan people, both on reserve and urban, will not benefit by this chief, who works for the Gitxsan Treaty Society, signing this deal. Just the society alone will benefit.
I ask how can big corporations make deals with this society on claimed lands with no proof of use or occupation?
Enbridge’s agreement to this society will provide at least $7 million of net profit to the Gitxsan. Enbridge’s Northern Gateway Project’s joint review panel’s community hearings will begin in Kitimat on Jan. 10, 2012. Other communities will follow so, in my opinion, someone here is drastically jumping the gun and will have to be held accountable to every Gitxsan community.
This is not remaining faithful to the laws of the grassroots Gitxsan. By signing deals of this sort it is not grassroots Gitxsan standards.
Mary Dalen,
Cedarvale, BC