Kwakwaka'wakw

Intro: I wrote this paper as a brief exploration of resistance models available to our nations. I have always found it difficult to navigate within the Indian Act band governments and if passed, a treaty government will still be an extension of this dependency that breeds corruption and works for the very Canadian governments that have and continue to support the theft of our lands and benefit directly from its exploitation. This should not read: lets devote more resources to 'economic development' in large scale exploitation of natural resources ourselves . Rather, we should focus our attention on realizing and strengthening our collective identity as Kwakwaka'wakw by actively discussing it within our communities, incorporating Western ideas that are a net-benefit to humans and the animal kingdom, while ignoring those that do not (heavy economic exploitation and disparate wealth distribution that favors the already rich and those in power). I sincerely hope it encourages ...

Discussion on both Tsawwassen and Nisga'a Final Agreements. I encourage all to look into the possible agreements that 'Namgis members would be presented with. The "bargaining" the government does is based on an unmovable equation that gives more-land-less-money or more-money-less-land (all valued before negotiations start). Land which will see us sign away over 90% of it with the "more-land" choice. Why are we borrowing millions of dollars that we have to pay back and at the same time giving them 90% of our traditional territories? The Nisga'a are now paying taxes for the land that they all owned outright. Do we really want to give our band chief and council more power with our own scarce money supply through taxation? The letter below by Bertha Williams has been reposted from Stephen Reese's Blog HERE . To view an interview with Bertha Williams HERE . ------------------------------------------- A dissenting voice is raising serious concerns about h...

I asked a Tsilhqot’in friend to write about the how the court decision impacted his people and by extension all negotiating Kwakwaka'wakw Nations under the BC Treaty process. Russell is finishing up his Masters thesis in Indigenous Governance at the University of Victoria. His response is broken into several sections that outline the court case, how it impacts the BC treaty process and finally Russell's personal reflection on the subject. I want to extend my gratitude for this important piece of writing. It will be helpful in further understanding our position as a Nation negotiating under a illegitimate treaty process. _________________________________________ To Chiinuuks & people of the land I want to express my thoughts and share information concerning two divergences that have yet to converge. The BC Treaty Process and the Supreme Court decisions resemble two routes to playing politics in trying to gain recognition for the land that we still belong. While the province ...