Three Rivers
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
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Unist’ot’en host fourth action camp against pipelines By Jerome Turner Hazelton/Interior News
Nearly 70 kilometres south of Houston is the centre of resistance in the northwest against all proposed industrial pipelines that are planned to cross B.C., namely the site of the annual Unist’ot’en action camp. The Unist’ot’en are part of the Wet’suwet’en Nation, the first to host a traditional feast in complete opposition to pipelines, which happened in 2010 and they have taken it upon themselves to reinstate a traditional protocol that ensures no unwanted visitors enter their territory. Mel Bazil, Gitumden clan, which currently shares the border with the Unist’ot’en, explained what the protocol is. “Whenever you go over an international border it’s cold,” Bazil said. “There the officials have power over you but this is meant to be a power with experience. “The questions are meant to prove the person answering the questions knows themselves because it is at times dangerous to let someone in who is searching to find out who they are.” A representative from the Unist’ot’en asks any potential visitor who they are, where they are from, why they are visiting, if they work for industry
or government who are destroying Unist’ot’en land, how long they plan to stay and how the visit will help the Unist’ot’en people. The main person enacting the protocol of free, prior and informed consent is Freda Huson and failure to adhere to the protocol will prevent a return to the camp. “We explained to CBC when they came here that they were not to print anything negative or propipeline and they did,” Huson said. “Now they are not allowed back here. But it is not just pipeline companies like Pacific Trails, who were evicted from Unist’ot’en lands in February, and people who disregard simple instructions that are not permitted. “There were some people from the Wet’suwet’en First Nation and a band office that attempted to come on the land,” Bazil said. “I informed them there was a protocol and went to get Freda and they decided to turn around and go home.” The importance of the protocol is emphasized. “We are doing something here that nobody else in Canada has recently attempted and we’d like more people to know about it,” she said. Since the inaugural feast the Unist’ot’en have, with the help of many,
Freda Huson, blue jacket, and Togestiy (Warner Naziel), red jacket, welcome visitors, who have just passed protocol, to the fourth annual Unist’ot’en action camp. Jerome Turner photo
constructed a log cabin, a permaculture garden and are half-way to completing a pit house, which was the traditional dwelling of Wet’suwet’en people. The pit house is being built on the path of the latest proposed Enbridge bitumen pipeline route. “We built a log cabin on the original Enbridge route,” Bazil said. “But they changed their proposal and we made sure to build a pit house, which we were already planning
to do, on the new route.” Huson and Togestiy (Warner Naziel) have led the Unist’ot’en charge and have both worked tirelessly to protect the local ecosystem and always encourage others to do the same, Huson said. Once inside the camp visitors are encouraged to take part in workshops on topics such as decolonization, forming a cohesive message and permaculture, which is a form of growing food in a
more sustainable and ecofriendly manner. The camp, now in its fourth year, brings together like-minded people from across Canada who wish to organize and expand their network of eco-friendly, anti-industrial people and organizations, but Bazil said he makes sure there is no confusion about the reason for the camp. “This is not an antipipeline camp,” Bazil said. “This is a pro-
sovereignty movement, which has no room for industrial activity.” Huson and Togestiy elaborated further. “We’re here to take back our lives,” Togestiy said. “There are so many people out there that operate like zombies,” Huson added. “Out here we’re living on the land and feel alive and connected with the land that provides for all of us.”