Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs Grant CGL One-Time Access To Shut Down Camp 9A

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs Grant CGL One-Time Access To Shut Down Camp 9A

Smithers (BC) – Following the eviction of Coastal Gaslink from unceded Wet’suwet’en territory Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs have granted Coastal Gaslink one-time access to Dark House yintah to winterize Site 9A. The Eviction Order we signed as Dinï ze’ and Ts’akë ze’ of these territories remains in effect, and Coastal Gaslink (CGL) will not be authorized to build the pipeline on unceded Wet’suwet’en territory.

CGL has been granted 6-8 hours access for a work crew to winterize their personnel accommodations and equipment at site 9A, since no personnel will remain at the site during the coming cold snap. One time access will be granted to avoid damages to CGL assets and the surrounding environment. CGL has confirmed in writing that they will leave Dark House territory after winterizing Site 9A.

Dark House will not interfere with winterization tasks, and the CGL work crew will be expected to vacate the site and our territory once the outlined work is completed. This limited access will be monitored by a Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chief, a third party contractor and a media recorder to ensure it is in compliance with the access terms granted under our authority as Hereditary Chiefs.

Only technical staff will be permitted to conduct the work, in the absence of RCMP or private security, in order to ensure the safety of Wet’suwet’en members and our guests on the territory. Coastal Gaslink has agreed that with their immediate concerns addressed by this arrangement, they will not seek RCMP enforcement of the injunction while their workers are completing the winterization and closure of the worksite.

This limited access was offered in good faith as a demonstration of wiggus or respect by us as Dinï ze’ and Ts’akë ze’ in our dealings with CGL, despite the lack of consent for CGL’s property and pre-construction activities on our unceded territory. This arrangement in no way constitutes consultation with CGL. We remain steadfast in our position that no pipeline will be built on unceded Wet’suwet’en territory. As Hereditary Chiefs, we will continue to uphold Wet’suwet’en law on these lands and ensure that our eviction order stands.

Media Contact:
Karla Tait, Unist’ot’en Healing Center
tsewedielh@gmail.com