On the sideline of its annual general meeting held Saturday in Montreal, Amnesty International invited the hereditary Wet’suwet’en leader Na’moks to discuss the exploitation of fossil fuels on its territory. The meeting was attended by representatives of several First Countries of Quebec, especially Atikamekw.
Chief Na’moks recalled the exploitation of natural resources in indigenous territories is not just about Wet’suwet’en. He added that his country never sign a document allowing the industry to cut off territory [des Wet’suwet’en] in two.
His intervention was part of the construction of the Costal GasLink gas pipeline, which was opposed by the hereditary leaders of Wet’suwet’en. Many Aboriginals were arrested by the RCMP during protests against the project.
He demanded the application the law [wet’suwet’en] in its territory, and [que cela se fasse] with respect for all living creatures – this is our duty.
Chief Na’moks even demanded that the state and industry of Canada respect, recognize and accept the rights of the Wet’suwet’en in an effort to achieve sustainable development of the territory. Moreover, he said he hopes the Canadian government identify the management system of his country. We are at homehe says.
According to him, the exploitation of resources in the territory of Wet’suwet’en will require in particular meaningful consultation, information sharing, and discussion with leaders in all aspects of projects. This should be negotiated government to government who will be fairhe begged.
For Chief Na’moks, no serious action has been taken to ensure that the rights of the Wet’suwet’en Nation are respected in the Costal GasLink pipeline file, and the stakeholders in the file. don’t listen to people.
Tell the truth
Chief Na’moks’ participation in the Amnesty International general meeting was aimed at raising awareness among the participants of violence and all that [nous] occurs, to all aboriginal people in the countryhe said in an interview.
There is no reason for that [justifier] violence [des autorités] in our territory, towards our people and our supporters [car] we are not violent, he said. During his conference, a video was also shown showing some forced RCMP intervention against members of the Wet’suwet’en Nation.
” People put their lives on the line, and that shouldn’t happen in Canada. “
however, [nous] we can speak up, and whatever elected officials or industry say, the truth comes outhe continued.
Chief Na’moks’s goal back to what [gouvernement du] Canada said it would for the aboriginal people in the country. It’s a democracy, and that’s not how it’s run: a democracy sees the people with a voice, and they hear the voice of the government, but here, [on entend seulement] the voice of the industryhe is angry.
The dollar is becoming more valuable than the personlament of the chief Na’moks.
” We need government and industry that recognizes well -being, that protects the planet, because the planet knows how we [devrions agir]but he was the last on the list [des priorités]and that is not progress. “
He explained that human existence should not be ating priority, but we should [plutôt] protect the land, water, and air, [ce qui] will be real progress.
yun [le gouvernement et l’industrie] doing now, along with militarization [du territoire wet’suwet’en]is to reinforce the idea that no matter what people say, land exploitation will happensays Chief Na’moks, even if it comes at the expense of nature – and not just Wet’suwet’en territory, contrary to what is claimed elected officials and industry representatives.
At that’s not true, [car] everyone can make a difference, and my hope is that people will speak up and do things in line with where we livehe continued.
We can tell the truth, and it will save this planet, instead of money, because greed destroys the Earthhe concludes.
Source: Radio-Canada
