Date: Fri, May 1, 2020 at 11:32 AM
Subject: Fwd: WNCG Proposal.pdf. Wit”n MOU and governor model
Good day Chiefs, I just want to bring you up-to-date since our meeting with Minister Bennett in Ottawa March March 10 . 2020 and the video I shared from that meeting. At that time I was invited to Ottawa to speak on the pipeline and the governance issues as it pertains to our nation. I met with Minister Bennett for an hour and a half. At which time I informed her that we Wit”n did not have a formal governance structure in place that was inclusive of band council. I said we all have to decide on what kind of governance model we would agree to. ( Can we have a virtual meeting on this)
I love our feast system but it is archaic and slow it does not include our nation in decision making. While there are clan meetings this is not adequate . Our feast systems belongs in respect to our beloved ones who have passed.
Chiefs, I asked minister this and she agreed.
That model looks like it blends the hereditary and elected ways of governing and allows the Wet’suwet’en to form a united front and present a form of governance that fits in the Canadian nation, without special interests blindsiding and pitting band against band. Too bad the MOU that is in the Interior News looks like the chiefs are going to be handed everything from child welfare to resource projects to control over all land ( crown or otherwise) to full control over fish resources. Be interested in how it turns out