I recall when I was a child, I was told that we should listen to our elders, they have only our best interests at heart, it still holds true today, the second greatest impression of elderly wisdom was imparted on us is that a half truth is far more dangerous than an outright lie. So with that I wish to share that the speakers here did both, some imparted wisdom while others imparted half truths to support a not so hidden agenda of anti pipeline and anti industry, because they are funded by foreign investors. They invest in aboriginal history and expect a return in support for the environmentalist movement that will rid Canada as a competitor in the industrial market. Sadly we are foolish enough to support these radicals. They talk about so many problems, yet offer so few solutions.
Let me start by saying there is no quick simple reply to more than 12 hours of testimony, there is a lot of speakers, and it would take a book to complete a full rebuttal to what really has become a hijacked event. By hijacked I mean that the environmentalists hijacked the occasion of a momentous historic importance the “25th anniversary of Delgamuukw Gisday’wa Supreme Court Decision” I will try to keep it as short and concise as possible.
The following was a comment made by a local Wet’suwet’en woman, her comment reflects what many Wet’suwet’en woman were saying in social media, including that it was a selective audience that was invited and hidden from the majority of members in the Wet’suwet’en community.
“It was disheartening to witness two Delgamguukw Gisday’wa Celebrations being conducted. At first it was confusing assuming Fridays Celebration was pospondd and commencing on Monday. But it was not the case. Both entities did not speak of the other so this created confusion. The two entities im talking about is one Celebration held by Band Office and the another by Peace and Unity. Clearly there is a communication break down. Their were words thrown about at the Band membership mtg stating the Elected C+C and Hereditary Chiefs are to conduct collaborative practice for the betterment of the Nation. There should never be two celebrations. Both entities should have communicated and collaborated to create one big celebration. This clearly displays that our nation has a lot of work to do. The Delgamuukw Gisday’wa 25th Celebration is about how our ancestors created unity with our neighbouring Gitxsan nation to create recognition of our people, our governance and our land. We are each other’s harvest; we are each other’s business; we are each other’s magnitude and bond. When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt us. For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.I have been hearing the words. We must walk our talk. I am in hopes one day I will witness this eternal wonder! We must keep in mind, we are the teachers for the next generation as the children soak up our every move, words and action like a sponge. Clearly there is still division within. How do we mend this in a respectful way? Our ancestors placed their personal words to themselves, placed their internal pride aside and always spoke with their ancestors words. We are all messengers to the next generation, this is how we survive and thrive as indigenous people. I love you all as one! I see you all as one. Let’s sit together as one!”
The first speaker was Herb George, he reminisced a lot about what happened during the days of the original Delgamuukw Gisday’wa trial. Oddly he does not mention the original Chief Smogelgem or the work done by Rita George, or Gloria George, who were instrumental in bringing this case to fruition. Again this leads me to believe that celebration was designed to conform to the agenda of the radical elements. The second speaker was there on behalf of Delgamuukw George Muldoe and again no mention that the original Delgamuukw in this historic case was Earl Muldoe who supported the idea of working with Natural Gas pipelines for the prosperity of the children in the future. One important comment that he did make was saying that he did not believe they have any other choice than going back to court, as they did 25 years ago.
The MC’s were Travis Pete who also works for Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition (SWCC) and Gaylene Morris is an active participant in the Molly Wickham blockade. Travis Pete was one of the participants in a anti pipeline video where they rafted down to the CGL pipeline river crossing, while Gaylene appeared in another making claims a CGL employee threatened to rape her on a VHF road radio.. So it was not hard to understand why they were chosen by John Ridsdale to be the MC’s.
In context of who is who from the Gitxsan speaking at this event, pay very close attention to the names in the next paragraph.
The third speaker was John Ridsdale, imagine how its possible that out of all the Hereditary Chiefs, he proudly proclaims that this Peace & Unity Group was created by himself (who is also on the board of directors of the SkeenaWild,) Kirby Muldoe was one of the primary MC hosts in the second event in Gitanmaax , he is connected to the The Raven Network, Skeenawild Conservation Trust, also known for his role in “Kirby Muldoe and a few others distributed 700 T-shirts with the words “Wet’suwet’en Strong” on Sunday.” and a third person called Jesse Stoeppler the projects manager for the Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition, and is married to Dora Wilson another long time opponent of the CGL and other pipelines. (birds of a feather conference, its hijacking an important occasion in both Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en history. More on Kirby further down in this article.
Stop for a moment and ask just how much of this was done for the Gitxsan Nation and or the Wet’suwet’en Nation? It seems outsiders have more control than insiders, meaning the members that make up the aboriginal communities in both nations.
Someone needs to publicly ask John Ridsdale what he was doing during the days when both Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en were putting in thousands of hours of documenting organizing and building this historic case. Ask John what his role was during this time. Seriously he is the last person who has the right to talk about what happened during those days.
The next speaker was Yvonne Lattie a Gitxsan with a long history of working with the Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition (SWCC) and is also well known for fighting her own people. I reference this story Spookw Lawsuit against the Gitxsan Treaty Society dismissed. It was clear that this was a power grab, that failed, read it yourself. This is another anti industry activist who does not want to work with the majority of the Gitxsan Nation, she was handpicked by this group led by John Ridsdale, who do the same thing to the membership of the Wet’suwet’en nation. Its not the only time the name Spookw made the news. Recall the following? Gitxsan Hereditary Chief Spookw and Matriarch Gwininitxw (Yvonne Lattie) were arrested last night, along with others. Hereditary chiefs, protesters arrested at rail blockade in northern B.C., say witnesses
Looks like there was also door prizes to lure people into attending, an Ipad and even one prize courtesy of the Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition (SWCC) seriously? What about Dogwood what did they donate?
Before we go on, lets have a closer look at this Peace and Unity creation by John Ridsdale. look at who their primary sponsors are. Recall Dogwood and how they tried to manipulate the leadership race of the NDP? Elections BC investigating whether environmental group improperly aided BC NDP leadership candidate
How could anyone suggest that these celebrations are that of the Wet’suwet’en and Gitxsan people, its a mix of genuine celebration of both nations and now like tainted water its being hijacked by people with an agenda that is not even pure Gitxsan or Wet’suwet’en.
The next speaker was Peter Grant, just as he was in Gitanmaax in the second day of celebrations, he was a pleasure to listen to. Keep in mind he is doing what a lawyer is paid to do, meaning keeping his client satisfied, he did a great job none the less. Its just too bad he did not address the issue of proceeding with a court case, or going to a ground war with goverment, as per what Don Ryan suggested. We have more of that coming further down in my article.
The next speaker was Ron Michell, I have to say I was touched by his memories of the case, he became a Hereditary Chief in 1985, he was also one of the 5 chiefs who stripped 3 female Hereditary chiefs. His role in the trial earned him much respect, however its very hard to suggest he earned his position as Hereditary Chief based on how the title is supposed to be passed on in Wet’suwet’en culture. This is something the nation must deal with, so for now I will leave it alone.
If up to this point you thought that my accusation of this being a hijacked event was an exaggeration, then you need to pay a lot of attention to what happened next. A One hour commercial featuring the the anti CGL brigade.
During the lunch break people were subjected to another speech by John Ridsdale, who made much adieu about violence to the blockaders followed by other film clips supporting the radical anarchists. More footage supporting the anarchists on the Morice, its clear this is not a celebration, its a hijacking of a very important legal decision. This event is really a promotion for the illegal blockaders and anarchists, so shameful such an abuse to the ancestors who fought a non violent case in the courtroom. This video was designed to create race hate, and not unity. This event was being used to promote the objectives of the Tides Foundation to remove competition in the competition to American Oil and gas and these radicals get funding to achieve their goals. It near unbelievable how John Ridsdale used this event to promote his hate filled agenda. Hidden from the view throughout all the footage is the massive numbers of non aboriginals who were part of this blockade. (See the lists)
A promotion for Molly Wickham’s road block and blockades. this was supposed to be a day to honour elders, instead its become a day where they were shamed by ecoterrorists. Its sickening that such an important event has become the propaganda tool for anarchists and its victims are the Wet’suwet’en people. Then comes the injection of other members of the Dora Wilson family who all like to pretend they are random members of the Gitxsan people, but only represent a fraction of the Gitxsan people. This includes members of the same family, the Sutherland-Wilson family. These people claim to speak for their people, but in fact do not speak for shier people, just as John Ridsdale cannot say he speaks for the Wet’suwet’en people.
Starting at 2:38 that is hours and minutes in, this pure anarchist promo starts and goes on for almost a full hour of anarchist promotions.
Its appalling that they got away with doing this.
After lunch it was Fred Tom’s turn to speak, he is another one of those chiefs that really owe it to his people to tell them what he was doing during the time when the Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en people during the days when they were building this case, it might be a shocking revelation. Fred Tom was one of those modern day new chiefs who also worked hard for the anti pipeline blockaders turning out some very unconvincing vidoes and really showed how not to conduct yourself when he attacked a CGL employee, just doing his job. He was rude, insincere and targeted the wrong person all to fill in footage for another fake journalist named Brandi Morin.
The next speaker was Don Ryan. Read what Don Ryan told the Hereditary Chiefs in 2009 in our article Wet’suwet’en Land Claims Overlap I agree with Don when he says we all need to read the court transcripts, that is where the true history lies. But lets review his advice given in 2009. Was this a declaration of on the ground war?
“The issues for us on the treaty table are a competing claim.
You have people on the treaty table discussing these issues, and Carrier Sekanie is claiming the same thing in Prince George.
The band councils are doing different things.
We must sit and talk to them and bring everyone together. There will be tension on these fronts. You have a situation where pipelines and competing claims must be sorted out.
The treaty process is not the right path for us.
This process takes your title away from you. We need to be aggressive as to what we can do on the land. I can quickly take you through the treaty process. They have a formula and figure how much they will offer you in cash. Our neighbors in the Nass signed a treaty, speak to them and they will tell you the same story. $750,000 per person is what they will offer you. When they give you that money, you will not own the land.
They will also offer you land and that will be around Moricetown. They also have a formula, one section of land. They are still trying to get you off the land. I’m interested in discussing the options with you.” Don Ryan 2009
Putting it more in context what Don was suggestion was to hell with the land that belongs to our neighbours, just grab it, it had nothing to do with Canadian or Provincial crown lands and everything to do with pure unadulterated selfish greed. This was not the way of those chiefs who fought this case in court.
The following speaker was Glen Williams a Gitxsan who mentions the contributions of Leonard George and Andrew George and many others of the original Hereditary Chiefs, it was a pleasure to listen to at least a few people there not to push the anarchist agenda. He talks about a legal settlement, not a war, but sitting down at a table and negotiating the conclusion to the Delgamuukw Gisday’wa case to settle land ownership. He talks about recruiting young educated children to take over as opposed to protesters and violence working with goverment as opposed to against them. I would have given my right arm to see what some of these speakers would have said if they would have had to look Leonard George and Andrew George in the eyes when they spoke this day. At least Glen Williams gave then due respect.
The next speaker was Victor Jim, who also worked on the historic land claims case. Its not often I will say a speaker had me spellbound, but Victor’s speech is another one that will go down in history, well worth the time it takes to listen to what he shared this day. Part of why he was so appealing was the difference between a speaker trying to sell a story, vs people like Victor who spoke from the heart. also see I cannot just leave it there, there is so much more about Victor Jim that it would be negligent on my part to not take it a step further. I highly recommend people read this story “The Tale of Two Tsayu, Beaver Clan Chiefs” that includes transcripts from the Delgamuukw Gisday’wa Supreme Court Decision. Read it and ask yourself, who is the legitimate Hereditary Chief, Victor Jim or John Ridsdale?
As this article is already much longer than planned I won’t list a play by play and try to keep it shorter.
They invited anti pipeline eco cultists to speak, both aboriginal and non aboriginal. Gary Edenshaw from Masset, refers to band councils as ruling over tiny villages, so who and where are the people who are the members of the Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en people? It makes me wonder how elders like Victor Jim felt when insulted this way by an indigenous man who sold out to environmentalist organizations? These speakers are props for Ridsdale and gang who prefer taking the land back by brute force.
Also speaking here is one of the organizers and host of the other event by Peace & Unity, daughter of Kirby Muldoe, who as we pointed out earlier in this article, is at major odds with his uncle Earl Muldoe, the original Delgamuukw. We will expand on the issue of Kirby Muldoe later, but meanwhile you can read these references to get an idea on just how far apart Kirby was from his uncle on the issue up pipelines and resources. Remembering Gitxsan Hereditary Chief Delgamuukw
END OF DEC 9TH VIDEO – Refer below to watch this video.
DECEMBER 10TH VIDEO
It was hard not to see that this very important celebration was in fact put together by people who sold out to the David Suzuki Foundation, Magic Canoe, Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition (SWCC) and Dogwood BC who are more notoriously known for how they tried to fix the recent NDP leadership race. Now they are here to FIX who speaks and who does not. Keep this in mind as you watch the days proceedings.
One of the most important events of all time for those people who lived in and shared the Bulkley Valley, so I was really looking forward to hearing elders speak about this very important event, and coming forward with a plan to conclude what was started 25 years ago. I listened attentively to almost 8 hours of speeches, not one person had a solid plan for how to proceed to a conclusion to what our friends, neighbours and relatives started 25 years ago. We have included links to the videos, so you do not have to take my word for it, you can watch and decide for yourselves.
The following is a review, my own personal take on what I heard and witnessed this day, it was a two day event, the first was in Witeset on Dec 9th 2022, the second day was in the Gitanmaax Community Hall on Saturday Dec 10th 2022. One of the first comments that made me shake my head in disappointment was just after the first minute, when I hear the the young people are not here today due to a basketball game they were attending. Wow, was this a parents priority, or was it due to who was invited and who were not?
Such an important event and look at the links to non aboriginal environmentalist groups. Not people whom mastered the science in protecting nature but people who mastered the science of public manipulation.
Its not to say all the speakers were part of this environmentalist groups, many were in fact dedicated to fighting for their own people. When you look at who organized this event, it becomes very clear that the motivation for this event was hijacking history for the sake of environmental fanatics. Not all the speakers were ecofanatics, some were indeed genuine and a pleasure to listen to.
Kirby Muldoe was one of was one of the primary MC hosts, he comes to us from the The Raven Network, Skeenawild Conservation Trust. Set aside his partnership with John Ridsdale, how many people recall this story? “Kirby Muldoe and a few others distributed 700 T-shirts with the words “Wet’suwet’en Strong” on Sunday.” Clearly this man is part of the extremest environmental movement more bend on imposing his ideas on people and not at all interested in unity.
Next by special video appearance we have Molly Wickham, a full blown blockader promo that did exactly the opposite of what the Chiefs did in the Delgamuukw Gisday’wa Supreme Court Decision, the elders sat down, made a record of history, and brought the truth to the courtroom, they did not protest, they did not block roads, they did not destroy industrial equipment to impose their will on Canada, no they sat down and proudly corrected history.
More video promotions by Ridsdale and Kirby follow.
Recall the recent story about how Dogwood interfered by trying to manipulate the NDP leadership race, well guess what, like a dirty shirt the same organization or its leadership are also manipulating what and who speak at this historic anniversary. Look up to the screenshots (above) from this so called Peace and Unity organization these anarchists created. All of the main actors are in there, including those who seem to be star stuck by an American actor.
Look on their website under list of speakers you find the name Kia Negata, look closing at how much OUTSIDE interference there is in this historic occasion. Its both sad and shameful how this historic occasion is laced with all the names of outspoken anti industry agendas, Kolin Sutherland-Wilson, Denzel Sutherland-Wilson, both known for their anarchist antics were invited to speak. This event was not supposed to be about pipelines, because if it were one would in fairness also invite speakers from the The Stellat’en First Nation, Saik’uz First Nation, Cheslatta Carrier Nation, McLeod Lake Indian Band, Saulteau First Nations, Kitselas First Nation, West Moberly First Nations, Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, Nadleh Whut’en Indian Band, Burns Lake Indian Band, Blueberry River First Nations, Halfway River First Nation, Doig River First Nation, Wet’suwet’en First Nation, Yekooche First Nation, Nee Tahi Buhn Indian Band, Skin Tyee First Nation, Witset First Nation, Nak’azdli Whut’en, Haisla Nation. all support the pipeline.
People like Mark Ruffalo who are known ecofanatics with an agenda, while they live on the riches they themselves acquired from the same industries they wish now to shut down. Then Ridsdale milks the ecocultists by making this all about climate change. Why are we allowing American actors to be highlights in what is a very important local historic event?
The Gitxsan reality is Chief Delgamuukw Earl Muldoe, who we honor with the name Delgamuukw. Instead of honouring his memory the presenters did their best to bury his memory. Why? Because he and most of the leading Gitxsan Chiefs signed a document called “Trustee Resolution of the Amdimxxw Trust,” dated Sept. 6, 2016. This document lists the chief names next to dollar amounts, dividing a total of more than $5.3 million between them.
In the article Title and Rights – Hereditary Chiefs vs Band Office? – Part One we showed how the Gitxsan ecofanatics who held this event and used it to manipulate their agenda actually oppose the idea that Hereditary Chiefs hold exclusive rights to the land, they argue that the land belongs to the community, meaning band and band counsels. The MC for this occasion was none other than Hup Wil Lax A (Kirby Muldoe) who is of Tsimsian and Gitxsan descent, has been an activist for the environment for most of his life, and is the Indigenous Engagement Specialist for SkeenaWild Conservation Trust based in Terrace, B.C.
In “Who owns the land — the people or the chief?” part of the Title and Rights – Hereditary Chiefs vs Band Office? – Part Two we explained just how and who controls what according to the environmentalist extremists within the Gitxsan Nation.
I had hope that they would address a number of major elephants in the room, Peter Grant would spend at least a little of his time talking about them but he seemed to have a list of do not mentions, things not to address. The first was the very massive difference between the position of John Ridsdale and Kirby Muldo on who has control of the territory, Chiefs or band members. Kirby Muldo was furious that his uncle Chief Delgamuukw signed on with oil and gas, while John Ridsdale swears up and down its the chiefs who hold the title. Wow, such an important issue, but hey let’s not talk about it.
There seemed to be two conversations regarding what to do, taking place on the stage, the first was following the advice of Don Ryan that he made years ago, amounting to lets go to war over the land, fighting them on the land and abandoning negotiations, I will expand on this further down the page. The second opinion was drop your fears as their forefathers did and finish the fight in court as per what original elders did in the Delgamuukw Gisday’wa Supreme Court Decision.
Peter Grant, he was a great speaker, I am not so sure that some of what he says is accurate, I am sure some of it was hype, but overall I enjoyed listening to him, some of the memories were great stuff and I enjoyed most of his speech. There is however a point that is worthy of noting. What is next? What did he not address the question of who is right? Are the Gitxsan right, that title and rights are held by the people, or are the half dozen Wet’suwet’en chiefs right? I won’t even get into the legitimacy of the 3 new Hereditary Chiefs, we already have plenty of articles about stolen titles. Its too bad that Peter did not clear up the air on this very important question of extreme difference.
For those of you who do watch the more than 12 hours of speeches, one of the cliques that I found getting stale and annoying is the very overused term “That was powerful” or the many generic versions of that comment. Maybe I am old school, some of the words shared by elders to me were a refreshing pleasure to hear, some might even be called inspirational, I am not referring to the ecofanatics, but to elders speaking from the heart.
I did find it offensive that a man who has yet to do his shame feast was one of the environmentalists who put on this show. I find it offensive that John Ridsdale speaks as one of the primary speakers for the Wet’suwet’en Nation knowing how many of its citizens are offended by this man acting as though nothing ever occurred to cause shame to the Hereditary Chiefs.
Why is that an important issue? Well refer to John Ridsdale’s comments (let’s just forget for a second that he never to this date held that shame feast he was supposed to hold) about walking out of negotiations with goverment because he did not want the members of his community at the table, he somehow speaks about those members who were voted to band council as if they were aliens of another planet called goverment. It was the Office of Wet’suwet’en that also pulled out of negotiations with goverment. Then when you listen to many Gitxsan members speak they speak of finishing what they started, going back to court.
The other significant observation of both days was the absence of so many Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs, the only ones I saw were bought and paid for by the environmentalist movements.
I will repeat a quote posted earlier due to its significant importance in this context, the advice given by Don Ryan in 2009.
“The issues for us on the treaty table are a competing claim.
You have people on the treaty table discussing these issues, and Carrier Sekanie is claiming the same thing in Prince George.
The band councils are doing different things.
We must sit and talk to them and bring everyone together. There will be tension on these fronts. You have a situation where pipelines and competing claims must be sorted out.
The treaty process is not the right path for us.
This process takes your title away from you. We need to be aggressive as to what we can do on the land. I can quickly take you through the treaty process. They have a formula and figure how much they will offer you in cash. Our neighbors in the Nass signed a treaty, speak to them and they will tell you the same story. $750,000 per person is what they will offer you. When they give you that money, you will not own the land.
They will also offer you land and that will be around Moricetown. They also have a formula, one section of land. They are still trying to get you off the land. I’m interested in discussing the options with you.” Don Ryan 2009
Below are the two videos, if they pull them down we have copies we might post at a later date.
Addendum: Looks like they were funded by the Tides foundation.
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