Gitxsans hereditary chiefs against gts and Enbridge Northern Pipeline

1. GITXSAN UNITY MOVEMENT DISPELS
RUMOURS AND UN-TRUTHS
Today the Gitxsan Unity Movement is addressing
the numerous allegations, distortions and
hypocritical statements, which are
circulating and appear to be designed to deceive
or delude supporters and efforts to rebuild unity
and friendship within the
Gitxsan Nation.
20/03/12

2. The Unity Movement began in early December
after Elmer Derrick of the GTS (Gitxsan Treaty
Society) held a surprise news conference with
Janet Holder of Enbridge. They announced to
the world that the Gitxsan people were
supporting the Enbridge
Northern Gateway Pipeline. This announcement
occurred during the services for the passing of
a Hereditary Chief, Elder and Matriarch, on
December 2, 2011.

3. The GTS has caused confusion by operating as:
the Gitxsan Treaty Society, Gitxsan Treaty
Office (GTO), the Gimlitwitx, and the Gitxsan
Hereditary Chiefs.

4. Currently the most serious allegation is regarding
a threat to burn the building housing the GTS
offices. This is completely unfounded. The
Gitxsan Unity Movement is protecting the
building and the contents from any threat
including vandalism.
The continuous vigilant watch over the offices is
now approaching 110 days and the watch has
been maintained 24 hours a day. It is in the
interests of the Gitxsan Nation as a whole to
ensure the offices are kept secure and intact.

5. If the BC Supreme Court continues to maintain
the illegality of the GTS, which Judge McEwen
stated in Smithers Court on January 11, 2012,
the documents in the offices would be helpful to
proceed with further charges against those who
have continued with these unlawful activities.
The only persons who might benefit from a fire at
the offices are those who wish to destroy the
evidence of their wrong doing.

6. GTS representative, Bev Clifton Percival, issued
a news release on March 9, 2012, which
contained various false statements.
The news release opened with the following;

7. “A BC Supreme Court judge has confirmed the
Gitxsan Treaty Society (GTS) is a valid entity
(and always was) and may attend to the
necessary work of the GTS while he considers
how to remedy a technical irregularity in the
appointment of the society's directors.”
“During the hearing, the judge also expressed his
view in clear terms that the blockade of the
Chiefs' office is illegal and told the protesters
that they have no right to deny access to the
office.”

8. Judge McEwen made no such statement and in
fact reserved his decision. He told those
attending he would attempt to reach a decision
as quickly as possible, but offered no
comments regarding his up coming ruling on
the matter of the legality of the GTS or the
blockade.

9. The GTS news release also quotes Alice Jeffrey
as stating, "through it all we have repeatedly
invited them [the Gitxsan Unity Movement
Members] to engage in a respectful dialogue to
no avail.”

10. There has never been such an invite issued by
the GTS and in fact the GTS has obstructed the
Gitxsan Unity Movement members from
attending their gatherings such as the two
Gimlitxwit in Gitsegukla during January, 2012,
and the two in Gitwangak during February,
2012.
It has been the Unity movement who have been
consistently encouraging the GTS to attend
gatherings to address the concerns of the
Gitxsan Nation, which have been consistently
rebuked.

11. The Gitxsan Unity movement is pleased the BC
Provincial Government has taken a neutral
position placing all negotiations with the GTS
on hold as has the BC Ministry of Forests. It is
with some concern then that the Unity
Movement has been informed the GTS
transferred $500,000 from the Gitxsan Forest
Enterprise Inc bank account into their own GTS
accounts without the consent or approval of the
Hereditary Chiefs.

12. Many more mis-deeds have yet to be
authenticated and the safety and security of the
GTS office is critical to future investigations into
the illegal and unethical operations of the GTS.
These include the concerns as to the
whereabouts of and the disbursements of:
- The $13 million from the short term forestry
agreement
- The $6.7 million recorded in the 2009 fiscal year
financial report

13. We can report Staff Sgt Pelley of the New
Hazelton RCMP has given us credit for the
peaceful and respectful manner all of the
participants at the protest camp have
conducted themselves.
As of the date of this news release the sacred fire
has been burning uninterrupted for 108 days.

14. We are committed to peace, accountability, and
transparency and are concerned by reports that
Elmer Derrick is receiving death threats.
This is a very serious allegation and anyone
hearing of such should report to the RCMP
immediately.
The Gitxsan Unity Movement is a peaceful
gathering attempting to unite all the Gitxsan
people regardless of their personal position on
these sensitive issues.

15. Threats and malicious statements to, or
regarding, the Hereditary Chiefs are completely
unacceptable, whether they are supportive of
the GTS, the Gitxsan Unity Movement or the
Spookw lawsuit against the GTS.
Today the Gitxsan Unity Movement has received
the signatures of just under 90 Chiefs (52 Head
Chiefs) in support of the actions we are taking
on behalf of our people.

16. Our numbers are growing and our leadership is
now calling for Gitxsan Guardians to step up
and volunteer to protect the Gitxsan people and
their interests, the land water and air, for the
future generations
The Gitxsan Unity Movement is 100% volunteer
driven.
We are committed to a future Gitxsan
Government based in our culture and values
which include accountability and transparency.

17. We thank all of the people for their continued
support and encouragement.
Please forward all communications to
Gitxsan Unity Movement
Attn: John Olson
Communications Coordinator
Box 332 Hazelton BC v0j-1y0
GitxsanUnity@gmail.com