Statement on RCMP Violence in Wet'suwet'en

North Vancouver / Unceded Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō (Stahlo), Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Territory

Today, Aryanna Chartrand, Chairperson of the Alliance of BC Students, issued this statement on the situation in Wet'suwet'en territory:

“The Alliance condemns in the strongest possible terms the colonial violence taking place on traditional unceded Wet'suwet'en territory against land defenders and Indigenous peoples. We are alarmed by this latest escalation by the RCMP and stand in solidarity with those at Wedzin Kwa defending their Yintah.

The Alliance also condemns the illegal arrests of journalists who are documenting this colonial violence.

The decision to serve the corporate interests of Coastal Gaslink and arrest land defenders, instead of protecting human rights and pristine ecological habitat, is atrocious.

The RCMP must withdraw from Wet'suwet'en territory as soon as possible and stop violating Indigenous, Charter, and human rights. We urge the Government of British Columbia to reallocate RCMP resources to supplying food, materials, and aid to the evacuation and support of communities affected by the recent mudslides and flooding. 

The Alliance of BC Students is committed to supporting the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Calls to Action outlined by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the Calls to Justice outlined by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit People.

We remind the province that in 2019, the provincial government passed the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act). The Declaration Act establishes the UN Declaration as the province’s framework for reconciliation, as called for by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.

We remind the province that the following articles are being violated by the current RCMP actions against the Wet’suwet’en land defenders:

Article 8

  1. States shall provide effective mechanisms for prevention of, and redress for: 

    1. any action which has the aim or effect of dispossessing them of their lands, territories and resources.

Article 10

  1.  Indigenous peoples shall not be forcibly removed from their lands or territories. 

Article 26: 

  1. Indigenous people have the right to lands, territories and resources which they have traditionally owned, occupied or otherwise used or acquired.

  2. Indigenous peoples have the right to own, use, develop and control the lands, territories and resources that they possess by reason of traditional ownership or other traditional occupation or use, as well as those which they have otherwise acquired

  3. States shall give legal recognition and protection to these lands, territories and resources. Such recognition shall be conducted with due respect to the customs, traditions and land tenure systems of the indigenous peoples concerned.

Article 32: 

  1. Indigenous peoples have the right to determine and develop priorities and strategies for the development or use of their land or territories and other resources.

We urge the province and the RCMP to deescalate the situation and respect the rights of land defenders, Indigenous peoples, and journalists.”