‘I don’t think we’re out of the woods yet’: Agreement between Wet’suwet’en, ministers may not end protests

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — A leader in B.C.’s Indigenous community is suggesting the protests connected to the Wet’suwet’en dispute aren’t likely to be over, despite days of talks which have resulted in a tentative agreement Sunday.

Grand Chief Stewart Philip, President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, says while there may have been headway made in this weekend’s talks in Smithers the fate of the pipeline project at the heart of the dispute is not settled.

“My understanding is that there has been agreement on the broader issues of Aboriginal title and rights within the Wet’suwet’en territory,” he says. “However the issues in terms of opposition to the pipeline continue, as well as the objection to the RCMP presence the territory to safeguard the assets of the pipeline. Those are outstanding issues yet to be resolved.”

WATCH: Government reaches tentative deal with Wet’suwet’en chiefs

He says it’s too soon to tell if this agreement will be ratified or whether protests, blockades and rallies in support of the Wet’suwet’en will come to an end.

“We won’t know until there are more details released about the agreement, and more importantly, whether the Wet’suwet’en people at large will support this agreement. But I don’t think we’re out of the woods yet.”

A joint statement issued Sunday by Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chief Woos, Scott Fraser, B.C.’s Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, and Carolyn Bennett, federal Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, says no agreement was reached on the pipeline.

“On the Coastal GasLink project, the parties engaged in direct discussions and explored means to come to a resolution. The Province agreed to provide further information on the project. All parties at the table recognize that the differences relating to the CGL project remain.”

An end to protests and blockades?
The deal made after three days of meetings with five #Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs, @scottfraserndp and @Carolyn_Bennett #bcpoli #cdnpoli https://t.co/m6yGOV8kqc

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) March 2, 2020

“With respect to rights and title, the parties focused intensely on commitments to an expedited process to implement Wet’suwet’en rights and title. The result of these discussions was a draft arrangement that will be reviewed by the Wet’suwet’en clan members through Wet’suwet’en governance protocols for ratification,” the statement continues.

In 1997, the Supreme Court of Canada recognized the existence of Aboriginal title as an exclusive and ancestral right to the land.

The Delgamuukw case was fought by Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs and their Gitxsan neighbours, but the ruling fell short of recognizing the boundaries of the territory to which their title applies.

“This arrangement for the Wet’suwet’en will breathe life into the Delgamuukw-Gisday’wa decision so that future generations do not have to face conflicts like the one they face today. As the late chief Wah tah Kwets (Pat Namox) said in the Delgamuukw case, ‘It is up to us to create a new memory in the minds of our children,” the statement says.

With files from The Canadian Press