Nuxalk Nation Position
September 10, 1995
First of all we, the Nuxalk Nation, would like to acknowledge Tatau, The Creator, through Manakays, the Great Spirit, for all that he has provided since the beginning of time and still provides today.
We, the Nuxalk Nation, stand in the position of sovereignty against International Forest Products (INTERFOR). We cannot and will never as the Nuxalk Nation compromise this position.
The Sovereignty of the Nuxalk Nation comes from Tatau, the Creator. It is not granted nor subject to the approval of any other nation. As the Nuxalk Nation we have the sovereign right to jurisdictional rule within our own territory. Our lands are a sacred gift. The land is provided for the continued use, benefit and enjoyment of our people, the Nuxalkmc, and it is our ultimate obligation to Tatau, the Creator, to care for and protect it.
INTERFOR has continually raped our lands and continues to do so today! Our old villages, hunting grounds, fishing grounds, grave sites and sacred areas are being destroyed. Our fish and animals that we need to feed our peoples are disappearing. Our food plants, medicinal plants and trees are being trampled on and destroyed, all for the corporate value of the lumber.
We, the Nuxalk Nation, take this stand today and forever to state: “That we are appalled at what INTERFOR has done and is still doing today, to our Nuxalkmc Territory. We have never nor will we ever give our consent to INTERFOR or any other corporation to develop within our territory.
“Our territory is ours, the Nuxalkmc, and we have never ceded it to the Canadian or B.C. provincial government.
“Our nation is not interested in entering into any treaties (B.C. Treaty Commission), agreements or any sort of arrangement with the Canadian government or the British Columbia government concerning our Nuxalk Nation hereditary rights and title.”
The power that these two governments claim to have over our territory is an illegal power within their own jurisdiction as shown in the Constitution which reflects to the Royal Proclamation of 1763.
The following section is from the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to remind you that the Royal Proclamation is still legal and binding.
CANADIAN CHARTER OF RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS
Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law:
Guarantee of Rights and Freedoms….
General
- The guarantee in this Charter of certain rights and freedoms shall not be construed so as to abrogate or derogate from any aboriginal, treaty or other rights or freedoms that pertain to the aboriginal people of Canada including
- a) any rights or freedoms that have been recognized by the Royal Proclamation of October 7, 1763; and
- b) any rights or freedoms that now exist by way of land claim agreements or may be so acquired.
The following section is recited from the Royal Proclamation of October 7, 1763:
The Royal Proclamation of October 7, 1763, (by the King, A proclamation, George R)
And whereas it is just and reasonable, and essential to Our Interest and the Security of Our Colonies, that the several Nations or Tribes of Indians, with whom We are connected, and who live under Our Protection, should not be molested or disturbed in the Possession of such Parts of Our Dominions and Territories as, not having been ceded to, or purchased by Us, are reserved to them, or any of them, as their Hunting Grounds;
… beyond the Heads or Sources of any of the Rivers which fall into the Atlantick Ocean from the West and North-West, or upon any Lands whatever, which, not having been ceded to, or purchased by Us as aforesaid, are reserved to the said Indians, or any of them. And
…lying to the Westward of the Sources of the Rivers which fall into the Sea from the West and North West, as aforesaid; and We do hereby strictly forbid, …Our loving Subjects from making any Purchases or Settlements whatever, or taking Possession of any of the Lands above reserved, without Our especial Leave and Licence for that Purpose first obtained. And We …strictly …require all Persons… who have either wilfully or inadvertently seated themselves upon … Lands, which, not having been ceded to, or purchased by Us, are still reserved to the said Indians as aforesaid, forthwith to remove themselves from such Settlements.
… if, at any Time, any of the said Indians should be inclined to dispose of the said Lands, that same shall be purchased only for Us, in Our Name, at some publick Meeting or Assembly of the said Indians to be held for that Purpose by the Governor or Commander in Chief of Our Colonies … and in case they shall lie within the Limits of any Proprietary Government, they shall be purchased only for the Use and in the Name of such Proprietaries, conformable to such Directions and Instructions as We or they shall think proper to give for that Purpose…
The sovereign Nuxalk Nation Chiefs have given INTERFOR notice that they are trespassing on Nuxalk Nation Territory that has never been sold or ceded, and that the Canadian court system has no jurisdiction over our territory. This is also to serve notice that we do not recognize any court injunctions served to any Nuxalkmc or to our guests (Forest Action Network) of the Nuxalk Nation invited into our traditional territory by our hereditary leadership.
So, with this, we, the Nuxalk Nation will do whatever we have to within our own traditional Nuxalk jurisdiction to stop INTERFOR from any development on our territory. We do this as our obligation to Tatau, the Creator, and also to ensure that our lands provided for our children, grandchildren and children yet unborn.
Way!
NUXALK STRONG NUXALK FOREVER
Signed:
Chief Nuximlayc (Lawrence Pootlass)
Chief Qwatsinas (Edward Moody)
Chief Liciwmutu7gayc (Taylor T)
Chief Slicxwliqw’ (Charles Nelson)
Chief Sats’alanlh (Peter Schooner)
…and others
House of Smayusta
PO Box 8, Bella Coola, V0T 1C0


