Tag Archives: Gitxsan

Disgraced Gitxsan Treaty Negotiator Rewarded with Appointment to Prince Rupert Port Authority

Canada, Energy and Resources, Oil&Gas, Pipelines and Supertankers, Politics, , , ,
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Read this story from the Vancouver Sun on the controversial paid appointment by the Harper Government of Elmer Derrick – the former Gitxsan treaty negotiator who was fired for cutting an unauthorized deal with Enbridge behind his nation’s back – to the board of the Prince Rupert Port Authority. (April 20, 2012)

The northern B.C. first nation chief who signed a controversial deal to support Enbridge’s $5.5-billion oil pipe-line has been appointed by the federal government to the Prince Rupert Port Authority.

As a director of the board, Gitxsan hereditary chief Elmer Derrick will receive payment, although it is not clear exactly how much.

“It’s a strange appointment. It raises the possibility it’s a quid pro quo for supporting the pipeline,” said NDP Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen, whose riding includes a large stretch of the Northern Gateway pipeline route.

Cullen noted that Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government is a supporter of the pipeline, meant to open up new markets in Asia for crude from the Alberta oilsands.

When Derrick, who is the chief negotiator with the Gitxsan Treaty Office, announced he had signed a pipe-line ownership deal with Enbridge that would provide $7 million over a 30-year period, it sparked an immediate battle with other leaders in the community who said they don’t sup-port the project.

In the face of the opposition to the deal from dozens of Gitxsan hereditary chiefs, Enbridge pulled out of the ownership agreement.

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Chief%2Bfederal%2Bpost%2Braises%2Beyebrows/6490353/story.html

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Gitxsan Battle Enbridge with Video Cameras and Social Media

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In the wake of the bogus deal Enbridge attempted to foist on the Gitxsan people of Northwest BC last month to help pave the way for its controversial proposed Northern Gateway pipeline, the community has banded together in inspiring fashion – with camcorders and the Web as their weapons of choice. The Enbridge resistance has given birth to a new website, youtube and facebook pages and twitter feed which thoroughly document the opinions of elected and hereditary chiefs and citizens, community gatherings, and interactions with the RCMP and ousted treaty negotiators who sparked the crisis by signing the since-invalidated agreement with Enbridge.

The Gitxsan fired and evicted these treaty negotiators last month, in the wake of the deal signed by head negotiator Elmer Derrick, and have continued to occupy the treaty office in New Hazelton ever since. A recent failed attempt by some of the ousted treaty office staff to re-enter the building – facilitated by the RCMP – was documented on camera (scroll down). Watch some of these videos below and stay tuned to the Gitxsan’s website, video and facebook pages and twitter feed to follow the issue through the eyes of the community.

RCMP Attempt to Facilitate Return of Ousted Treaty Negotiators to New Hazelton Office

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Gitxsan Battle Enbridge with Video Cameras and Social Media

Energy and Resources, Oil&Gas, Pipelines and Supertankers, , ,
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In the wake of the bogus deal Enbridge attempted to foist on the Gitxsan people of Northwest BC last month to help pave the way for its controversial proposed Northern Gateway pipeline, the community has banded together in inspiring fashion – with camcorders and the Web as their weapons of choice. The Enbridge resistance has given birth to a new website, youtube and facebook pages and twitter feed which thoroughly document the opinions of elected and hereditary chiefs and citizens, community gatherings, and interactions with the RCMP and ousted treaty negotiators who sparked the crisis by signing the since-invalidated agreement with Enbridge.

The Gitxsan fired and evicted these treaty negotiators last month, in the wake of the deal signed by head negotiator Elmer Derrick, and have continued to occupy the treaty office in New Hazelton ever since. A recent failed attempt by some of the ousted treaty office staff to re-enter the building – facilitated by the RCMP – was documented on camera (scroll down). Watch some of these videos below and stay tuned to the Gitxsan’s website, video and facebook pages and twitter feed to follow the issue through the eyes of the community.

RCMP Attempt to Facilitate Return of Ousted Treaty Negotiators to New Hazelton Office

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Press Release: Overwhelming Majority of Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs Oppose Enbridge Deal

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Gitxsan Unity Movement Press Release
Gitanmaax, B.C.
December 19th, 2011

Majority of Gitxsan Chiefs Confirm Shut Down of the Gitxsan Treaty Society (GTS)

The majority of Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs have put into writing their decision to shut down the Gitxsan Treaty Society (GTS). The Chiefs are supported by their houses and clans, and made this decision only after holding clan meetings. The decision to shut down the GTS and fire senior staff was made because the GTS was making decisions without consultation and against the will of Gitxsan houses and clans.

The society was shut down on December 5th after chiefs consulted with their clan members. Presently, 42 Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs (two thirds of the Hereditary Chiefs) have  signed a declaration stating the following:

  • The Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline Agreement is null and void;
  • The GTS no longer exists so it must cease operations and be shut down; 
  • The former Executive Director, and former Chief Negotiator and Negotiator are terminated; 
  • That all other staff be given notices of indeterminate lay-off; 
  • and, all Pdeek representatives (GTS board members) are recalled.

The Gitxsan Chiefs are conducting an online poll to determine support levels in Gitxsan membership for the deal with Enbridge. Preliminary results show that over 90% of Gitxsan are against the proposed pipeline.  Almost 100% are against the Gitxsan-Enbridge deal that was done on December 2nd.

A petition is underway too. Volunteers collecting Gitxsan petitions against Enbridge have collected over 1,000 signatures (600 Gitxsan; 400 supporters) and phone numbers since December 6th.

Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs note that the fired staff of the GTS continues to speak publicly and act against the wishes of the Gitxsan Chiefs and members. These staff members are the Executive Director, Negotiator, and Chief Negotiator. The Gitxsan Chiefs emphasize that the Gitxsan Treaty Society and these former staff members do not represent the Gitxsan people.

Former staff who continue to operate and spend money from GTS accounts, will cease their activity and respect the will of the Chiefs and members. Their actions include paying high-priced lawyers from GTS funds to sue their own Chiefs and members.  This is further evidence of the complete lack of respect this office has towards the Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs who they claim to represent. The Gitxsan seek to settle this matter through their own law, the Gitxsan Ayookw, and wish to point out that remedies exist in Gitxsan law for those who bring harm upon the nation.  Therefore, in this matter, the Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs have exercised the Gitxsan Ayookw, the foundation of Gitxsan society and culture for millennia.

The Gitxsan Unity Movement began as Gitxsan Against Enbridge in early December. The goal of the movement is to bring harmony between the Gitxsan government and the  values, law, and will of the Gitxsan. The Chiefs shut down the GTS on December 5th because they were acting contrary to Gitxsan law and values. The Gitxsan Unity movement is 100% volunteer driven, with Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs and members working in the best interest of our land, culture, and people.

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RCMP Won’t Enforce Gitxsan Treaty Office Injunction Order

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Read this report from The Vancouver Sun, claiming that the RCMP have no intention of acting on a recent court order to remove the blockade from the Gitxsan Treaty Office in Hazelton, BC. The blockade was established by community leaders and citizens in the wake of the now-disputed deal signed by former treaty negotiator Elmer Derrick with Enbridge.

The RCMP say they don’t intend to act on a court injunction that
allows them to remove a blockade of the Gitxsan Treaty Office in
northern B.C.

“We remain impartial in this protest and are hopeful
for a peaceful resolution between the GTS [Gitxsan Treaty Society] and
its members,” said RCMP spokesman Cpl. Dan Moskaluk.

Gitxsan
leaders opposed to an ownership deal inked with Enbridge on the
controversial $5.5-billion Northern Gateway oil pipeline say they have
fired negotiators of the treaty office.

Last week the opponents boarded up the office and began guarding the building in shifts.

Moskaluk
said there is no set time frame in the injunction that requires the
blockade to come down, but added the New Hazelton RCMP are monitoring
the situation very closely.

“The injunction states that arrest or removal is at the discretion of the police, “ Moskaluk said in an e-mail today.

Norman Stephens, a hereditary chief who is opposed to the Enbridge deal, said today they will continue to blockade the office.

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/RCMP+Gitxsan+blockade+injunction/5844760/story.html

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Court Order Obtained Against Gitxsan Leaders Who Have Reclaimed Treaty Office?

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Read this report from The Terrace Standard  suggesting a court order may have been obtained to remove the hereditary and elected leaders of the Gitxsan First Nation who recently reclaimed their treaty office in Hazelton, BC from the treaty team that negotiated a now-unraveling deal with Enbridge last week.

THERE ARE reports this morning that a BC Supreme Court order has been obtained to stop trespassing at and blocking access to the Gitxsan Treaty Society office in Hazelton.

Gitxsan unhappy with the society’s signing of an economic benefits agreement with Enbridge stemming from its Northern Gateway oil pipeline have been at the office for several days now.

“The order was obtained by [the Gitxsan Treaty Society] without notice to anyone, after they appeared before Justice Davies in Vancouver,” reads a release from hereditary chiefs unhappy with the Enbridge deal.

It says police officers are “authorized to arrest anyone blocking access to the [treaty society] premises.”  (Dec. 8, 2011)

Read more: http://www.bclocalnews.com/news/135244788.html

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Gitxsan Come Together, Call for Healing and Strength

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While news emerges that a court order may have been obtained to remove Gitxsan leaders and community members who took over the Treaty office in Hazelton earlier this week – in response to a deal made with Enbridge by treaty negotiator Elmer Derrick without the knowledge or approval of the community – a new video demonstrates how the Gitxsan are banding together in this moment of crisis. The situation is summed up eloquently by one of the community matriarchs shown in the video, produced by Ardea Films:

“Today is a new beginning. Today is the day the healing will begin. Our hearts have been broken, our families have been divided. Today, we’ll begin to talk, we’ll begin to love; we’ll begin to share and honour one another once again. So I put this out to all of us as Gitxsan people: We must stay strong, as the whole country – particularly our aboriginal neighbours – are disappointed with us …But we must stay strong. We must stay proud.”

A New Beginning from Ardea Films on Vimeo.

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Global TV Report on Gitxsan Controversy

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Watch this video from Global TV today on the ongoing controversy over the now-disputed Gitxsan First Nation deal with Enbridge. Note how Enbridge carefully videotaped the whole process, then provided it to media – complete with b-roll footage of pipeline construction jobs. The majority of the footage in this Global segment derives from a corporate press kit from Enbridge. (Dec. 6, 2011)

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Globe and Mail: Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs March on Treaty Office, Demand Resignation of Treaty Negotiators Who Made Unauthorized Deal with Enbridge

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Read this story from The Globe and Mail on the swift and strong reaction by Gitxsan hereditary chiefs following Friday’s unauthorized deal with Enbridge, signed by the nation’s lead treaty negotiator, Elmer Derrick.

“Gitxsan hereditary chiefs on Monday called for the resignations of negotiators involved in a controversial pact with Enbridge. After
emergency meetings over the weekend, a group of hereditary chiefs
marched on the offices of the Gitxsan Treaty Society on Monday to demand
the immediate resignation of three of the society’s employees. Those
employees include Elmer Derrick, a Gitxsan Treaty Society negotiator and
a hereditary chief who on Friday announced a deal with Enbridge to
support the Northern Gateway project.

‘We put on our regalia and walked to the Gitxsan Treaty Society and
informed them that their services were no longer needed,’ Norman
Stephens, who is part of a group of hereditary chiefs speaking out
against the Enbridge agreement, said Monday in a telephone interview. The
employees refused to leave, saying that the society’s board of
directors – not the hereditary chiefs – governed the society, according
to Mr. Stephens. That resulted in a subsequent resolution by the
chiefs that the society directors could no longer sign or act on behalf
of the Gitxsan clans, Mr. Stephens said.

A call to the Gitxsan Treaty Office was not immediately returned.” (December 5, 2011)

Read full article: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/bc-politics/gitxsan-hereditary-chiefs-demand-negotiators-in-enbridge-deal-resign/article2260907/

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Elmer Derrick with Enbridge Executive Vice-President Janet Holder this past friday (photo: CNW Group/Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs)

Embattled Gitxsan Treaty Rep, Enbridge Deal-Maker Elmer Derrick Has Long Ties to BC Liberals

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The heated debate playing out in the BC media over the past few days regarding the now-disputed deal announced this past Friday between Enbridge and the Gitxsan First Nation warrants a closer examination of the lone Gitxsan man behind the deal. Just who is Elmer Derrick – besides a hereditary chief and lead treaty negotiator for the Gitxsan? It turns out Mr. Derrick also has a decade-long history as a key political appointee of the BC Liberal Party.

Mr. Derrick was among the first political appointees of Gordon Campbell (see Order in Council 847) when the former premier replaced most of the BC Hydro Board of Directors with his own appointees soon after coming to power in 2001. Derrick was among that first batch of board appointments and retained his position at least until March 2008, the last time he is listed as a director in the annual report of the crown corporation.

Mr. Derrick began his foray into politics under the NDP’s tenure, when he was appointed in 1995 to the board of the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (O.I.C. 1331). Six years later he was becoming a go-to appointee for Campbell. In 2002, Derrick was appointed to the First Peoples’ Advisory Committee (O.I.C. 385) to the Campbell Government as well. In his biography on the Northwest Tribal Treaties Association’s website, Derrick is also listed as a board member of Powerex – BC’s electricity trading crown corporation – and “a volunteer community member of the National Committee on Sustainable Development, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada for three successive reports to the Parliament of Canada.”

Mr. Derrick involved himself in the recent BC Liberal leadership debate earlier this year – throwing his support behind losing candidate George Abbott, according to a Black Press story which is no longer posted on the company’s websites but was re-posted on a Vancouver Island realtor’s blog, where it remains at the time of publication of this story. The story notes, “Also joining Abbott at the announcement were Klahoose First Nation Chief Ken Brown, Gitsxan Chief Elmer Derrick…” (emphasis added).

Mr. Derrick has also acted as co-chair of the Northwest Power Line Coalition, an industry-driven group designed to support the building of the Northwest Transmission Corridor – an initiative championed by both the provincial Liberal and federal Conservative governments – to open up mining and hydro projects in Northwest BC. Among a group of over 50 mining and industrial equipment companies, engineering firms and trade organizations are two First Nations entities, listed as, “Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs and Tahltan Development Corporation.” A Marketwire story form January 2010 quotes Mr. Derrick: “‘We look forward to working with and supporting [BC Transmission Corporation] in this process,’ added Coalition Co-Chair Elmer Derrick, Hereditary Gitxsan Chief. ‘We are confident that the needs, concerns and questions of those impacted by this power line will be met through the environmental assessment.'”
 
Mr. Derrick has come under fire by members of his own Gitxsan nation for brokering a deal with Enbridge in support of the company’s proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline. Several hereditary chiefs from the community claimed in a press release this past Friday that Mr. Derrick had no authority to sign an economic benefit agreement with Enbridge and are now seeking to reverse that move.

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