The Yinke Dene are an alliance of 6 aboriginal indigenous First Nations in Northern British Columbia who have pledged to ban the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline from crossing any of their lands, territories, watersheds or the ocean migration routes of the Fraser River Salmon. The Yinka Dene consist of these First Nations: Nadleh Whut'en, Nak'azdli, Takla Lake, Saik'uz, Wet'suwet'en, and Tl’azt’en.
The Save the Fraser Declaration was written in 2010, signed by the Yinka Dene and the St'át'imc Nation, today with over a 130 signatories, the above map shows First Nations lands united by the declaration. The Transmountain Pipeline was built in the late 1950's and is the process of twinning, a second pipeline is built parallel to the original. The proposed Northern Gateway pipeline is shown, talking tar sands to the coastal port of Kitimat, the site of a proposed supertanker loading facility. The Northern Gateway pipeline cannot be built without crossing into Yinka Dene lands. The Declaration is based on Indigenous law, Title, and Rights, and has status under First Nations law, Canadian law, and International law.
Chief Reuben George of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation (people of the inlet) whose lands include Vancouver's Burrard Inlet where the Transmountain pipeline terminates, and the dilbit is loaded onto coastal tankers.
Reubens father worked in films and TV, most notably in Little Big Man, which he was nominated for and Oscar, and The Outlaw Josie Wales. Reuben is a community organizer, spiritual leader and founded the Dukes Youth Healing Centre.
When we come together like this, our spirits collide together and we become stronger. Let the sacredness of what we have be the driving force behind what we do. There’s no price we can put on those things, the earth, the water, our lands. The Tsleil Wauthuth are the People of the Inlet [Burrard Inlet], that’s where our creation stories are, and we can’t put a price on that.
The 1.6 billion dollars in subsidies that our government gives to oil companies if that were given to green energy that would be a good difference we could make.
http://paov.ca/...
Chief Martin Louie.
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, and environmental activist David Suzuki in 2012.
In October 2008, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip concluded his fourth consecutive term as Chief of the Penticton Indian Band (PIB) after having served the Band as Chief for a total of 14 years. In addition, he served as an elected Band Councilor for a 10 year period and continues to serve as the Chair of the Okanagan Nation Alliance.
In October 2006, the Okanagan Nation, led by the Elders of the Penticton Indian Band, acknowledged his lifetime commitment to the defense of Indigenous Peoples' Title and Rights by bestowing on him and his family the rare honour of the title of Grand Chief.
Over 37 years, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip has worked within the Penticton Indian Band Administration holding a variety of positions such as, Band Administrator, Director of Land Management, Education Counselor, Economic Development Officer and Band Planner.
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These are but only a few faces of the Yinka Dene Allaince. Stand with the Yinka Dene and take the pledge to "Hold the Wall", say no to the Tar Sands.
http://www.holdthewall.ca/
Like the Yinka Dene on Facebook
BC town of Smithers votes no on Northern Gateway pipeline, like their Facebook page.
Follow the Yinka Dena Alliance on Twitter @YinkaDeneA5
1:50 PM PT: Tweet out to
@UBCIC
Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs was founded in 1969 to fight Canada's White Paper and to defend Indigenous Title & Rights
2:28 PM PT: I tweeted out this dairy to the Yinka Dene, they retweeted me:
@YinkaDeneA5
4:32 PM PT: