Media Centre News, Wet'suwet'en Chiefs Dialogue

Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs Dialogue for immediate release  1 June 2020 

Wet’suwet’en Chiefs Dialogue
Since time immemorial, our Clans, Tsayu, Gitdumten, Laksilyu, Laksamshu and Gilseyhu and our house members have come together to plan, to make decisions across our yintah and take care of each other. This indigenous way of decision making is based upon our Kungax, our oral history and Anuk niwh’ it ‘ën, our sacred laws and is often witnessed in our bahalts, potlatch.

For decades now we have been engaging our Clans to advance our interests to protect the yintah, to protect our children and families and keep our Nation, yintah whole and strong. Our Elders, and ancestors laid a path for us to continue on with this responsibility. Our House and Clan members live in many communities, many live on reserve and they have always been a part of our clan meetings, members from across the yintah, including Smithers, Telkwa, Houston, Burns Lake, and many live, far away, in Prince George, and Vancouver. We have spent much time and effort coordinating these meetings, and have had much success in information sharing, consensus building and sometimes reconnecting members to their families.

We have almost two centuries of colonial forces attempting to assimilate and dismantle our Wet’suwet’en governance system, our language and ceremonies and our connection to the yintah. With much respect to our grandparents, parents and ancestors, they kept our ways of being alive for us today and for those yet to come. 

Collectively we are working together to continue on this path, to listen, to reach out and to rebuild the
relationships the oppressive forces have left behind. 

We continue to encourage our citizens to reach out, connect with their family, their grandparents, their Dinï’ze and Tsakë’ze to take part in the Clan meetings.

Please contact the Office of the Wet’suwet’en for more information.
In the spirit of working together,
Sandra Harris on behalf of the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs
250 877 967

Signed virtually by Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs
Chief Hagwilnegh – Ron Mitchell – Laksilyu
Chief T’sek’ot – Ron Austin - Laksilyu
Chief Lay-oh – James Namox – Gil_seyhu
Chief Knedebeas – Warner William – Gil_seyhu
Chief Woos – Frank Alec - Gitdumden
Chief Madeek – Jeff Brown – Gitdumden
Chief Gisday’wa – Fred Tom - Gitdumden
Chief Kloum Khun – Alphonse Gagnon – Laksamshu
Chief Smogelgem – Warner Naziel - Laksamshu
Chief Na’Moks – John Ridsdale – Tsayu
Source
Office of the Wet’suwet’en:
https://www.wetsuweten.com/ 
http://www.wetsuweten.com/files/June_1,_2020_Release.pdf  
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https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSPYO3rVB5FQsnG2uSgmMMGv5Xy9hQGjQ28oxGJatzSmQ1oV-fahhb7vKYzvSf-MSs258Qwvwi9HO_u/pub Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs Dialogue for immediate release 1 June 2020