Gitxsan Land Defenders' Legal Fund

To our Allies and Supporters,

This is an urgent fundraising appeal on behalf of the Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs and supporters, who in February 2020 answered the call to the people of Canada to uphold the Aboriginal title of the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs whose unceded traditional territories were being encroached upon by the Coastal Gas Link Pipeline. Many Gitxsan felt obligated to act, as for millennia they have been allies of the Wet’suwet’en and had formed a modern alliance in defense of the traditional lands of the Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en in the Delgamuukw/Gisday Wa court case.

I, Chief Spookw, Norman Stephens of the Lax Gibuu (Wolf) clan and many others set up a blockade on a major highway and railway running through the town of New Hazelton, which is on my unceded traditional territory. Subsequently, we were arrested and identified in the legal case, “Canadian National Railway v. John Doe and Persons Unknown”. This is before the courts with the next appearance on December 6, 2021. The legal costs of this case are outstanding and growing.

We, the Gitxsan land defenders request your monetary support for continued defense of our unceded lands, Aboriginal title and rights.

Thank you for your consideration on this matter.

Sincerely,

Chief Spookw, Norman Stephens