While the Wet’suwet’en land dispute is happening on the other side of the country, there are many similarities to issues in this province.

Dr. Rachel Jekanowski helped to organize a rally in support of the situation over the weekend.

Jekanowski says there are similarities between the land protectors advocating in BC and the Labrador land protectors who have been advocating against the Muskrat Falls project they are all protesting projects being built on indigenous land without consent. She says until government starts listening to indigenous peoples their sovereignty will continue to be violated.

Jekanowski notes that it is important to recognize the similarities in the two situations, the connections between the projects and what they mean for indigenous sovereignty.

Where is This Support for Local Indigenous Issues, asks Burgeo Chief

Meanwhile, an indigenous leader in this province is wondering why the Qalipu First Nation is helping to organize such protests yet not showing the same level of support for issues in this province.

Greg Janes is the Chief of the Burgeo Band of Indians. A few years ago, 10,500 people registered with the Qalipu First Nation lost their status due to changes made to the point system used to determine who qualifies.

According to Janes 18 months ago Qalipu entered into exploratory talks with the federal government to have the former members reinstated, but not much has come from it. Janes says he supports the Wet’suwet’en rallies, but is frustrated not seeing the same level of support for their own plight.

When they organize their own demonstrations he says they get no backing from Qalipu at all. He asks why they are supporting one band’s sovereignty and not the other.

In terms of what needs to be done to fix the membership issue, Janes says it’s straight forward. Put the 10,500 people back on the registry, and allow the others who are looking to qualify to start the process.