INVASION

UnistotenCamp

1 Nov 201918:19

Summary

TLDRThis video captures a tense exchange between Indigenous land defenders and officials over pipeline construction on Wet'suwet'en territory in British Columbia. Freda Huson and others express frustration about ongoing violations of their land rights, highlighting the environmental damage and colonial tactics used to suppress their protests. The narrative underscores the broader struggle for Indigenous sovereignty, as well as the community’s commitment to protecting their land and water. With references to ceremonies, healing centers, and the resilience of Indigenous peoples, the video also addresses the wider impacts of settler-colonialism and environmental exploitation.

Takeaways

🌊 The Wet'suwet'en people are conducting water ceremonies to protect their land and water from destruction by external forces.
🚔 Freda expresses frustration with law enforcement's response time and the repeated interference during their cultural activities.
⛓️ The Wet'suwet'en people face violations of their rights, including damage to their land and traps, and forced removals through court injunctions.
🛑 The Wet'suwet'en assert their jurisdiction over their lands and reject the authority of Canadian courts to grant access to pipeline projects.
🔊 Freda and others emphasize the importance of standing up against environmental destruction, which they believe affects not only Indigenous people but the whole world.
🌍 Freda highlights that the whole world is watching Canada's actions regarding Indigenous rights and environmental protection.
🔒 The Wet'suwet'en people have built a healing center and reoccupied their lands to preserve their culture, asserting their ownership without needing external permission.
🌱 The Wet'suwet'en view the future as one where their people reoccupy their lands, live sustainably, and prevent the construction of pipelines.
🛠️ The pipeline companies offer to work with the Wet'suwet'en, but their offers are rejected in favor of preserving the land and water.
👣 Freda emphasizes that their people have lived on the land for thousands of years and will continue to defend their land and heritage without fear.

Q & A

What is the primary concern of Freda and the people at the site?
-Freda and the people at the site are concerned about the protection of their land and water, which are threatened by industrial projects like pipelines. They are also frustrated with the authorities for not respecting their Indigenous rights and laws.
Why does Freda say they performed a water ceremony?
-Freda explains that the water ceremony was performed to bless the water and raise awareness about the environmental dangers the water faces due to ongoing industrial activities, specifically pipeline construction.
What frustrations does Freda express towards the authorities?
-Freda expresses frustration that the authorities often arrive late or not at all when her community is in need, but they respond quickly when there are complaints against them. She feels the law is being used to oppress her people while protecting industry interests.
What does Freda mean when she says, 'This is Gidimt'en territory'?
-Freda asserts that the land in question belongs to the Wet'suwet'en people, specifically the Gidimt'en clan. She emphasizes that Canadian courts and industries have no jurisdiction on their unceded land.
What role do the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs play in the situation?
-The Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs hold jurisdiction over their traditional territory and have not consented to pipeline construction or the presence of industry on their land. Their authority is based on Indigenous law, which predates Canadian legal systems.
What is the significance of the healing center Freda mentions?
-The healing center represents a long-term vision for helping Indigenous people heal from the trauma of colonization and oppression. It was built to provide a space for physical, emotional, and spiritual recovery, and it is a symbol of Indigenous resilience and self-determination.
What impact does Freda believe the pipeline construction will have on their land?
-Freda believes that pipeline construction will destroy the environment, including their hunting, fishing, and trapping areas. It will also desecrate important cultural and spiritual sites, making it difficult for future generations to live off the land.
How does Freda view the presence of the Coastal GasLink project representatives?
-Freda views the representatives from the Coastal GasLink project as trespassers on Wet'suwet'en land. She rejects their offers and insists that they have no right to access or work on the territory without consent from the Wet'suwet'en people.
What does Freda believe is necessary for protecting their land?
-Freda believes that reoccupying their traditional territories and living according to Wet'suwet'en laws is crucial for protecting their land. She envisions more of her people returning to live on the land, growing their own food, and becoming self-sufficient.
What does Freda say about the broader implications of their struggle?
-Freda points out that their struggle is not just a local issue but one that resonates globally. She believes that Indigenous and non-Indigenous people alike must stand up against policies that harm the environment and communities. The actions of the Canadian government and industry are being watched by the world.

Outlines

00:00

🌊 Ceremony and Frustration Over Environmental Destruction

Freda, an Indigenous woman, expresses frustration with officers who frequently interrupt their sacred prayers and ceremonies. She explains that the recent activity on the bridge was part of a water ceremony, aimed at protecting their water from destruction caused by external forces. Freda laments the damage done to their land, traps, and culture, blaming the legal system for enabling environmental destruction and vandalism. She emphasizes the deep connection between her people and their land, frustrated that their efforts to protect it are constantly hindered by outside forces.

05:01

🚁 Tensions with Coastal GasLink and Legal Jurisdiction

Freda and her community are confronted by Vic from the Coastal GasLink project, who attempts to enforce a court injunction to access their territory. Freda asserts that Canadian courts have no jurisdiction on Wet'suwet'en land, as the territory is governed by Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs. Despite the injunction, Freda stands firm in rejecting the project, highlighting the deep historical and cultural significance of the land and the injustices faced by her people, including armed interventions and forced removals by authorities.

10:02

🌱 Defending Ancestral Land and Rejecting Corporate Offerings

Freda and her people reflect on their continued occupation of their ancestral land despite pressure from companies like Chevron, which seeks access to construct pipelines. Freda rebuffs Chevron's request to work on the land, emphasizing that they have repeatedly said no to such projects. She rejects an offering of water and tobacco, pointing out the irony of polluting plastics being offered on land with clean, natural water. She also speaks at a UN forum, raising awareness of the human rights violations her people face, and expressing her dedication to preserving their land and heritage.

15:03

🏞️ Healing and Reoccupation of Indigenous Land

Freda details the construction of a healing center on Wet'suwet'en land, which serves as a place for her people to heal from historical trauma and reconnect with their cultural practices. The center includes cabins, a kitchen, and spaces for counseling, reflecting a long-term vision of reclaiming and reoccupying their land. Freda shares her father’s advice on reoccupying their territories as a way to preserve their culture and resist the occupation of settlers. She envisions a future where more Indigenous people live sustainably on their ancestral lands, free from pipelines and industrial encroachments.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Ceremony

A traditional and spiritual practice, central to Indigenous cultures, often performed to honor nature and ancestors. In the video, Freda mentions performing a 'water ceremony' as part of her people's efforts to protect the water from environmental threats posed by external projects, such as pipelines. This highlights the deep spiritual and cultural connection between Indigenous people and the land.

💡Pipeline

A large-scale infrastructure project meant to transport oil or gas, often leading to significant environmental and territorial disputes with Indigenous communities. In the video, the proposed pipeline threatens Wet'suwet'en lands, prompting protests, and discussions about Indigenous sovereignty, environmental protection, and colonialism.

💡Jurisdiction

Legal authority or control over a territory. Freda and other Indigenous people in the video assert that Canadian courts do not have jurisdiction over Wet'suwet'en lands, as they have never ceded or surrendered their territories. This reflects a broader theme of Indigenous sovereignty and resistance to imposed legal systems.

💡Indigenous Rights

The legal and moral rights of Indigenous peoples to govern themselves and protect their land, culture, and resources. Freda speaks about the continuous violations of these rights by external forces, such as government and corporations, who disregard Wet'suwet'en laws and impose colonial systems and projects like the pipeline.

💡Genocide

The systematic destruction of a people, their culture, and way of life. Freda refers to the ongoing erasure of Wet'suwet'en history, culture, and people through forced removals, environmental destruction, and legal suppression as acts of genocide. This emphasizes the long history of colonial violence against Indigenous people.

💡Reoccupation

A form of resistance where Indigenous peoples physically return to and live on their ancestral lands to assert their sovereignty. Freda discusses reoccupying Wet'suwet'en territory by building cabins and refusing to leave, which symbolizes reclaiming Indigenous control over their land and resources.

💡Healing Center

A place for restoring physical, mental, and spiritual health, often based on traditional Indigenous practices. In the video, Freda mentions building a healing center on Wet'suwet'en land to help her people recover from the trauma of colonization, oppression, and environmental destruction, emphasizing the importance of cultural preservation in healing.

💡Consent

Permission or agreement. Indigenous communities often assert that major projects like pipelines require their free, prior, and informed consent before proceeding. Freda explains that despite the lack of consent from the Wet'suwet'en people, the pipeline company continues to force its way into their territory, violating Indigenous laws and autonomy.

💡Colonization

The process by which a powerful entity invades, takes control of, and imposes its culture, laws, and economic systems on another group, often violently. The video describes ongoing forms of colonization in Canada, where Indigenous lands are taken for resource extraction, and Indigenous people are criminalized for resisting. This highlights the lasting impact of colonialism on Indigenous communities.

💡Environmental Protection

Efforts to preserve natural resources, ecosystems, and biodiversity. Freda and others in the video are deeply concerned about the impact of pipelines on water and land, with Freda emphasizing the importance of protecting the environment not just for Indigenous people, but for everyone. This ties environmental activism to Indigenous sovereignty.

Highlights

Freda expresses frustration over frequent interruptions by authorities during ceremonies and the community's attempts to protect their land and water.

Freda explains the significance of the water ceremony performed to protect their water from industrial destruction.

Freda criticizes the legal system for allowing companies to harm Indigenous land while the authorities take slow action to protect Indigenous property.

The Wet'suwet'en people highlight their ancestral connection to the land, emphasizing that they have lived there since time immemorial.

The community's traps were destroyed, which adds to the frustration of ongoing violations against their land and way of life.

Freda mentions the difficulty in protecting their land from industrial encroachment, particularly with the complicity of law enforcement in enforcing court injunctions.

Freda points out that the government and industry disregard Indigenous jurisdiction, leading to a forced removal of people from their own land.

Demonstrations in support of anti-pipeline protests are mentioned, showing the broader solidarity both in Canada and globally.

Prime Minister Trudeau is called out by Indigenous people during a town hall, with sharp criticism for the ongoing colonization and land theft.

Freda criticizes Canada's actions as genocidal, highlighting the systemic oppression and marginalization of Indigenous people.

Freda and others stress the importance of reoccupying and living on their traditional lands to maintain sovereignty and cultural heritage.

The Wet'suwet'en Healing Center is discussed, built to help the community heal from trauma and oppression while fostering independence.

The Wet'suwet'en emphasize that pipelines and industrial projects are not welcome on their land and that they will continue to resist them.

Freda's vision of the future involves more Indigenous people living on their land, reconnecting with their culture, and maintaining self-sufficiency.

Freda declares her lack of fear, standing firm in her commitment to defending her people's rights and land from further encroachment.