OPEN LETTER - Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs

Gathering of NationsPROTECTING OUR WATERSHED FROM OILS A V ET H EF R A S E RSave the Fraser DeclarationWE THE UNDERSIGNED INDIGENOUS NATIONS OF THE FRASER RIVER WATERSHED DECLARE:We have inhabited and governed our territories it, violate our laws, traditions, values and our inherentwithin the Fraser watershed, according to our laws rights as Indigenous Peoples under international law.and traditions, since time immemorial. Our relationship We are united to exercise our inherent Title, Rights,with the watershed is ancient and profound, and our and responsibility to ourselves, our ancestors, ourinherent Title and Rights and legal authority over these descendants and to the people of the world, to defendlands and waters have never been relinquished through these lands and waters. Our laws require that we do this.treaty or war.Therefore, in upholding our ancestral laws, Title,Water is life, for our peoples and for all living things Rights and responsibilities, we declare:that depend on it. The Fraser River and its tributariesWe will not allow the proposed Enbridge Northernare our lifeline.Gateway Pipelines, or similar Tar Sands projects, toA threat to the Fraser and its headwaters is a threat to all who cross our lands, territories and watersheds, or thedepend on its health. We will not allow our fish, animals, ocean migration routes of Fraser River salmon.plants, people and ways of life to be placed at risk.We are adamant and resolved in this declaration, madeWe have come together to defend these lands and waters according to our Indigenous laws and authority. Wefrom a grave threat: the Enbridge Northern Gateway call on all who would place our lands and waters atPipelines project. This project which would link the Tar risk – we have suffered enough, we will protect ourSands to Asia through our territories and the headwaters watersheds, and we will not tolerate this great threat toof this great river, and the federal process to approve us all and to all future generations.Declared at T’exelc (Williams Lake), Secwepemc Territory, and Vancouver, Coast Salish Territories,and affirmed by the following Indigenous nations:Adams LakeMt. Currie Band/Lil’wat NationSt’át’imcXeni Gwet’in First Nations GovernmentAlexis Creek First NationMusqueam Indian BandStswecem’c/Xgat’tem (Canoe Creek)YakweakwiooseBonaparteN’QuatquaSumasSUPPORTING NATIONS:Boston Bar First NationNadleh Whut’enTakla Lake First NationKwakiutlBridge River Indian BandNak’azdliT’exelc (Williams Lake Band)Ktunaxa NationBurns Lake BandNicomen Indian BandT’ít’q’etCape Mudge BandChawathil First NationNooaitch Indian BandTl’esqox/TooseyCampbell RiverColdwater BandSaik’uzTsq’escen First Nation (Canim Lake Band)Da’naxda’xw NationCook’s Ferry BandShackan Indian BandTzeachtenFort NelsonEsketemcSiska Indian BandUlkatcho BandLyacksonKwantlenSkatsin/NeskonlithUpper NicolaOkanagan Indian BandLake Babine NationSkeetchestnWet’suwet’enPenticton Indian Band, Okanagan NationLhoosk’uz Dene NationSoowahlieXat’sūll (Soda Creek)QuatsinoLhtako (Red Bluff)SplatsinXaxli’pTseshaht First NationSaveTheFraser.ca