Nathan Cullen – Playing First Nations against First Nations.

“In the end we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends.“ An appropriate quote from Martin Luther King.  This morning I was reading about a conflict in our riding, the blockade of the Ksi Lisims LNG, once again I found it so disappointing (or intentional) by both Black Press and Nathan Cullen to simply not speak about pertinent facts. Nathan needs to get elected so instead of choosing the side of honesty, he chooses the side of silence. I am referring to an article in Today In BC titled   “Indigenous protest blocks LNG pipeline worksite access in northwest B.C.” This same article gets redistributed around the province of British Columbia by Black Press.

Nowhere in that article does either the Black Press or Cullen point out the Gitanyow Chiefs and or including any other Gitxsan Chiefs have invaded lands that belong to the Nisg̱a’a Lisims Government. Its not a case of unceded territory, its land that has already been settled by the governments of British Columbia and Canada. Neither will point out that the blockaders are Gitxsan and are blockading Nisga territory, or that it is the right of the Nisga Nation to demand the Gixsan and non aboriginal supporters vacate their land. In fact one of the primary blockaders runs an illegal cannibals Grow-op there where he assumed squatter rights, and started clear-cutting land to house his farm he calls Ravens Nest Ranch on the Cranberry Connector. Also this is now the home base of “Raven Clan Outlaws” and the man behind it is Gitanyow Hereditary Chief Wil Marsden. Again I repeat he is squatting on legitimate Nisga Land. The so called outlaws now include other Gitanyow Chiefs in an attempt to expand Gitxsan territory., not by negotiation but by brute force.

Before I go on I want to bring your attention a Supreme Court application. The Nisg̱a’a Lisims Government has filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court of B.C. against “Raven Clan Outlaws,” who they say are illegally occupying Nisg̱a’a Treaty territory. A treaty which came into effect in May 2000.

It would be unbelievable that Nathan Cullen was not fully aware of this.

 

Now I want to jump to February 23rd 2024 a story from Canada Press (screenshot included) Look below and ask yourself was Nathan Cullen not aware of what occurred inside his own riding? Nathan Cullen was minister of of state for Lands and Natural Resource Operations, as chair of the Environment and Land Use Committee and a member of the Cabinet Committee on Economy. How could he not be aware?

 

 

Again let me quote from the The Nisga’a Treaty  “The Nisga’a Treaty is a negotiated agreement between the Nisga’a Nation, the Government of British Columbia (B.C.) and the Government of Canada. It came into effect on May 11, 2000. The Nisga’a Treaty is the first modern-day treaty in B.C. and is the fourteenth modern treaty in Canada to be negotiated since 1976.“

That said its crystal clear Nathan Cullen was fully aware of the fact the land the Gitxsan blockaders were squatting on was in fact Nisga lands. Now lets go back to the Aug 26, 2024 article in Today In BC titled   “Indigenous protest blocks LNG pipeline worksite access in northwest B.C.” Where Nathan is questioned about the blockade.

It then begs the question, does Nathan Cullen really think that pitting nation against nation is the governments way out of responsibility?

His reply “stonewalling the reporter” is as follows.

 

Nathan Cullen, MLA for Stikine, said it is a complicated situation.

“It’s a bit of a chicken and egg question, because the proponents are trying to demonstrate a substantial start,” Cullen said.

“People are wondering how they are able to build while existing under an old project that looks so different. It’s understandable why folks are raising those concerns. The environmental assessment office and others will have to communicate as to how this all fits together, and that the process is public and it’s fair, and that the consultations are meaningful.”

Notice how Nathan shifts the blame to support the environmentalists behind this blockade. “It’s understandable why folks are raising those concerns.” justifying the blockaders  Nathan Cullen also appears to be suggesting that its a conflict between two nations, each on their own territory, he refuses to tell the press that the Gitxsan are on settled Nisga Land, that they do not have squatters rights to be there.

Here is the video itself Dated September 22nd 2024 the first day of the Election campaign, Nathan showing his support for the squatter blockaders, and what should be an illegal commercial fishing boat in Meziadin Provincial Park.