Editors Note: we used a document converter to retain the highlighted emphasis as per original text. 

To the Editor:

In the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation let me share some thoughts with you. The first is the importance of truth, the second is it takes two parties to reconcile, meaning they need to bring their best honest dialogue forward to the table. I was very much inspired by a “opinion piece” written in the Smithers Interior News titled “‘Unceded Territory’: A Wet’suwet’en hereditary chief’s perspective” with a link added to that story. I was particularly pleased to see it was written by a man I grew up with. We both came a long ways since we were young and foolish, and won’t share those stores here for old time sake. I will copy paste the article here in its entirety, then in the spirit of open dialogue share my thoughts on what was written.

Why the title? Referring to a book written by the hereditary chief’s in a book called “Niwhts’ide’ni Hibi’it’en (The Ways of Our Ancestors: Witsuwit’en History” where every child gets a name, every name is hereditary, and every adult becomes a chief. (bad humour on my part?) 

I want to point out first that I think you made an accidental error when you wrote “Chiefs are chosen based on their merit by the father clans, differing from European or British hereditary systems.” I do believe you really meant mothers clan as the Wet’suwet’en are using a matrilineal system “a kinship structure where lineage and inheritance are traced through the mother’s side of the family, rather than the father’s. In such societies, individuals typically identify with their maternal lineage, and property or family names may be passed down from mothers to daughters“.

You wrote “The Wet’suwet’en Nation is made up of 13 houses, each house has a house Chief and secondary leaders called wing chiefs” Again putting truth first there are quite a number of both House Chiefs and Wing Chiefs currantly listed by the Office of Wet’suwet’en, that are the children of Gitxsan mothers. This is very important as it appears to be that a Wet’suwet’en law was broken. Going back to the Delgamuukw v. British Columbia trial, both the Wet’suwet’en and Gitxsan hired an expert witness who stated the following (its on the public record) The same expert also submitted the following in court documents.  “Titles and land are passed through the mother’s clan, anthropologist Antonia Mills said in a 2019 affidavit submitted in court proceedings related to the Coastal GasLink project. A person born to a Wet’suwet’en woman is considered Wet’suwet’en.” The same rule holds for those born to a Gitxsan woman.

I knew you as Kneekap, so speaking person to person, if we had both been born a few hundred years ago, neither of us would have had European names, we would have had names based on how others knew us. So when I say that a Wing Chief that we will call “from the house on top of the rock” then at least both you and I know who we are talking about. One day I posed a question to him, the question was “Given that book (Eagle Down Is Our Law) plus all the other research and history that have now been documented, when will the hereditary chief’s write a document or book with all the Wet’suwet’en Laws in it? After all that would make it a lot less confusing for the outside world would it not?

His reply was both stunning and remarkable, he said “Why should we do that, it would force us all to abide by the very rules we have written, we are better off right now, our laws are fluid, we can change them whenever we want to insure it accommodates our needs.”

NEXT you wrote:

Our governance system was considered inferior only because our ways of life, our beliefs, and our governance structures were different than Canadian governance systems.

The reserve Chief and Band Council were created as a result of the Indian Act of 1876, which was established and written by the European government, not by any Aboriginal person.

It was formed as a means to impose a foreign governance system and leadership structure on the Aboriginal Hereditary Chiefs.

Before I go on, I need to get this off my chest. I think we can both agree that the media is lazy and stupid. It’s so easy to paint a pretty picture for the press, when so few people know the truth. But if we are ever going to settle “Truth and Reconciliation” it must begin by being honest, truthful.

In the spirit of truth, what you said, may have been true back in 1876, I don’t know, neither of us was around back then, the more important question is, does it still hold true today? The way its being flaunted by  existing so called Hereditary Chiefs, its clear they are attacking today’s band offices.

If your claim does hold true today, it has wide spread implications.

I also want to add some more truth, the primary difference was based on a difference between “elected choice” and a ” dictatorship”. Not as you suggest merely a simple difference in governance.

If you really prefer to live under a dictatorship, then at least have the courage to state your case and let the Wet’suwet’en membership decide what they want. But I fully understand a dictatorship will never allow them the right to vote on this matter.

It was much more than a difference is systems, read the book your Hereditary Chiefs pushed into our schools as educational material “Niwhts’ide’ni Hibi’it’en (The Ways of Our Ancestors: Witsuwit’en History”.  A lot of people were killed, murdered, based on a system I seriously doubt even you would want to live in today. Shot for trespassing? The  claim that the people of Kitamaat were completely wiped out by Kweese (genocide). It was not the Disney version being sold in the press today.  Its all theatrics to pose history as a Disney movie, where the Hereditary Chiefs are the victims, but history documented shows massive amounts of killing, and you are also old enough to know its affects on (violence) lasted into the 60’s between Burns Lake and Moricetown. You must recall a time when a bad joke circulated, its safer for a white boy in Moricetown than an Indian from Burns Lake. We talked about that between us, it was supposed to have been funny back in the days when we were young adults.

You and I both know that there is in dangerous spirit of heroism attached to those who violently beat others, or parade their scars as virtues. It was primarily this system of violence that brought about the need to change the governance system. This is still going on today, talk to the kids.

Canada created the Chiefs and Band Councils as a means to democratically govern themselves, and not as you claimed “to impose a foreign governance system and leadership structure on the Aboriginal Hereditary Chiefs“

To suggest its as applicable today as it was back in June 22nd 1869, then all elected band chiefs today are simply puppets of the Canadian governance systems. I have seen these ‘so called”  Hereditary Chiefs pretend that somehow the local band office in Witset is being controlled by the Canadian Goverment. Its an underhanded attempt to demonize hard working and dedicated Wet’suwet’en members living in Witset. You cast a blanket of contempt on these elected members, at very least you should have named the ones who are selling out their own people. It’s a rude and unfair statement.

Keep in mind that means all of the following are as you said:

“to impose a foreign governance system and leadership structure on the Aboriginal Hereditary Chiefs”

The Chiefs and Band Councils are just the administrative bodies for Aboriginal peoples who are living in reserve communities.

They are put there by the Canadian government. They have no jurisdiction over the Aboriginal traditional territories.

Even though the entire Chief and Council were elected 100% by Wet’suwet’en members of the community.

Elgin Cutler – Chief
Kayla Mitchell – Deputy Chief

Andrew Tom – Councillor
Sheri Green – Councillor
Jerry William Sr – Councillor
Butch Dennis – Councillor
Victor Jim – Councillor
Duane Mitchell – Councillor
Sherry McKinnon – Councillor
Sandra George – Councillor
Charmayne Nikal – Councillor
Warner William – Councillor

What about all the elected chiefs all over British Columbia, and Canada? Our Minister of Parliament, Ellis Ross who became a Haisla Nation Council’s first full-time councillor in 2003, stepped up as Chief Councillor from 2011 to 2017
What about the all elected members of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs?
What about the elected Assembly of First Nations?

The hereditary chief system is not a democracy, the people of the Wet’suwet’en have no say, or at very least have no control over hereditary chief’s decisions. It is a dictatorship, there is no other correct term for it. Even among the 13 houses, there is no democracy among the chiefs, they do not vote democratically about decisions they make. If I am wrong then explain to the world how three women, all Hereditary Chief’s at the highest level, were stripped of their titles without being included in a vote on the issue? As others have said, “You cannot strip title, like bark off a tree” but this group of male hereditary chief’s did exactly that.

Face it the hereditary chief’s system is a pure dictatorship system, its actually worse, unlike in the history written by Antonia Mills (the very person the hereditary chief’s hired) that are allowing members to buy, or by appointment get positions reserved for highest ranking hereditary chief’s. Imagine using your earning as a logging contractor to buy your title? It happened and we also know a number of members were appointed, like Warner Naziel and Frank Alec and we know both Adam Gagnon and Alphonse Gagnon have a mother that is Gitxsan including Warner Naziel whose grandmother is Gitxsan as is his mother. You cannot switch clans on the whim of which  clan gives greater rewards.

In the spirit of truth, even you must know hereditary title is held for life. Having said that the next issue I am sure you also agree with and is published in hereditary chief approved literature, a few more points. A hereditary chief is groomed into that position over a large period of time (I am being generous here) and again from the book that refers to Wet’suwet’en laws, that the first year the become chief they must observe a year of silence. Here let me quote verbatim.

Becoming a Hereditary Chief

Before nonnative contact, a Wet’suwet’en heir began their journey to becoming a hereditary chief while still inside the mother’s womb. Elders, Shaman’s and Chiefs would often feel the womb of an expectant mother and determine if the baby was destined to be a future Chief or Shaman. From the time of birth the child would be groomed or tutored to be a wise, strong and responsible leader. The child would start off with the following succession of feast names:

 Birth name
Baby name
Child’s name
Adolescent name
Adult name
Sub Chief name
Wing Chief
Head Chief name

Before a person received a high-ranking chief name, they would have to travel into the wilderness to live with the animals for an extended period of time. They would learn the ways of the animal world before returning to the community to assume a Chief name. When they returned, they would have to demonstrate what they have learned. This exercise exposed the prospected chief to the human world as well as the animal world. Thus ensuring he or she had the utmost respect for both.

OK stay with me here, you are old enough to recall a Hereditary Chief by the name of Chief Gwen’U who was banished from Moricetown (now Witest) not by the Hereditary Chief’s or by Wet’suwet’en decree, but rather by the Canadian Courts. We won’t go into the details, we both know what they are. What follows is the interesting part, without pomp or ceremony, or potlatch, Ron Mitchell was appointed to replace Stan Nikal. Let me repeat he did not get the position by traditional rules, rather he was appointed by unnamed chiefs.

In the spirit of truth, lets talk about Frank Alec who was also appointed as a Wet’suwet’en Chief, during a time when he was also negotiating as a member of the Lake Babine Band, on behalf of the Lake Babine Band’s elected Band Council. then negotiates on behalf of the Office of Wet’suwet’en, all in his first year when he is supposed to be silent. Never mind that now the 13 Hereditary Chiefs cover two distinct nations. It begs another question, are they two separate nations or are they one and double dipping land claims? But he is not alone, the late Jeff Brown (Madeek) was also a member of the Lake Babine Band, not from the Wet’suwet’en Nation.

Somehow the mainstream press is either too stupid, or refuse to pick up on these serious discrepancies.

Let me quote verbatim (copy paste)

Lake Babine Nation

Lake Babine Nation is third largest Aboriginal Band in British Columbia. Lake Babine Administration Office is situated 142 miles West of Prince George, BC with a total registered membership of approximately 2,525 [based on January 2025 population statistics.]

The Nation has 27 reserve lands and three (3) communities, which are inhabited year round, and two that are inhabited year round from time to time. Prior to 1957, Lake Babine was two separate Bands, the Old Fort Band and the Fort Babine Band, both situated on the Babine Lake. At the time, approximately 12 communities were inhabited year round. On June 12, 1957, Department of Indian Affairs amalgamated the two Bands to form what is now known as the Lake Babine Nation.

Considering that both the original Chief Woos and Chief Smogelgem were stripped by chiefs from other houses within the group of 13 Hereditary Chiefs and replaced by two people who never followed the traditional ways of the Wet’suwet’en people, but were appointed, again it begs the question if the the entire Hereditary Chiefs system is corrupt. Who was the chief behind this? Was it John Ridsdale?

While those who support the Hereditary Chiefs continue to insult the elected band council members and talk about a collusion between them and Canadian Goverment the reverse is the real truth. It was the Office of  Wet’suwet’en  that keeps getting propped up by both the NDP Goverment and the Federal Liberals. Look at the millions of dollars that should have gone to the Wet’suwet’en band members, ended up in the pockets of a few heading the Office of  Wet’suwet’en. Look at how the NDP colluded with the Office of  Wet’suwet’en in regards to the Wetzin’kwa Community Forest Corporation, let me quote “managing the community forest tenure jointly held by the Town of Smithers and the Village of Telkwa, in partnership with the Office of the Wet’suwet’en.” Somehow the Witset Band Counsel was left out as the third community. Then recall in 2021 “The Province is providing Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs with $7.22 million to support work to implement Wet’suwet’en title and rights.” What happened to that money? Then we have the gift from the NDP, the Lake Kathlyn Elementary School that was sold to them for close to half a million below its assessed value.

Why should a group of unproven Hereditary Chiefs get millions of dollars to split among  themselves, and spend it as they deem fit, with no democratic governance in place?

Again referring to the 13 Chiefs, it seems naming them is becoming even a greater problem. I checked today and the Office of the Wet’suwet’en only list 6 of the 13 they claim to have.   Recall the days not so long ago when the list presented to the hearings into the CGL pipelines included Chief Kweese? Well the same Hereditary Chiefs named Bill Naziel as the alternate speaker for that house. How is it that it appears they now erased his name?  Not reported to the press was the subsequent dismissal of Chief Mutt (Bill Naziel) from the Office of the Wet’suwet’en for supporting the Wet’suwet’en Matrilineal Coalition. (Sub chief)

Here is the list based on checking today. Oct 3rd 2025

Chief Knedebeas (Warner William)
Chief Samooh (Herb Naziel)
Chief Hagwilnegh (Ron Mitchell)
Chief Woos – Frank Alec
Chief Kloum Khun (Alphonse Gagnon)
Chief Namoks (John Ridsdale)

Now let me show you the list from 2019 the Office of the Wet’suwet’en listed.

John Ridsdale (Na’Moks)
Jeff Brown (Madeek)
Fred Tom (Gisday’wa)
Alphonse Gagnon (Kloum Khun)
Chief Smogelgem, Gloria George
Chief Woos, Darlene Glaim
Chief Goohlut, James Namox (representative for vacant)
Chief Wah Tah Kwets (Frank Patrick) designated house spokes leader Chief Wihaliy’te, Theresa Tait-Day
Chief Knedebeas, Warner William
Chief Samooh, Herb Naziel
Chief Hagwilnegh, Ron Mitchell

Vacant Hereditary Chiefs

Chief Wah Tah K’eght, Henry Alfred (deceased)
Chief Kwees, Florence Hall (deceased) alternate Chief Mutt (Bill Naziel)

While were being truthful, the issue of hereditary chief’s was not really significant until they aligned themselves with the environmentalist movement and accepted funding from the Tides foundation. Recently we even see John Ridsdale aligning himself with the Palestinian front, this while wearing the traditional blanket as a prop. This is not the Wet’suwet’en way, this is grandstanding for self glorification, the claim of him representing the Wet’suwet’en Nation is a farce. Get rid of this dictatorship and elect Wet’suwet’en members to govern themselves. Stop badmouthing your own people by accusing them of being state puppets, even you must know this is not true.

The real question even the press should be asking is who controlled the Office of Wet’suwet’en and the Hereditary Chiefs when stripping Wet’suwet’en chiefs of their title, and who appointed their replacements, was it John Ridsdale? Millions if not billions are at stake here, and the NDP is hell bent on giving it to a very corrupted group of individuals. The land as you claim does not belong to the Hereditary Chiefs, it belongs to the people, the Wet’suwet’en people. Let me quote verbatim what you said “They have no jurisdiction over the Aboriginal traditional territories.” not true all all my dear friend.

We have some very serious issues here, we have two groups Office of Wet’suwet’en and the Hereditary Chiefs, wanting to control the land, all of it, worth billions of dollars, all in the hands of individuals who have little or no credibiliy in regards to genuine status as a Hereditary Chief. Land that belongs to the Wet’suwet’en people, not the chiefs. Refer to Delgamuukw v British Columbia  (Delgamuukw at para 115.)

“The Supreme Court of Canada clarified that Aboriginal title is held communally “by all members of an aboriginal nation.”

Refer to Delgamuukw v British Columbia

“Lamer said this “substantive defect” in the Chiefs’ arguments required a new trial, which the court welcomed but the Wet’suwet’en have yet to bring forward.”

For the record, they have no intention of bringing it forward, when the NDP is in collusion with the the Hereditary Chiefs.

While the Wet’suwet’en were working towards building a future inside the Canadian economy, the hereditary chief’s were busy jet setting all over the world, using the sacred blankets that elders have constantly said were only ever to be used in a feast-hall, are now being used as props for the anti energy and forestry radicals who spend more time talking like anarchists in stark contrast with Chief and Council who are trying to bring funding into a community that cares about its own future.

Again in the spirit of Reconciliation, I do wish you good health and hope you get to enjoy your golden years Kneekap.

For the sake of old time friendships, I an requesting my name be withheld.

‘Unceded Territory’: A Wet’suwet’en hereditary chief’s perspective