The Nova Scotia Union of Public and Private Employees stands in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs and their supporters in defending and protecting their unceded land.
Colonial violence must come to an end and any individuals who were arrested while defending the rights of the Wet’suwet’en people must be immediately released so that Canada and the Wet’suwet’en nation may move forward.
The federal and provincial governments are in violation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). The Canadian government must take immediate action to uphold Canada’s commitment to UNDRIP. According to Article 26(2) of the UNDRIP “Indigenous Peoples have the right to own, use, develop and control the lands, territories and resources that they possess by reason of traditional ownership or other traditional occupation or use, as well as those which they have otherwise acquired.” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Horgan have made several commitments to honour UNDRIP, however, their recent actions, and inaction, speak louder than words.
NSUPE supports the Wet’suwet’en because their fight for their land, their rights, and their ability to live in an unpolluted environment is a fight that all Canadians must undertake. We also support protesting as both a necessary and fundamental right, and thus we stand in solidarity with protesters protecting the Wet’suwet’en’s rights.
Furthermore, NSUPE condemns the negative portrayal of the Wet’suwet’en in the media and is disappointed by the responses from politicians on all sides of the political spectrum. We ask for a fair and accurate representation of the Wet’suwet’en nation in the media.
There is no excuse for Coastal GasLink’s or for the Canadian Government’s treatment of the Wet’suwet’en when Canada should be prioritizing reconciliation rather than further damaging relationships with Indigenous nations. We must all remember that settlers are guests on Indigenous lands.