Coast Salish Statement of Solidarity in Opposition to the BC Métis Federation
Press Release
We, the Coast Salish peoples, have lived in, stewarded, and governed our respective lands, waters, resources, and territories for thousands of years.
We are the proper title and rights holders within our territories. We hold inherent, constitutional, and human rights, and inherent laws, legal systems, systems of governance, and jurisdictions, which we have applied and exercised throughout the entirety of our territories prior to contact, and which continue to exist and be applied and exercised throughout the entirety of our territories today.
We know who we are, and where we come from. We have maintained and protected our distinct identity and cultural practices in the face of rapid and pervasive colonization.
We have recently been made aware of a claim filed on behalf of the BC Métis Federation (BCMF) and certain named individuals in the BC Supreme Court (Claim). Among other things, the Claim asserts that what is now known as British Columbia (BC) is home to the “Pacific Northwest Métis”, who are said to be descendants of the offspring of French-Canadians and BC First Nations women. In the Claim, one of the named individuals identifies herself and her ancestors as “Pacific Northwest Métis” because she is a descendant of a “Cowichan woman” and “French-Canadian fur trader” who “…settled in and helped establish the Métis community in Fort Langley, British Columbia.”
We know there is no truth to this characterization.
No historic Métis communities of any kind exist within our territories. No distinct Métis people, language, or culture emerged from the union of Coast Salish women and settler men. These assertions have no basis in history or reality, are deeply offensive, and directly violate and undermine our respective laws, legal systems, systems of governance, and jurisdictions.
The Claim’s attempt to appropriate our ancestors, names, and histories is unacceptable and will not go unchallenged. We know our lineages and recognize that some women from our Coast Salish communities, our relatives and ancestors, had children with French-Canadian fur traders and other settlers in our lands. To us, this is recent history. Their descendants are not now, and never were, Pacific Northwest Métis. Their descendants do not now, and never did, form distinct Pacific Northwest Métis communities in our territories.
In accordance with our laws, the descendants of these Coast Salish women have remained members and citizens of our respective Nations, bands, and communities, or are individuals who have Coast Salish ancestry. The impacts of colonialism have resulted in some individuals with Coast Salish ancestry having no present connection to us; however, that does not make those individuals Métis, and we alone determine belonging in our respective Nations, bands, and communities.
Many Métis have settled in and now call our territories home. We welcome those Métis who treat us and our territories with respect and acknowledge the reality that, as a people and as individuals, they hold no land, water, or air-based inherent and constitutionally protected rights or related jurisdiction in our territories, that they are our guests, and that their Homeland and rights lie east of what is now known as BC. But we will not stand silently as BCMF, or any other Métis organization or individual, attempts to co-opt our ancestors, names, and histories and undermine our rights and authority.
We will defend our territories with all our strength and all resources available to us.
We stand united in our opposition to the Claim and BCMF. We ask all First Nations, Métis, Inuit, British Columbians, and Canadians to support us in opposing the Claim and denouncing BCMF’s repeated disrespectful and provocative actions.
SIGNED IN SOLIDARITY:
Stó:lo Tribal Council
By: Tribal Chief Tyrone McNeil
On behalf of:
Shxw’ōwhámél First Nation Chawathil First Nation Seabird Island Band Cheam First Nation Scowlitz First Nation Soowahlie First Nation Kwaw’Kwaw’Apilt First Nation Kwantlen First Nation
Musqueam Indian Band By: Chief Wayne Sparrow
Squamish Nation
By: Khelsilem, Council Chairperson
Sts’ailes
By: Councillor Kelsey Charlie
Halalt First Nation
By: Chief James Thomas
Lyackson First Nation By: Chief Shana Thomas
Semiahmoo First Nation By: Chief Harley Chappell
Leq’á:mel First Nation By: Chief Alice Thompson
shíshálh Nation
By: lhe hiwus (Chief) Lenora Joe
S’ólh Téméxw Stewardship Alliance
By: Chief Angie Bailey
STSA Political Representative On behalf of:
Aitchelitz First Nation Sumas First Nation
Skowkale First Nation Shxwhà:y Village
Squiala First Nation Yale First Nation
Skwah First Nation
Skawahlook First Nation
Tzeachten First Nation
Yakweakwioose First Nation
Tsleil-Waututh Nation By: Chief Jennifer Thomas
Tsawwassen First Nation
By: Chief Laura Cassidy
Cowichan Tribes
By: Chief Cindy Daniels
Stz’uminus First Nation By: Chief John Elliott
Penelakut Tribe
By: Chief Pam Jack
Katzie First Nation
By: Acting Chief David Kenworthy
Kwikwetlem First Nation By: Chief Ronald Giesbrecht
Matsqui First Nation
By: Chief Alice McKay
3Tla’amin NationK’ómoks First NationBy: Hegus (Chief) John HackettBy: Chief Ken PriceTsartlip First NationSnaw-Naw-AsBy: Chief Don TomBy: Chief Brent EdwardsTsawout First NationSnuneymuxw First NationBy: Chief Abraham PelkeyBy: Chief Mike WyseSonghees NationEsquimalt NationBy: Chief Ronald SamBy: Chief Jerome ThomasKlahoose First NationUnion Bar First NationBy: Chief Steven BrownBy: Councillor Kevin GarnerQayqayt First Nation
By: Chief Rhonda Larrabee
ILR4
