Ista (Fogg Creek): I see that the loggers have rights, the roadbuilders have rights, the logging companies have rights, and they have the RCMP with them to back up their rights. We as the Hereditary Chiefs and Nuxalkmc are protecting and defending our forest and our land and our rights. There is no law enforcement or the RCMP to enforce our rights. In order for us to protect and defend Ista we have to do it ourselves.
Under the BC Treaty Commission process the loggers, the road builders, the logging companies, and the RCMP are at the negotiations table and I see that they are in a major conflict of interest.
We are not signing the release forms here based on our principles and morals. As Hereditary Chiefs, we can't accept guilt on behalf of our people, we can't sign release forms on that basis, that we would accept the destruction of the forests of Ista.
We call ourselves political prisoners. We're opposing the destruction of Ista, and we stand by that. They came to defend what they believe in. They took us prisoners because of what we did. It's not an enforcement issue, its a political and environmental and human issue.
We are going to stand fast in what we believe in.
Way!