The Unist’ot’en were the only ones who continually defended their land in order to protect it.
Claim; The Unist’ot’en were the only ones who continually defended their land in order to protect it.
Using a goverment grant that was intended for use by all First Nations a group of 4 decided to make a life out of protesting. Two couples, Molly and Cody Merriman, and Freda and Warner Naziel. The cabin was paid for by tax payers only needed to be transported and assembled. Three out of four were not even Unist’ot’en, of that 4 only Freda was Unist’ot’en, and prior to 2010, the land was mostly used by locals dating back to the 60’s, after the trap-lines were mostly abandoned.
So for the 50 years prior to 2010 the claim is not true, and prior to the 60’s is pure speculation, no facts support this claim. The only evidence prior to 2010 was by way of goverment registered traplines held by members of the Unist’ot’en clan. (Not for the land, but for the trapline)
The Morice Lake Provincial Park was established to years prior to the arrival of the blockaders, who refused to allow citizens to enjoy our parts the new park, as well as Burnie-Shea Lakes Park.
There is a second log cabin (prefab) already made and gifted to First Nations that they plan to use on claimed Gitumden territory. Even though it was supposed to be enjoyed by all First Nations, its being shanghaied by protestors.
Part of the confusion over land claims comes from registered traplines, many First Nations used those traplines to define who owned the Territory that the lines were registered to. Second is the buy back option where First Nations get to buy traplines from non indigenous trappers. Then comes the real problem, Canada has only been registering traplines since the 1930’s.
So now we have land claims based on traplines owned in the 1930’s as evidence a First Nations claimant has always owned that land. This making facts from fiction.
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