Haida Laas - November 2010 ATHLII GWAII 25 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD THOSE WHO WERE ON THE LINE – NOVEMBER 16 NOVEMBER 22 NOVEMBER 27 here comes a time Ethel Jones Kenneth John Davis Marchel Ann Shannon T Watson Price John Thomas Jones Shelley Louise Lavoie when a people got to do Ada Yovanovich Christopher M. Collinson Waneeta Ruth Richardson Adolphus Marks Barry Deon Bell Jennifer F. Davidson what a people got to do Teddy Elroy Williams Ronald Torres Souza Alfred Setso NOVEMBER 18 James Irvin Stanley Brad Collinson NOVEMBER 25 Valerie Jones and when the stakes are Frederick Donald Davis Laverne Collinson NOVEMBER 28 Mervin James Dunn Diana Jacqueline Hans Dorothy Eva Russ your land and your culture Andrew Harold Edgars Patricia Ann Gellerman Lawrence Morris Jones Paulette Laverne Robinson losing is not an option Colin Stuart Richardson Marni Lynn York NOVEMBER 29 Ronald Richard Russ Colleen Marissa Williams James Young Noel Douglas White Audra Charlyn Collinson Linda Louise Day Martin Williams a people armed with the truth David James M. Brock Beatrice Mae Drager John Yeltatzie James Thomas Stelkia Ronald Alexander George Gary Russ Sr. are a people with conviction Mervin James Dunn Nigel Marc Pearson that over-rides fear Joey Abel T. Parnell Harold George Williams NOVEMBER 20 Vincent Paul Pearson Jody Henry Russ Harold L. Yeltatzie Ronald Ernest Wilson THOSE WHO WERE Willard Wilson Lawrence Drager a generation at a crossroad Diane Kathleen Brown CHARGED & CONVICTED Sally Ann Edgars Miles Richardson Jr. Rose Lynn Russ Kathleen Marie Pearson Guujaaw chose to stand Laura Carol Williams Russell Clive Edgars John Yeltatzie Richard Craig Williams – Guujaaw, 2010 Harold Owen Wilson Diane Brown Reginald Max Wesley Herman Collinson Arnie Bellis James Franklin McGuire Clayton E Gladstone Frederick Davis Merle Emily Adams Gordon Donovan Russ Colin Richardson Henry Grady Wilson Stuart McLean Roberta Olsen Barbara Grace Stevens Michael Earl Allen Lawrence Jones Jacqueline Kim Yovanovich Troy Pearson Martin Williams Frank Coleman Baker Michael Nicoll Yaghulanaas Fred M. Richardson Willard Wilson Haida Laas - News of the Haida Nation Athlii Gwaii – Special Issue – November 2010

Preparing to go

Arriving at Sedgewick Bay

WE BUILD THE ROAD AS WE GO Haida citizens begin Meetings are held between the province and the Haidas and 1974 - ITT-Rayonier presents a five-year logging plan to The Skidegate Band Council and the Islands Protection Society substantial changes are made, however, the license is renewed. watching southern vil- Ministry of Forests, which proposes moving the Frank Beban (IPS) draft a proposal to preserve portions of . lage sites on a volunteer logging operation from Talunkwen Island to Island. Chief T’aanuu and Guujaaw return to court just days after the basis. Council of the Haida Nation is formed. renewal date and they are again denied their application as Islands Protection Society (IPS) is formed: Haida and newcom- the Forest Minister said he had listened to Haida concerns and The United Fisher- ers join together to seek protection of wilderness areas on Mo- had made changes in the new licence—the license had already 1982 - 1975 - Logging begins on Lyell Island. man and Allied Workers’ Union resby Island. been renewed. and Native Brotherhood, the two main fishing organizations on the coast, recognize Duu IPS meets with Skidegate Band Council ITT- Rayonier’s Tree Farm Licence expires. The next day all changes agreed to had been dropped from 1978 - Guusd Tribal Park and support the designation, as does the the renewal notice. The Skidegate Band Councils Chief T’aanuu (Nathan Young) and Guujaaw with IPS take Advisory Planning Commission. objects to logging plan due to Rayonier and the Minister of Forests to court in attempt to Another appeal is sought through the Supreme Court of Can- Haida reliance on the area. stop logging. Chief T’anuu and Guujaaw get standing in the ada over this matter in order to show the court the dishonesty 1983 - A feast is held at Naden Harbour to declare Duu court, IPS is denied it. The court action is a ‘judicial review’ set- in the dealing but the application is denied because it is Guusd. Premier Dave Barrett makes a ver- ting out an application to stop renewal of the TFL. The Deputy a “provincial” matter. bal commitment to the Skidegate Minister of Forests advises the court that the province is quite The first All-Islands Symposium is organized. Haida send emis- Band to impose a logging mora- willing to meet with the Haidas to alleviate their concerns. The sary (Don Rosenbloom) to Japan to request owners of CIPA torium on traditional food gathering areas in TFL 24, but this A South Moresby Planning Team is created to study petition is denied by the Supreme Court of BC because the 1979 - Industries Ltd., the logging company operating in Duu Guusd, action would mean only a deferral of logging in small areas of the issues over logging in “South Moresby.” Logging contin- Forest Minister had not made a decision and the license had to cease operations. Gwaii Haanas. not yet been renewed. ues on Lyell Island while the planning team works on a report. The South Moresby Planning Team delivers its report Above: Islands Protection Membership card. The court encourages that the meeting with the Deputy Minis- 1984 - 1981 - The CHN designates Duu Guusd Tribal Park, on the to the provincial cabinet’s Environment and Land Use Commit- ter proceed before the renewal. Right: Protect Lyell Island button. west coast, and petitions the province to defer all develop- tee (ELUC). ment plans within the Tribal Park.

4 5 Haida Laas - News of the Haida Nation Athlii Gwaii – Special Issue – November 2010

PuttingTaking aup break the cabin. while building camp.

Frank Beban and crew approach the line.

BC sits on the report and logging continues. Minister of Forests issues three new cutting permits in an area BC Supreme Court authorizes 1986 - Of the seventy-two Haidas charged eleven have on the south side of Lyell Island. These new permits exceed serving of contempt of court and their charges changed to a criminal breach of a court order. The Council of the Haida Nation holds a series of meetings Frank Beban’s annual cut quota in volume. mischief charges against seventeen The others have a stay of proceedings. One of the eleven has with government ministers offering to develop a solution. Haidas. charges dropped at a later date. Minister of Environment, Pelton, announces a Wilderness 1985 - Watchmen program begins Advisory Committee, which will study South Moresby and Ten of the seventeen have their Eight appear before a judge and elect to represent themselves. the Duu Guusd Tribal Park among other areas. charges of contempt upheld and CIPA Industries Ltd. dissolves. The provincial government pass- are sentenced to five months sus- A salmon stream is wiped out by a es up the chance to cancel cutting rights in Duu Guusd. Logging resumes on Lyell Island in October. The Haida Nation pended sentences and denied ac- logging-induced slide. Frank Be- moves to set up a camp at Sedgewick Bay. Twenty-five RCMP cess to Lyell Island. ban is charged with an offence CHN meets with Minister of Parks, officers are stationed at the Beban logging camp. under the Fisheries Act and or- Tony Brummet, who states that no CHN designates Gwaii Haanas land and marine areas as a dered to appear. Barb Wilson cutting permits will be issued while Camp moves from Sedgewick Bay to Windy Bay. Haida Heritage Site. March: Beginning in Saint John’s, the Haida Nation and BC are talking, Newfoundland, the South Mores- and before a formal decision is made The Haida Nation blocks the road on Lyell Island. Information comes forward showing that the majority of the by Caravan travels 7,500 kilome- on the whole of South Moresby. provincial cabinet including the Premier were shareholders tres across . The whistle-stop Western Forest Products files for and is granted an injunction. in Western Forest Products, the company that was doing the tour rallied support for the protec- Logging on Lyell Island slows down as The Haidas go back to the blockade but, on the first day, stand logging. tion of South Morseby through a series the logging quota has been cut and aside to let the loggers pass in respect of the courts. of whistle-stops. Fund raising and benefit concerts with the Frank Beban’s contract with Western Skeena Member for Parliament, Jim Fulton, raises the issue of likes of Long John Baldry, Pete Seeger and Bruce Cockburn oc- Forest Products is due to expire. November 16: Haida Elders are ar- aboriginal rights and title and the events unfolding on Lyell Is- cur and further raise awareness. Elders, Ada Yovanovich, Ethel rested at Lyell Island. The blockade land, in the House of Commons. The issues are debated in the Jones and Gaahlaay, Watson Pryce, join the train along the way. Minister of Forests announces that logging will continue on and arrests continue through No- Commons, November 18, 19, 21, 25, 26 and December 3rd. remaining portions of Lyell Island, excluding Windy Bay. Linda Tollis vember. Beban applies for contempt Haida build longhouse at Windy Bay. charges against seventeen Haidas. Haida meet with Minister of Environment, Austin Pelton, who Far left: Skilaay, Ernie Collinson (1948-2001) Loo Taas is paddled 600 miles from Vancouver and arrives agrees that logging must cease after forty days. If it does not BC’s Attorney General announces home. That evening at a feast in Skidegate, the Minister of stop, the Haida Nation will consider it an act of aggression. that he will intervene in the public Left: Capt. Gold Environment, Tom McMillan, announces that the federal and interest and introduce more severe Above: Council of the Haida Nation logo – Children of the Good People. Haida meet with ELUC who assures them that no further charges for the arrested Haidas. Right: South Moresby Caravan button, 1986. timber cutting permits will be issued until a formal decision on land allocation for South Moresby is announced. 6 7 Haida Laas - News of the Haida Nation Athlii Gwaii – Special Issue – November 2010

On the road.

provincial governments will designate South Moresby as a The K’iis Gwaii action saw the Haida Nation take a stand on Oil and gas rights are The Haida House of Assembly ratifies the Haida Constitution. National Park Reserve. the sportsfishing lodges moving into Haida Gwaii. 1997 - relinquished within the proposed Gwaii Haanas Marine Conserva- CHN and the province agree to a co-chaired land use planning Twelve people are charged over K’iis Gwaii and seven are con- 1988 - The South Moresby Agreement tion Reserve. process and a government-to-government negotiation to ad- victed of criminal contempt of a Supreme Court of BC injunc- signed between the federal and provincial dress unresolved matters between the parties.

Barb Wilson tion. The conviction goes to the BC Court of Appeal and is governments designates Gwaii Haanas as a Supreme Court of Canada hands Haida Laas National Park Reserve, pending the settle- overturned, resulting in no criminal records. down the Delgamuukw decision. Ninety per- ment of Aboriginal Rights and Title over 2002 - cent of the on-Island the same area designated by the Council of CHN and Canada sign the Gwaii Haanas Agreement, 1993 - The Haida Accord is Weyerhaeuser employ- the Haida Nation. As a part of this agree- which sets out the government-to-government and manage- 1998 - signed by CHN, HereditaryLead- ees form an Associa- ment, the federal government put up ment relationship for Gwaii Haanas with a commitment to ers, Old Massett Village Council tion to fight status quo $106M, most of which went to pay off the include the marine area at a future date. The joint agreement is and the Skidegate Band Council. forest policies. logging companies, contractors and loggers. A $36M “com- the first of its kind and was accomplished without compromis- munity development fund” to stimulate the economy ing Haida rights and title. Operation Herring Storm swings 2003 - The Prov- comes to the Islands. into action to protect herring Both governments commit to cooperatively manage the Gwaii ince “offers” 20% of stocks on Haida Gwaii. the Haida Gwaii land Representatives of the Council of the Haida Nation advise the Haanas terrestrial area and to work towards an agreement for base to the Haida government of Canada that there will be no spending of the the adjacent marine area. First Nations’ Summit gives support to CHN Nation in return for Community Development Fund until there is an agreement be- 1999 - Title Case. shelving the title case tween the government of Canada and the Haida Nation. The Gwaii Haanas Archipelago Management Board is estab- lished. Two Haida and two Gwaii Haanas representatives are and “restarting treaty negotiations.” This The CHN and communities come to an agreement. Rather appointed to the AMB. CHN launches the TFL 39 Case in the Supreme 2000 - offer is characterized by the CHN as “mischief” than spending the $38M fund over eight years as was pro- Court of . and they wonder, “Why should we give up 80% of our land.” posed, the money would become a perpetual fund and only Gwaii Haanas takes on Haida Gwaii Watchmen program. the interest would be spent. 2001 - Haida Nation files Title and Rights case in BC Court. 1994 - The Gwaii Trust Society is formed to operate the The BC Court of Appeal upholds TFL 39 judgement requiring perpetual trust fund, and GTIPS is dissolved. The Gwaii Trust 1991 - In spite of provincial legislative issues and other the province and industry to consult and accommodate the Far Left: Niis Wes, Ernie Wilson (1913 – 2009) encumbrances, and after years of hearing why this community Society’s vision is to support an Islands community character- Haida Nation. ized by respect for cultural diversity, the environment, and a Above left: The Haida Accord. agreement couldn’t work, the Gwaii Trust Interim Planning So- Right: The writ is presented to the First Nation’s Summit and then sent on its way to ciety (GTIPS) is formed. GTIPS purpose is to develop a perma- sustainable and increasingly self-sufficient economy. be filed at the Supreme Court of BC. nent model for a locally controlled, interest-generating fund. 8 9 Haida Laas - News of the Haida Nation Athlii Gwaii – Special Issue – November 2010

The arrests

The Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte of non-confidence. A Unity Feast is held in Queen Charlotte factors like environment, social and cultural, archaeology with 2009 - The Kunst’aa Guu–Kunst’aayah Reconciliation Proto- Islands Land Use Planning process that evening to celebrate the common vision among Island visitor experience. col is signed with the province of BC. The protocol outlines a

Haida Laas begins. Land planning starts with residents. process to reconcile Haida and Crown titles. the Community Planning Forum Village of Queen Charlotte signs Protocol co-chaired by BC and the CHN New government poli- 2006 - Gaaysiigang – an ocean forum for Haida Gwaii is held at Kay Agreement. with the Haida Land Use Vision as cies see more export Llnagaay. the guiding document. of raw logs and the of- floading of provincial A Community Viability Strategy Steering Committee is formed to work on future economic development. 2010 - The Gwaii Haanas Marine Agreement is signed by An All-Islands Symposium is held government responsibil- the CHN and Canada in January. The agreement puts in place to discuss successes, explore ities to industry. a cooperative management partnership to protect and con- commonalities and learn from 2007 - The Haida Nation and the province of BC sign a serve the marine ecosystem of the proposed national marine each other. Island residents an- draft Haida Gwaii Strategic Land Use Agreement. The plan pro- conservation area reserve and confirms the boundaries of the nounce the Islands tects about 50% of Haida Gwaii and the remaining land base is marine area. The Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation 2004 - Port Clements, Masset and the Skeena-Queen Spirit Rising movement subjected to ecosystem-based management. Area Reserve and Haida Heritage Site is formerly established. Charlotte Regional District Electoral Area D signs Islands Pro- and establish “check tocol Agreement. The protocol lays out ways that parties can points” at the Yakoun Gwaii Forest Society is formed to receive $24-million from the Giving the Name Back with Respect Ceremony takes place in Old work together to support a healthy environment and create a River bridge and Queen South Moresby Forest Replacement Account. Massett. The name Queen Charlotte Islands is given back to the sustainable islands economy. Discussion is to cover rights and Charlotte. province of BC and provincial maps will be changed identify- title, land planning, governance, economic development and Gwaii Haanas’ management arrangement and quota system is ing the Islands as Haida Gwaii not the Queen Charlotte Islands. other related topics. A Memorandum of Understanding is signed with the prov- challenged in court by Moresby Explorers Ltd. The court rules ince of BC, which becomes the basis for Reconciliation of Title that the management and quota system is legal and an inno- 25th Anniversary of Athlii Gwaii. • negotiations. 2005 - Land Use Planning process ends and recommenda- vative solution; upon appeal the case is dismissed. tions of the Community Planning Forum are put forward to the National Geographic Traveller magazine rates Gwaii Haanas as BC government and CHN. The government-to-government Number One on their Destination Scorecard which weights 2008 - Sandspit signs the Protocol Agreement. negotiation begins regarding a Strategic Land Use Agreement. New sign at Ministry of Forests reads Haida Gwaii Forest District. The forest industry and Ministry of Forests ignore the ruling on the TFL 39 court case and the land planning process. Left: Enough is Enough; the sign says it all. Islanders held the line at Yakoun River and Queen Charlotte – 2005. Residents march on the Ministry of Forests and cast their vote Above: Chief Skidegate, Dempsey Collinson, and Chief Chee Xial, Miles Richardson Sr. Unless otherwise noted, photos are courtesy of the Skidgegate Band Council.

10 11 THE CONSEQUENCE OF OUR ACTION

he grey shaded areas indicate protection of the Tland. These areas are under various designations and co-managed by the Council of the Haida Nation and the federal or provincial government.

The blue line, offshore the Haida Heritage Sites, indicates marine/foreshore protection.

Most of the remaining white areas are forest tenures, which are subject to eco-system based management.

The blue shaded area surrounding Gwaii Haanas shows the appoximate boundary of the newly-established federal government marine conservation area. Gwaii Haanas, including the marine area, was designated by the Haida Nation in 1985.

uring the events at Lyell Island, the Coming Dinto the House Paddle Song became known as the Lyell Island Song. At the 2010 House of Assembly the Lyell Island Song was adopted as the national anthem of the Haida Nation. The Haida Nation National Anthem Yo ho wee Yo ha wee yo wee yah Hey hi yo Ha wee ah wee yah wee yah Hey hi yo ha wee Ah wee ah-ha Ah wee-ee ah wee yah

Yo ho wee Yo ha wee yo wee yah Hey hi yo Ha wee ah wee-ee ah wee yah Hey hi yo ha wee Ah wee ah-ha Ah wee-ee ah wee yah