Canada tied in knots because of Indian band internal power struggle

Vincent J. Curtis

2 Mar 20

News Item: Hereditary Chiefs and Ministers reach agreement on Wetsuwet'en land clamis.

What is becoming clear in the Wetsuwet’en crisis is that it all boils down to a power struggle within the band itself.  The struggle is over who gets the final say in band matters, the hereditary chiefs or the band councils.  It is also over the principle of unanimity versus majority rule.

While there were unresolved land claims with the band, there was no question that over undisputed land the band councils and a majority of hereditary chiefs favored the gas pipeline.  It was a minority of hereditary chiefs, and in particular one –Chief Woos – who claimed authority over lands still in dispute.  With a small number of followers, Chief Woos was able to set up a blockade across an access road, and thus began the crisis.

Canada was dragged through a three week crisis and had its economy disrupted over an internal power struggle within an Indian band.

Chief Woos’ cause would not have been long sustained but for opportunists who were looking to cause trouble across Canada.

The nature of Aboriginal title is not of a kingly or personal sovereignty.  Woo’s alleged authority does not arise from a fee simple ownership of the land in dispute, but because he is romantically attributed monarchial authority over the band whose land it is.  Canada acknowledges the authority of democratically elected representatives, not the claims of hereditary chiefs.

Canada cannot allow itself to be disrupted because an Indian band cannot get its political house in order, or from mistaken notions of band governance.
-30-