A CALL FOR ACTION FROM THE INDIGENOUS RIGHTS ALLIANCE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Victoria, BC) - May 14, 2007
We are united strongly in our love for our people and for the land. We
are of one mind in our belief that we have an obligation to the land,
which is ours and will always be.

The British Columbia Treaty Process is a dead-end for our Nations. For
years we have tried to achieve justice for our peoples through the BC
Treaty Process. It is time to walk away from this process as there is
no possibility of achieving a just reconciliation between Indigenous
peoples and Canadians within the current framework.

The governments of British Columbia and Canada have proven that they
are not capable of respecting our existence and they are demanding
that we surrender our inherent rights and ownership of our lands. We
will not surrender. The BC Treaty Process is corrupting, dividing and
destroying our people; we say it is time to kill the treaty process so
that our people can survive.

Sisters and Brothers: join us in an alliance to protect our inherent
rights and our lands. Through our traditional government systems, we
will rebuild our communities and nations and reconnect with our
cultures. Their process is bankrupting our communities, their
negotiating principles are an insult to our nationhood, and their
vision of a relationship is unjust and unworkable. We call on you to
withdraw from negotiations with British Columbia and Canada until they
show respect for our people.

Our intent is to live our culture and traditional governance on the
land. Let us move forward. We call on all Indigenous Nations who are
part of the BC Treaty Process to demonstrate their commitment to their
inherent rights and nationhood on National Aboriginal Day, June 21st,
and formally withdraw from the BC Treaty Process. An immediate
campaign of direct, legal and court action must occur through to
February 2010 to force the British Columbia and Canadian governments
to understand and respect our inherent rights.
We will never give up on ourselves, we will not ruin the land, we will
never surrender the future of our children, and we will not dishonour
our ancestors.


CONTACT: Indigenous Rights Alliance
c/o Tribal Chief David Luggi
Carrier Sekani Tribal Council
Prince George, B.C. V2L 3N2
Phone: 250.562.6279 or 1-800-280-8722
Fax: 250.562.8206