QWA-BA-DIWA
The Sovereign Nation of Qwa-Ba-Diwa is an independent,
indigenous nation on the Southwest coast of Vancouver Island which
is asserting jurisdiction over approximately 2500 square kilometers
of ancestral territory.
One of the most impressive remaining examples of ancient
temperate rainforest, including the magnificent, awe-inspiring
Carmanah-Walbran valleys, Qwa-Ba-Diwa is under attack from
multinational logging companies Fletcher-Challenge, MacMillan
Bloedel and their contractor, Pat Carson Bulldozing.
Home since time immemorial to the Qwa-Ba-Diwa people, this
exceptional coastal rainforest contains some of the oldest and
tallest trees in creation. These majestic forests support the
greatest diversity of wildlife anywhere on the continent, including
the only conclusively identified breeding site of the marbled
murrelet, now officially designated as threatened by extinction by
the destruction of its old growth habitat.
Operating under licenses illegally granted by the province of
British Columbia, with the knowledge and profit of Canada, the
ruthless, avaricious and rapacious appropriation of Qwa-Ba-Diwa
must be stopped. To this end, the traditional Qwa-Ba-Diwa
leadership has returned to their land from which they were removed
by the Federal Department of Indian Affairs to resume the burden
that the Hereditary Chiefs Nytom are charged to protect, forever.
Many native nations have not consented to the surrender of
their sovereignty by signing a treaty, which is the precondition for
the exercise of jurisdiction by foreign non-native governments. This
colonialist usurpation is fraudulent, treasonous and genocidal.
Canada and the Province of British Columbia are bound to respect the
independence of Qwa-Ba-Diwa. In practice, however, these foreign
governments continue their shameful oppression of native peoples.
The United Nations Human Rights Commission studying Canada's
treatment of the Lubicon Lake Cree in Alberta concluded that
"effective redress is not possible within existing legal or political
institutions". The international indigenous advocacy organization,
INCOMINIDIOS, considers Canada "one of the last colonial countries".
Amnesty International has stated that "Canada's treatment of
aboriginal peoples is barbaric."
We native and non-natives who are working with sovereign
native nations are appealing for your help. We receive no funds from
anyone but the public, and from our own hard work. All peoples will
be welcome to the protected lands of Qwa-Ba-Diwa to enjoy its
immense beauty and spirit, but right now it is unprotected, and is
now being logged. We need activist support now!
Write your politician and tell them to recognize the
independent statehood of Qwa-Ba-Diwa, demand that existing Law be
addressed, demand a halt to the genocidal ecocide of the last old-
growth, and call for immediate nation-to-nation negotiations with
ours and other sovereign nations. Thank you for your support.
"Soon my people's lives will be lived out in a wasteland of
devastated forest, rather than in a paradise. This must not be. Stop
this monstrous sacrilege, this holocaust of nature, this final act of
genocide in the spiritual destruction of my people."
His-tah-too-qwa-Nytom
AKA Peter Knighton
Donations: Please make cheques and money orders payable to "Qwa-
Ba-Diwa Defense Fund", care of the Independent State of Qwa-Ba-
Diwa Information Office (Canada), PO Box 35015, Victoria, BC,
Canada, V8T 5G2
Visitor, participation or media inquiries welcome.
Kleco, kleco (Thank You)
Qwa-Ba-Diwa Information Office (Canada) PO # 35015, Victoria, B.C.
Canada, V8T 5G2
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posted by:
Victoria Alternative Literature and Information Distributors
A-5, 1720 Douglas St, Victoria BC Canada V8W 2G7
uc389@freenet.victoria.bc.ca
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