TRIAL OF ISTA DEFENDERS POSTPONED!
The trial of the 22 people arrested for successfully
reoccupying land at Ista (Fog Creek watershed on King Island)
near Bella Coola in September has been postponed until Monday,
January 22. The official reason given for the postponement is
"internal court matters." This postponement coincides
interestingly with mounting international pressure about the
violation of Nuxalk sovereignty and Interfor's clearcutting plans
for the Great Coast Forest.
The Nuxalk and FAN arrestees had been scheduled to return to
court for trial on Monday, January 15 at the British Columbia
Supreme Court in Vancouver. The 22 arrestees, including three
Nuxalk Hereditary Chiefs, elders, spiritual leaders and an
expectant mother were charged with contempt of court in September
while protecting unceded Nuxalk territory at Ista from
destruction by Interfor's clearcut logging.
The 22 arrestees walked out of Supreme Court in early
December in protest of the BC court's refusal to recognize Nuxalk
jurisdiction over their traditional territory. "The court was
forcing us into their system and handcuffing our sovereignty,"
stated Hereditary Chief Qwatsinas (Edward Moody). "The whiteman's
court system cannot define our people. Our law allows us to
protect our land; their law allows destruction. When we go out
to protect our land and forests, we go out with the law given by
the Creator."
Supreme Court Justice Smith, who was unwilling to put out
arrest warrants at that time, rescheduled the trial for January
15. The Forest Action Network (FAN), which jointly carried out
the month-long blockade at Ista with the Nuxalk Nation fully and
completely supports the Nuxalk legal position. "We have been
deeply moved by the Nuxalk people's commitment to protecting
their land, and so have many others around the world," said FAN
spokesperson Simon Waters.
The Great Coast Rainforest is a region of coastal temperate
rainforest encompassing some 2.5 million hectares of pristine
wilderness. Traditional Nuxalk territory lies within this
region. FAN is calling for continuing international pressure for
an end to all industrial forestry in this region and is demanding
that British Columbia stop issuing logging permits in this
unceded territory.
For more information contact Robin Green @ Forest Action Network
in Vancouver, (604)-739-4782 or email fan@alternatives.com