The RCMP says it will not commit to respecting a Gitxsan hereditary chiefs’ decision banning the Mounties’ Community-Industry Response Group (C-IRG) from unceded lands in northwest B.C.
The chiefs ordered the C-IRG not to trespass or be deployed across 35,000 square kilometres of Gitxsan lax yip, or territory, in January.
“They come with guns. They come with dogs. They come with helicopters. They come with armoured vehicles,” said Gwiiyeehl (Brian Williams), a Fireweed Clan hereditary chief from Kispiox, B.C., about what sparked the move.
“To do what? To kill us? We are unarmed. We are a peaceful nation. We are protecting our lax yip.”
In a statement, the B.C. RCMP said it
