Resist: The Unist’ot’en’s Call to the Land
Documentary Film Project about an Indigenous Land Occupation Movement to Preserve Unceded Lands from Being Overrun and Destroyed by Oil Companies
RESIST: The Unist’ot’en’s Call to the Land is a short documentary that was filmed in the summer of 2013 on unceded Wet’suwet’en territory, 1000 km north of Vancouver in northern BC (western Canada) over the duration of the fourth annual Environmental Action Camp, hosted by the Unist’ot’en (C’ihlts’ehkhyu/Big Frog) Clan.
The focus of the film is on the Camp as a year-round resistance to exploitative industry, and what it represents in relation to indigenous sovereignty and the environmental, legal, and social issues surrounding pipeline projects in British Columbia. The short film documents one of the most important resistance camps in North America at this time.
Four years ago, grassroots members of the Wet’suwet’en people found out about the oil and gas pipeline projects being proposed through their territory without consultation or permission. The Camp has so far been successful at turning away pipeline workers and surveyors trying to start work on the pipelines by setting up a “soft blockade” at the bridge over the Wed’zin Kwah (Morice River) into their territory. They have built a log cabin, traditional pit-house, permaculture garden, and a bunk house for volunteers directly in the path of the Pacific Trails Pipeline (PTP) and Enbridge’s Northern Gateway Pipeline routes.
The intruders have been warned about trespassing on unceded land. The Unis’tot’en people are supported by their neighbours in the Likhts’amisyu Clan, the Gidem’ten Clan and other indigenous and non-indigenous allies.
Through the construction of a cabin, a traditional pithouse, and permaculture garden on the proposed pipeline routes, the Unist’ot’en and their allies have thus far been successful at preventing construction on the projects that would illegally cross into their territories and cause further damage to their traditional food systems and ways of living. The Unist’ot’en people ask for grassroots support in their fight against corporations and industries aiming to destroy this beautiful land they live on.
WATCH THE FILM BELOW
The documentary is online, updated now with new information and footage, and we are hoping, with your help, to organize screenings in various town and cities in order to spread the word about the Camp as quickly as possible.
If you are able to help organize a screening in your hometown (booking a venue, equipment, spreading the word). If you are able to help organize a screening, please email [email protected] to begin organizing.
UPDATE:
Last week, Freda Huson and Dini Ze Toghestiy gave an amazing presentation in Bellingham (at 09:30 in the video).
Want info about how to join the camp? Visitors are welcome year-round. unistotensolidarity.org