The Department of Gender Studies at Queen’s University recognizes that we are situated on the territory of the Anishinaabek and Haudenosaunee Peoples who are the caretakers of this land. We also acknowledge that this land is significant to Indigenous peoples’ practices and spiritualities. Living in this territory, we hold responsibilities to the people, creatures, lands and waters of this region and seek to uphold our treaty obligations.
Central to these responsibilities is the affirmation of the self-determination of Indigenous peoples as custodians over these territories and guardians of the collective futurity of its inhabitants. As such, we seek to lend our voices to the chorus of those in support of the Wet’suwet’en Peoples, their clan governance systems, and hereditary Chiefs. In doing so, we condemn the actions of the Canadian government for violently breaking the relationship between the land and its people.
Under the leadership of Justin Trudeau, the Canadian government has committed to restoring relationships with Indigenous peoples, promising Truth and Reconciliation, as well as fulfilling its obligations under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). UNDRIP expressly condemns forced removal in Article 10: “Indigenous peoples shall not be forcibly removed from their lands or territories.” As such, we call for the withdrawal of the RCMP from Wet’suwet’en Territory, and support their inherent right to protect the lands, waters, and futures of Indigenous peoples.
We call upon our colleagues to join in condemning this Canadian Government and the RCMP’s violent actions against Wet’suwet’en Peoples.
In solidarity,
The Department of Gender Studies