Ant Lihlx Lax'yip –Guardians of the Land–

Ant Lihlx Lax’yip

–Guardians of the Land–

We, Simoogit ‘Wii K’aax, Sigidim Hanak’, leadership and people of Wilps ‘Wii K’aax Lax Gibuu Kali Ax Gitxsan (Raven House of the Wolf Clan along Gitxsan Rivers), guardians of our three lax’yip (territories), do hereby declare an Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) over our sovereign, unceded lands, waters and air encompassing:

• Xsu Wii Ax: 69,769 hectares in the Sustut watershed
• An Gil Galanos: 118,623 hectares in the Babine watershed
• Miin Anhl Gii: 25,801 hectares in the Upper Skeena watershed

In accordance with our Ayook (Gitxsan Law), Wilps ‘Wii K’aax is responsible for serving as guardians of our lax’yip. This responsibility includes ensuring that our lands, waters, and resources are protected for our children, grandchildren and all future generations. Wilps ‘Wii K’aax wants to better conduct territorial resource management on our territories than has been conducted by the Government of British Columbia and Canada to date. Our priority is to heal from over 200 years of colonialism, re-invigorate our culture and repatriate our Lax’yip.

Wilps ‘Wii K’aax’ approach to life is guided by Gwalx Yee’insxw, which is grounded in principles encompassing ancestral inheritance handed down from generation to generation. This inheritance; the land, rivers, mountains; all the life on the land, in the air, and in the waters; our history and culture; our spiritual areas and sites; the tangible and the intangible is passed from one generation to the next, never extinguishing or diminishing in value. In other words, Wilps ‘Wii K’aax leadership and members must pass a full inheritance on to the next generation. This legal obligation is the foundation of an integrated social, ecological, economic, legal and cultural system. The legal obligations associated with Gwalx Yee’insxw thus encompass responsibilities that bind together the cultural components such as the people, language, knowledge, Wilp and Pdeek, as well as the land, water, resources, and assets thereon.

Our Territorial Stewardship Initiative will protect and manage our IPCA as we develop stewardship and management plans based on observed current status and conditions (CSC).

Join us in our journey of sovereignty, healing and conservation of our Earth’s precious resources.