Terrace, BC — Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chief Na’moks and Deputy Chief Councillor of the Hagwilget Village Council, Gwiil Lok’im Gibuu (Jesse Stoeppler), are calling out the federal government over their exclusion from Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Indigenous Summit on Bill C-5.
When Indigenous Climate Action had posted on their Instagram, “Prime Minister Mark Carney is hosting a summit on Bill C-5 on July 16–17 in Gatineau, QC’' - key hereditary leaders, including the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs were not initially included.”
The exclusion contradicts legal precedent, including the Delgamuukw-Gisday’wa Supreme Court ruling, which affirms hereditary leadership as the rightful title holders of Wet’suwet’en and Gitxsan territories. The Government of Canada also reaffirmed this recognition in a 2020 Memorandum of Understanding—yet did not invite the hereditary chiefs to this summit.
Hereditary Chief Na’moks was only granted access after public pressure. ‘’It shouldn’t take this kind of efforts just to be heard’' he said.
CHIEF NA’MOKS said “ You can not build trust by ignoring the law” He emphasized that meaningful reconciliation must happen on Indigenous territories with all title holders present. “That’s where honest dialogue begins,” he added.
Another major concern raised was the absence of youth representatives from the summit. The leaders noted that youth will face the long-term impacts of decisions made today and must have a voice at the table.
The leaders say the summit failed to include key rights holders, particularly traditional hereditary governments and Indigenous youth—groups they argue are critical to shaping the future of Indigenous governance and reconciliation.
These developments are triggering broader concerns over the federal consultation process under Bill C-5, as well as British Columbia’s Bill 15, which may further marginalize Indigenous voices if meaningful dialogue is not prioritized.