Gwelx ye’enst

Gwelx ye’enst means the exercise of Gitanyow’s rights and responsibilities to hold, protect and pass on the land in a sustainable manner from generation to generation, including the process of developing the Gitanyow Lax’yip Land Use Plan.

The Gitanyow Lax’yip Land Use Plan is the result of 10 years of negotiation with the Provincial Government of British Columbia, and 3 court cases regarding consultation and forestry development in the Gitanyow Lax’yip (Territory). The Gitanyow Lax’yip Land Use Plan is a legally enforced through both provincial laws and the Gitanyow Ayookxw.

The Gitanyow Lax’yip Land Use Plan represents an interim step to reconciling:

• Western scientific knowledge with Gitanyow traditional knowledge
• The Gitanyow Wilp system of land tenure and the BC Sustainable Resource Management Planning process (Nass South, Cranberry, Kalum and Kispiox planning areas)
• Wilp sustainability and BC government objectives of sustainable resource management

The Gitanyow Lax’yip Land Use Plan is contained within the Gitanyow Huwilp Recognition & Reconciliation Agreement, signed by the 8 Gitanyow Wilp Chiefs and the BC Ministers of Aboriginal Relations & Reconciliation and Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations in March 2012. 

Download the Agreement and Land Use Plan.

For high resolution maps and shape files go to: Media Downloads.