Recent clearcutting on Ma'a̱mtagila Territory, near Adam River. (Credit: Rande Cook).
Logging Notices on Ma’amtagila Territory.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2025
Hiladi, Ma'a̱mtagila Territory
Ma'a̱mtagila Nation Demand Halt to Logging within Tree farm licence 64
Ma'a̱mtagila affirms Title to land involved in USW Local strike
The Ma'a̱mtagila leadership take seriously the United Steelworkers Local 1-1937 strike action begun June 6 against La-kwa-sa-muqw Forestry Limited Partnership (LKSM Forestry LP), jointly owned by Western Forest Products (WFP) and Nanwakolas Council, comprised of Tlowitsis, We Wai Kai, Wei Wai Kum and K’ómoks First Nations.
Ma'a̱mtagila leadership strongly reaffirm to all involved parties that logging operations in these areas are taking place without Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) from Ma'a̱mtagila Hereditary Chiefs and in direct violation of our rights under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), while contravening the spirit of the BC Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (BC DRIPA).
“Ma'a̱mtagila takes no position in favour of either side of this dispute—rather, we maintain these agreements are being made without the rightful title-holders at the table. Such flawed processes inevitably end in strike action, civil claim, and compromised financial returns,” said Chief Makwala – Rande Cook, hereditary Chief of the Hamatam clan of the Ma'a̱mtagila.
“By continuing to negotiate, strike dirty deals with, and provide permits to Nanwakolas Council’s forestry operations, the BC Government is pouring salt directly onto an open wound of reconciliation.”
“Western Forest Products saw the writing on the wall for TFL 39 and in 2023 wanted to offload forthcoming legal headaches to Nanwakolas Council’s four member nation; and they bought these liabilities—$36 million worth—hook, line and sinker.”
“Unfortunately when communities are swindled into buying forestry tenures on Indigenous lands, they may believe this also grants them control over how forestry happens in these territories. However they often remain legally accountable to the Annual Allowable Cut (AAC), union agreements, strike action, and other trade deal obligations—as well as the implementation of DRIPA going forward.”
The Tlowitsis First Nation Chief and Council, the Government of Canada, and the Government of British Columbia are engaged in ongoing court action at the level of the Supreme Court of Canada and have been made abundantly aware that the Ma'a̱mtagila Hereditary Chiefs remain the rightful holders of Aboriginal rights and title within the territories of the Ma'a̱mtagila people. These notably include the areas of Call Inlet, Port Neville, Port Harvey and on Vancouver Island areas of Adam and Eve River and adjacent watersheds, including TFL 64.
“The Ma'a̱mtagila never gave their land away,” said Chief Nelson Bruce of the Hayalikawayi namima (clan), whose grandfather was the great Chief Ḵwamxalagalis-ik’awegilakw.
Ma'a̱mtagila Hereditary Chiefs once again demand the Government of Canada, the Government of British Columbia, Nanwakolas Council, and the Tlowitsis First Nation Chief and Council cease all negotiations, land-use planning (LUP), and treaty processes pertaining to Ma'a̱mtagila territories and invite healing and reconciliation of historical and ongoing injustices.
Background
The Ma'a̱mtagila are one of the Kwakwakaʼwakw First Nations whose territory lies in the Johnstone Strait area of northern Vancouver Island and the Great Bear Rainforest, including the areas of Call Inlet, Port Neville, Port Harvey as well as Adam and Eve River on Vancouver Island and their adjacent watersheds.
For countless generations, the Ma'a̱mtagila Hereditary Chiefs have upheld the principles of Potlatch law, a system that emphasizes communal stewardship and the sharing of resources through carefully managed protocols and Indigenous legal orders.
The Ławitʼsis (Tlowitsis) and Ma'a̱mtagila have always been distinct neighboring nations with kinship and resource sharing practices. Colonial duress, however, forced their centralization and amalgamation, but they have always maintained their own governance, territory and hereditary practices. In 1945 it was decided by the majority of Ma'a̱mtagila and Ławitʼsis Chiefs that they could help one another and share resources if they were to join as one under the DIA band structure. The amalgamated band was known as the Turnour Island Band.
When elected Chief John Smith of the Tlowitsis Band Administration in 1998 presented a Band Council Resolution (BCR) claiming the Ma'a̱mtagila had relinquished their title to him, the BCR lacked the consent and presence of any hereditary Ma'a̱mtagila leaders. Crucially, no Ma’a̱mtagila Chief signed the BCR, nor were they consulted.
This unilateral decision led to the misappropriation of resources through unsustainable logging and the establishment of fish farms—moves that contrasted sharply with Ma'a̱mtagila values.
Through this series of ill-mannered, unvalidated and illegitimate resolutions and processes, a select few have attempted to silence and disempower the Ma'a̱mtagila. As a result, the Ma'a̱mtagila have continued to fight for recognition of their sovereignty and stewardship over their lands under Crown law.
The actions taken by the Tlowitsis Band Administration have threatened the very essence of the Ma'a̱mtagila, pushing them towards the brink of cultural extinction.
But our Ma'a̱mtagila people, culture, governance practices and connection to our lands and waters is still alive. We love our Ławitʼsis family relations, our Nation, and our Potlatch governance through which we uphold our responsibilities to the lands we call home.
For more information, please contact:
Seneca Ambers – Tłatłaḵwidalaga
Ma’amtagila Tribal Society
250-508-8173, senecaambers@gmail.com
Chief Makwala – Rande Cook
Hereditary Chief of the Hamatam clan of the Ma'a̱mtagila
250-704-6777, rande@awinakola.com