LETTER | Solidarity Statement in support of the Wet’suwet’en Nation, Unist’ot’en Camp and Gidimt’en Checkpoint

We the students of the University of Victoria’s Department of Sociology recognize the Lekwungen peoples on whose traditional territory we live, learn, and work on. Beyond stating this, we also acknowledge that studying on this land requires a constant interrogation of our behaviours and norms. As students of sociology, we have a deep desire for understanding the power structures that circulate throughout our daily lives. We have an absolute responsibility to call out injustices and fight for change. This requires us to name Canada’s militant invasion of Wet’suwet’en territory as colonial and genocidal violence. 

We stand with the Wet’suwet’en people. In their powerful defence against government-sanction RCMP violence and the insidious creep of Coastal GasLink, we voice our support. We fully believe that in order to combat colonialism, capitalist resource extraction, and sexual violence, the prioritization of Indigenous governance must be made. We recognize the extreme urgency in stopping resource extraction projects that threaten the lives of present and future generations. 

To echo the voices of the Indigenous youth in our community who peacefully held space in ceremony at the B.C Parliament Building for six days: reconciliation is dead. Long live Indigenous sovereignty. 

In solidarity, 

Sociology Students of the University of Victoria

Sophia Myers, MA Student 

Rachael Barton-Bridges, MA Student

Chelsea Power, MA Student 

Kelsey Block, MA Student

Mikaela Brooks, MA Student 

Jen Kostuchuk, MA Student

Finn Deschner, MA Student

Mark Shakespear, MA Student

Celeste Morales, MA Student

Sarah Revilla, MA Student

Chandra Berkan Hozempa, MA Student

Ashley Berard, PhD Student 

Rebeccah Nelems, PhD Candidate

Michael Lang, PhD Candidate

Tayler Zavitz, Sessional Instructor and PhD Candidate 

Alexandra Haupt, MA Student

Shreyashi Ganguly, MA Student

Sasha Dwyer, MA Student 

Amber Heard, MA Student 

Sanam Vaghefi, PhD Candidate

Kora Liegh Glatt, MA Candidate

Eden Wallis, Treasurer & Past-President of the Bureau of Sociology Students

Hanna Jacobsen, Undergraduate Student

Sabrina Nutchey, Undergraduate Student

Max Yelovatz, President of the Bureau of Sociology Students

Felix Morrow, Member-at-Large of the Bureau of Sociology Students

Rosemary McAllister, Social Media Director of the Bureau of Sociology Students

Hannah Magee, Undergraduate Student, Member of the Bureau of Sociology Students