“We are the ones that we are waiting for” - Governing Transboundary Waters: Canada, the United States, and Indigenous Communities - page 121

XWE-NAL-MEWX: Salish Nation
DECLARATION
We know the Creator put us here. We know our Creator gave us laws that govern
all our relationships to live in harmony with nature and mankind, defined our
rights and responsibilities. We have the right to govern ourselves and the right
to self-determination. Our rights and responsibilities cannot be altered or taken
away by another Nation. We have spiritual beliefs, our languages, our culture,
and a place on Mother Earth which provides us with all our needs.
We have maintained our freedom, our languages, and our traditions from
time immemorial.
We continue to exercise our rights fulfilling the responsibilities and obligations
given to us by the Creator for the land upon which we were placed. We, openly
and publicly declare and affirm to the people, the governments of Canada and
British Columbia:
That the Xwe-nal-mewx have held and still hold Aboriginal title to all the
lands, waters and resources within our traditional territories. That the Xwe-nal-
mewx have never rendered any agreement or Treaty with the Government of
Canada, Britain, and British Columbia concerning the occupation, settlement,
sovereignty or jurisdiction over our Lands except those treaties entered into
with the British Government prior to Confederation.
We declare and affirm our Inalienable Right of Aboriginal Title of Aboriginal
Rights to the lands the mountains, the minerals, the trees, the lakes, the rivers,
the streams, the air, and other resources on our Land. We, declare that our
Aboriginal title and rights have existed from time immemorial, exists at the
present time and shall exist for all future time. We, declare unto ourselves that
sovereignty is inherent in our Nation.
TERRITORY
The territory of the XWE-NAL-MEWX of Southern Vancouver Island and Lower
West Mainland, includes the territory that bounds the traditional territory of the
MUTHA'LEMEXH, North the YEQW'LWTHTAX Territory, and NL'AKAPAX, down
to Jenatchee, in what now the state of Washington, across to Aberdeen and
250 miles out into the Pacific Ocean.
We, claim all the Islands that lie with the Straits of Georgia and the Straits
of Juan De Fuca: As these are our traditional homes of food gathering, for
cultural and economic needs.
Attached is a map showing ABORIGINAL TERRITORY of Claim for XWE-
NAL-MEWX NATIONS and SUBMITTED WITHOUT PREJUDICE: The Actual
Lines.
Figure 6.3 Text of the Coast Salish declaration drum.