Activists plot how to block new pipelines in B.C.

by Carlito Pablo, The Georgia Straight, Jan 8, 2014

Solidarity with Mi’kmaq banners at Unist’ot’en camp, Dec 2, 2013.

At night, around campfires under a New Brunswick sky, Ambrose Williams thought about imminent battles back home.   Last November, the young Vancouver man and nine others travelled more than 5,000 kilometres east to the town of Rexton.  Their mission was to reinforce the Mi’kmaq of the Elsipogtog First Nation who had clashed the month before with the RCMP. The confrontation happened on October 17, 2013, when heavily armed police dismantled a highway blockade by Natives opposing a gas-exploration project.

Rexton, NB, shale gas protester charged for threatening media

Charges stem from confrontation last fall at fracking protest site

CBC News, Jan 07, 2014

One of the confrontations with corporate media on Oct 19, 2013, in Rexton, NB.

A man from the Elsipogtog First Nation has been charged after a confrontation last fall at the site of fracking protests on Highway 134 near Rexton.

The man is charged with mischief, intimidation and uttering threats in connection with a confrontation with media.

SWN Resources plans to drill exploratory wells in N.B.

Provincial government should consult First Nations people first, says former leader

CBC News, Jan 03, 2014

RCMP surround “thumper” seismic testing vehicles contracted by SWN Resources, Nov 14, 2013.

SWN Resources Canada plans to drill two exploratory wells in New Brunswick, according to the company’s website.

The site does not indicate where or when the drilling will be, but the wells are intended to help the company better understand the data gathered in the early phases of shale gas exploration.

RCMP arrest Mi’kmaq woman for confiscating media trucks, equipment

One of the confrontations with corporate media on Oct 19, 2013, in Rexton, NB.

Westcoast Native News, December 24th, 2013

New Brunswick RCMP arrested a 36-year-old woman on December 20, 2013 in connection with an ongoing investigation into complaints from television reporters and technical staff.

Mi’kmaq warrior “guilty” of assaulting cop

Coady Stevens of Eskasoni, N.S., released after two months in jail

Mi’kmaq warrior Coady Stevens (with raised fist).

CBC/The Canadian Press, Dec 20, 2013

A 27-year-old Nova Scotia man has pleaded guilty to five charges stemming from a shale gas protest in Rexton, N.B., that erupted into violence.

Jailed Mi’kmaq warrior now faces 19 charges

Germain Breau originally charged with 4 offences related to Oct. 17 demonstration

CBC News, Dec 19, 2013

A 21-year-old New Brunswick man now faces 19 criminal charges in connection with his actions during an anti-shale gas protest clash with RCMP on Oct. 17 in Kent County.

Germain Breau has been in custody since that date when he was arrested by RCMP on Route 134 near Rexton.

Mi’kmaq warrior James Pictou sentenced, released from jail

James Pictou on his release from jail Dec 17, imprisoned since Oct 17, 2013.

by Warrior Publications, Dec 17, 2013

James Pictou, one of the Mi’kmaq warriors arrested during the October 17, 2013, assault by RCMP against anti-fracking blockade in Mi’kmaq territory (in New Brunswick) has been sentenced and released from jail.

Pictou was charged with Threats to officer, Mischief, Not keeping the peace, Obstruction At large, Assault with bear spray, and Uttering threat to a police dog.  On Dec 17 he plead guilty to all charges.  His sentence includes 2 years probation, 9 months house arrest (3 months house arrest, 6 months curfew from 9pm – 7am), he is prohibited from entering Kent County (the site of the anti-fracking blockade), and must pay $4,500.  

Arrests continue against Mi’kmaq defenders

A “selfie” Malcolm Ward took while in the back of a police car after this arrest on Dec 11, 2013.

On December 11, 2013, many days after SWN Resources Canada had withdrawn from its attempts to conduct seismic testing, Mi’kmaq Malcolm Ward was arrested at his home in Metepenagiag First Nation.  The RCMP claim he had violated the conditions of his release from a previous arrest by being too close to SWN vehicles during a subsequent protest.

Elsipogtog anti-fracking struggle: Where to go from here?

Some suggestions from a warrior presently in Elsipogtog.

By Ambrose Williams, Dec 7, 2013
Elsipogtog has been in battle for over 7 months.  SWN has left Kent County and the nation has been left to pick up the pieces. After driving down various roads, including Highway 11, 134, Lafiouk, and Lakewood encampments, you can see the remnants of battlegrounds long past. “SWN GO HOME , NO SHALE GAS” signs remain scattered about the highways.

Video: Elsipogtog: The Fire Over Water

A report from Al Jazeera’s Faultlines show, Dec 6, 2013