Wet’suwet’en hereditary leaders, supporters call for stop work order on Coastal GasLink pipeline

Pre-construction work on the Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline is underway along the Morice Forest Service Road near Smithers in northern B.C. (Chantelle Bellrichard/CBC)

Pre-construction work underway in territory past Unist’ot’en camp

by Chantelle Bellrichard, CBC News, Feb 03, 2019

Driving along the forest service road outside Houston, B.C. voices come in and out over the radio channels as people co-ordinate with one another at a worksite for the Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline.

45 #NoDAPL Cases Dismissed; Warrants Quashed Upon Review Ordered by Judiciary

Masked warriors on top of destruction machinery at Dakota Access Pipeline construction, North Dakota. Photo: West Coast Women Warriors Media Cooperative.

North Dakota prosecutors abandon dozens of cases due to no “good faith belief that the underlying charges can be proven.”

 

By Water Protector Legal Collective, January 31, 2019

On December 7, 2018, Water Protector Legal Collective received an early winter solstice gift that we have had to keep confidential until now. On behalf of the judiciary in the South Central Judicial District, North Dakota, Judge Gail Hagerty ordered the State’s Attorney’s office to review, within 30 days, all NoDAPL cases attached to 84 inactive warrants. Judge Hagerty wrote:

Wet’suwet’en complaints about pipeline builder to be probed by government, police

President of Coastal GasLink pipeline Rick Gateman leaves the Office of the Wet’suwet’en after meeting with RCMP members and hereditary chiefs in Smithers, B.C., on Jan. 10. (Chad Hipolito/Canadian Press)

Wet’suwet’en say traplines and tents destroyed, archeological impact assessment not yet done

The Canadian Press, Jan 29, 2019

The British Columbia government says it will inspect the site of a planned natural gas pipeline southwest of Houston following allegations that the company building the project is violating its permits.

Coastal GasLink stops work on pipeline in northern B.C. due to trappers accessing animal traps

RCMP officers look on as contractors pass through their roadblock as supporters of the Unist’ot’en camp and Wet’suwet’en First Nation gather at a camp fire off a logging road near Houston, B.C., on Jan. 9. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)

Company blames shutdown on hunters accessing animal traps within work boundaries

The Canadian Press, Jan 25, 2019

Coastal GasLink has stopped work on a pipeline project in northwestern B.C. where 14 people were arrested earlier this month.

In a notice posted on its website Thursday, the company says it halted work in an area south of Houston, B.C., because traps had been placed inside construction boundaries and people were entering the site, raising safety concerns.

Indigenous ownership won’t solve problems with Trans Mountain pipeline, says Squamish Nation councillor

Proposal to buy pipeline being discussed by Indigenous leaders

CBC Radio, Jan 17, 2019

More than 100 First Nations are considering a plan to buy the Trans Mountain pipeline, but not all Indigenous leaders affected by the expansion are convinced.

“For us, it doesn’t change anything, who owns it,” said Khelsilem, a Squamish Nation councillor.

B.C. chiefs show solidarity with Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs

Unist’ot’en camp founder and spokesperson Freda Huson at a gathering of Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs and supportive chiefs from around B.C. outside of the Coastal GasLink pipeline route. Over 200 were in the Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre in Smithers to hear speeches ahead of a march. (Chris Gareau photo)

Chiefs from around B.C. outside the Coastal GasLink pipeline route in Smithers show support.

by Chris Gareau, Interior News, Jan. 16, 2019

Chiefs from the B.C. coast, Interior and Northwest converged in Smithers to show support for the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs’ opposition to the Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline.

Protesters block Nova Scotia’s Hwy 102 in support of B.C. anti-pipeline protests

By Rebecca Lau, Global News, Jan 15, 2019

Supporters in Nova Scotia blocked a portion of Highway 102 on Tuesday morning to demonstrate solidarity with anti-pipeline protests in British Columbia.

Protesters say they were holding a peaceful protest, which took place near Exit 10 at Shubenacadie, N.S.

Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers office occupied in Ottawa in solidarity with Wet’suwet’en

Indigenous People’s Solidarity Movement, Jan 15, 2019

Activists occupied the 9th floor hallway and office of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) at 275 Slater Street in Ottawa and effectively shut them down for the afternoon!

Protesters occupy TransCanada facility in support of B.C. anti-pipeline camps

Comrades in Hamilton, Ont., occupy a TransCanada facility for several hours on Jan 14, 2019.

The protest lasted about 6 hours on Monday.

CBC News, Jan. 14, 2019

A group of protesters occupied a TransCanada pipeline facility in Hamilton for several hours Monday in a show of solidarity with Wet’suwet’en anti-pipeline camps in British Columbia.

The group says it was showing support after 14 people were arrested at a checkpoint outside Smithers B.C. last week, where people opposed to a pipeline project had been restricting access to their traditional territory.

This pipeline is challenging Indigenous law and Western law. Who really owns the land?

First Nations leaders meet with RCMP at the Unist’ot’en camp near Houston, B.C., on Jan. 9, 2019. Photo: Jimmy Jeong/The Globe and Mail

Pipeline owners say they have consent, but Wet’suwet’en leaders are divided

by Justine Hunter, Brent Jang, Wendy Stueck, and Shawn McCarthy, Globe and Mail, January 12, 2019

With members of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation blockading a pipeline project on their traditional lands, Na’moks was standing by a crackling campfire, next to an RCMP checkpoint, drawing in the snow with his right boot.

The hereditary chief of the Tsayu clan made a small circle to represent the authority of elected band councils within reserves. Outside that circle, he explained, is where Wet’suwet’en clans wield power over a vast territory.

“We are hereditary chiefs,” he said, “and we have control of this land.”