How To Stop An Oil And Gas Pipeline: The Unist’ot’en Camp Resistance

Published on Nov 5, 2014

Over the past four years, the Unist’ot’en clan of the Wet’suwet’en nation have literally built a strategy to keep three proposed oil and gas pipelines from crossing their land. Concerned about the environmental damage a leak could cause on land they’ve never given up, they’ve constructed a protection camp to block pipeline companies. As opposition to the development of Alberta’s tar sands and to fracking projects grows across Canada, with First Nations communities on the front lines, the Unist’ot’en camp is an example of resistance that everyone is watching.

Hundreds of complaints filed against RCMP after Elsipogtog fracking blockade

Some police “impartiality”; Mi’kmaq warriorPaul “Soda Pop” Francis assaulted by RCMP, Dec 2, 2013.

Trina Roache, APTN National News, Oct 16, 2014
The RCMP’s watchdog is looking into hundreds of complaints stemming from protests against fracking in New Brunswick late last year. The Mi’kmaq led the fight was against provincial government sanctioned shale gas exploration by SWN Resources Canada.

Calls to the Commission for Public Complaints against the RCMP started to roll in as far back as July, 2013. And when the RCMP raided a Mi’kmaq Warrior camp on the morning of Oct. 17, it triggered violent clashes with police. By the end of the day, RCMP snipers in camouflage with rifles were hiding in the tall grass, 40 people were arrested and six police cars were set on fire.

RCMP watchdog reviews police handling of shale gas protests

Colonial terrorism: RCMP Tactical Armoured Vehicle lurks in the background behind “Tactical Troop” riot cops, Oct 17, 2013.

Dozens of anti-shale gas protesters were arrested during months of protests in Kent County

CBC News, Posted: Oct 14, 2014

The independent Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP is investigating complaints about police conduct during the shale gas protests in Kent County.

Commission staff members are in New Brunswick as a part of the watchdog agency’s investigation, which was prompted following the violent clashes between the RCMP and anti-shale gas protesters in eastern New Brunswick last year.

The Anti-Terrorist Law vs. the Autonomist Mapuche Movement; Contributions to the Debate by Hector Llaitul

Chilean riot cops raid Mapuche community.

from Women’s Coordinating Committee for a Free Wallmapu, August 7, 2014

Neoliberal governments, like their economies, need certain commodities in the course of their development with the ends to consolidate, improve and deepen their dynamics, which may not necessarily be easy for the elites. This is why they build stories that empathize with people’s needs, with its deep and heartfelt demands, fill solutions in the framework of populism, but under no circumstances promote participatory processes where the model is questioned and new cultural and economic practices are generated.

Shale gas protesters sentenced to 15 months for violent clash with RCMP

Aaron Francis (right) and Germain Junior Breau (left).

Germain Junior Breau and Aaron Francis convicted of several charges tied to protest near Rexton, N.B

CBC News,  July 29, 2014

Two anti-shale gas protesters have been sentenced to 15 months in jail in connection to a violent clash with police near Rexton, N.B., last fall.

Germain Junior Breau, 21, of Upper Rexton, N.B., and Aaron Francis, 20, of Eskasoni, N.S., were sentenced in Moncton provincial court on Tuesday on several charges.

Judge R. Leslie Jackson gave Breau 423 days of credit for the 282 days he has already spent in custody. That means he has about a month left to serve in his sentence.

Elsipogtog: No Fracking Way!

Video by Devil Dog Productions, Posted to Youtube July 7, 2014

October 2013 the Royal Canadian Mounted Police descended on a peaceful anti-fracking protest led by the Mi’kmaq of Elsipogtog and their allies. In this film the voices of some of the people involved in the anti-fracking movement talk about what happened and why they took the stand against hydraulic fracturing and how the heavy handed police response has affected their people.

Mi’kmaq Warriors Call For Support

by bayareaintifada, July 7, 2014

Aaron Francis (right) and Germain Junior Breau (left).

From Suzanne Patles

Our Mikmaq warriors are requesting the assistance of the people for help. They are requiring some assistance with their canteen funds. Germain junior Breau and Aaron Francis, members of the Mikmaq Warrior Society have been incarcerated and held as political prisoners of war since the raid of their encampment in Un-ceded and un-surrendered Mikmaq territory on October 17th, 2013. They are currently the only two political prisoners of war in so-called Canada.

Mi’kmaq warriors found guilty of weapons charges

Aaron Francis (right) and Germain Junior Breau (left).

Germain Junior Breau of N.B., and Aaron Francis of N.S., were facing combined 17 charges

CBC News,  June 26, 2014

Two anti-shale gas protesters charged in connection with a violent clash with police near Rexton last fall have been found guilty of some of the charges against them, and not guilty others.

Germain Junior Breau of Upper Rexton, N.B., and Aaron Francis of Eskasoni, N.S., were tried together on numerous firearm and assault-related charges.

Conflicting messages about conflict: the “battle” against Enbridge

by Zig Zag, Warrior Publications, June 22, 2014

With the federal government’s approval of the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline on June 17, 2014, there arose a chorus of angry disapproval from many people in BC. Some talked about waging a “war against Enbridge,” while others proclaimed the beginning of the “battle.” Predictably, the political parties opposed to the Conservative government promised to put a stop to Enbridge, if elected. Those who have worked to oppose Enbridge over the past 5 years renewed their pledges to carry out court cases, referendums, voting campaigns, as well as civil disobedience.

In fact, the “Hold the Wall” campaign initiated by the Yinka Dene Alliance claims that over 22,000 people have pledged to do just that, “using all lawful means.” But what if a court decides its unlawful to “hold the wall”? Those with perhaps the most realistic grasp of the situation have renewed their calls for direct action, if and when necessary, to physically stop the construction of the pipelines.

Clearly there are mixed messages being transmitted.

Osprey nest cuts power, delays verdict of Mi’kmaq warriors

Germaine Junior Breau (left) and Aaron Francis (right).

Verdict postponed because of a power outage that affected government computers

CBC News,  June 19, 2014

Two anti-shale gas protesters will have to wait until next week for a verdict, all because of an osprey nest.  Germain Junior Breau of Upper Rexton, N.B., and Aaron Francis of Eskasoni, N.S., are being tried together on a number of charges related to a clash between police and protesters on October 17, 2013.

The verdict that was supposed to be handed down by the judge on Thursday was postponed because of a power outage that occurred June 9 in Fredericton. Three days earlier, an osprey built a nest on the power lines, which caused power problems for days.