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!

Campbell River protesters call for solidarity with Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs opposed to pipeline

Laich-Kwil-Tach Nation hereditary chief George Quocksister Jr. (left) spoke in Campbell River’s Spirit Square on Sunday in support of hereditary chiefs opposed to the Coastal GasLink Pipeline in northern B.C. Photo by David Gordon Koch/Campbell River Mirror

Demonstration in Spirit Square follows opening of roadblock by Unist’ot’en camp

by David Gordon Koch, Campbell River Mirror, Jan. 14, 2019

Several dozen protesters were in Spirit Square on Sunday afternoon to show solidarity with Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs who oppose Coastal GasLink’s planned natural gas pipeline across northern B.C.

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.”

‘Tripod’ delays access to Unist’ot’en camp; RCMP to maintain presence

RCMP take down “tripod” blocking access past Unist’ot’en camp Jan. 11. (Twitter photo)

by Chris Gareau, Interior News, Jan 11, 2019

Police checkpoints stayed up Friday as a structure blocked RCMP and Coastal GasLink workers’ past the Morice River bridge.

Described by police as a “tripod,” social media rumours that it held cultural significance were quashed by Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs and Unist’ot’en spokesperson Freda Huson, and they confirmed they wished it be removed according to RCMP.

Update from Unist’ot’en Camp

Bus parked on bridge at Unist’ot’en checkpoint, Jan 11, 2019. Photo: Unistoten Camp Facebook page

Unist’ot’en Camp

Breaking: 11AM January 11th:

Police, Coastal Gas Link employees, and a heavy duty tow truck has arrived at the Unist’ot’en bridge and are starting to dismantle the blockade. This is a strategic move that the Hereditary Chiefs have decided. The battle is not lost. Due to the recent deaths of family members, it would have been disrespectful to continue with this action as people need time to grieve their losses. According to Wet’suwet’en culture a bad omen comes to your family if you continue to proceed with normal affairs after a loss. So we grieve our losses. We allow a survey crew in to waste their time surveying for a project that will never happen.

NO PIPELINES WILL BE BUILT ON WET’SUWET’EN TERRITORY.

https://www.facebook.com/unistoten/

Deal reached in northern British Columbia pipeline impasse

Solidarity rally in Ottawa on Jan 8, 2019. Photo: Facebook

by Amy Smart, The Canadian Press, January 10, 2019

SMITHERS, B.C. — Hereditary chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation have reached a deal with the RCMP to allow a natural gas company access across a bridge that had been blocked in their territory.

Following several hours of meetings, Chief Na’Moks told reporters Thursday that the agreement is between the chiefs and the RCMP to ensure the safety of the First Nation’s members after 14 arrests were made on Monday when a court injunction was enforced by police.

PM Trudeau’s PR disaster in Kamloops

Dueling rallies earlier in the day on Jan 9, 2019 outside Thompson River University in Kamloops, BC, as PM Trudeau arrived to address a group of Indigenous band councils and business.

Prime Minister Trudeau’s “town hall” meeting in Kamloops on January 9, 2019, saw him face tough questions about his government’s relations with Indigenous peoples, pipelines, and the recent RCMP assault on the Unist’ot’en camp.