Harper visits Blood rez; women forcibly removed for “Tweeting”

On February 7, 2014, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper made a surprise visit to the Blood reservation’s Kainai High School in Standoff, near Calgary, Alberta, where he announced a “historic” agreement with the Assembly of First Nations on a revised First Nations Education Act.  But not before at least two Native women were forcibly removed by police, at least one for allegedly “Tweeting.”

Are Police Ready for a Fierce Northern Gateway Battle?

Members of the Vancouver police Public Safety Unit guard the site of the Enbridge hearings in Vancouver, Jan 14, 2013.

Activists say direct action to stop the project remains a last resort, but BC’s north wonders: is the RCMP prepared?

By Andrew MacLeod, Jan 24, 2014, TheTyee.ca

There are worries in northern British Columbia that aside from the environmental risks, approval of Enbridge Inc.’s Northern Gateway pipeline proposal and the resulting protests could seriously disrupt the economy in communities along the proposed route.

Mi’kmaq Warriors begin West Coast tour in Vancouver

by Travis Lupick, The Georgia Straight, Jan 21, 2014

First Nations protesters who took part in last fall’s anti-fracking protests in Elsipogtog, New Brunswick, are leading a speaking tour through British Columbia and the Yukon.

Suzanne Patles and other member of the Mi’kmaq Warriors Society are scheduled to arrive in Vancouver on January 24 for the first of seven stops through the west.

Jailed Mi’kmaq Warriors Denied Access To Spiritual Practises

Reclaim Turtle Island, January 20, 2014

CALL TO SUPPORT AND END TARGETING OF LAND DEFENDERS

The colonial state strikes again. State repression against and the targeting of Mi’kmaq Warriors has escalated. The state is now denying 2 Mi’kmaq Warriors, Aaron Francis and Germain Jr Breau, access to spiritual practices. Aaron and Jr have been held in Kanadian custody without trial since the raid on Oct. 17^th – just over 3 months.

First Nations activist Ambrose Williams says Canada is “police state”

by Carlito Pablo, The Georgia Straight, Jan 10, 2014

Ambrose Williams has experienced firsthand the active surveillance of activists by the police and security establishment.

A 25-year-old Vancouver man of Gitxsan and Dene ancestry, Ambrose was interviewed in this week’s cover story by the Georgia Straight about the opposition faced by planned oil and gas pipelines in B.C.

Ottawa prepared for nation-wide protests following RCMP Elsipogtog raid: documents

RCMP vehicles burn following Oct 17, 2013 raid on anti-fracking blockade near Rexton, New Brunswick.

By Jorge Barrera, APTN National News, Jan 8, 2014
The federal government prepared for the potential of a nation-wide flare up of protests triggered by heavily-armed raid last October by RCMP tactical units on a Mi’kmaq-led anti-fracking camp in New Brunswick, internal government records show.

NB: Third shale gas protester arrested in confrontation with media

34-year-old woman to appear in court next month in connection with Oct. 19 incident in Rexton

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

CBC News, Jan 09, 2014

A third person has been arrested in connection with a confrontation with media at an anti-shale gas protest near Rexton last fall, say RCMP.

A 34-year-old woman from Elsipogtog First Nation was arrested on Wednesday and released on conditions, Staff Sgt. Jeff Johnston stated in a release.

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.

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.