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/

Indigenous convoys slow Ontario highway traffic in solidarity with B.C. pipeline protest

An Indigenous protest convoy drives westbound on Highway 401 near Kingston, Ont. (The Canadian Press)

‘We’re standing strong with our brothers and sisters out west,’ said 1 participant

CBC News, Jan 11, 2019

Two convoys of vehicles slowed traffic on stretches of Canada’s busiest highway Friday morning in Ontario in a show of solidarity with an anti-pipeline protest in British Columbia.

One rolled westbound from the eastern part of the province, while the other began in southwestern Ontario and headed east. Both left before dawn and disrupted traffic during the morning rush hour.

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.

THIS IS NOT OVER

Art by Gord Hill, Kwakwaka’wakw

Statement from Unist’ot’en Camp, Jan. 9, 2019

The Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs have by absolutely no means agreed to let the Coastal GasLink pipeline tear through our traditional territories.

On January 7th at the Gidumt’en access point, the RCMP used excessive and brutal force. We expected a large response, we did not expect a military level invasion where our unarmed women and elders were faced with automatic weapons and bulldozers.

RCMP, Wet’suwet’en reach tentative deal to let gas company workers through

Agreement would give pipeline workers access to area by Thursday afternoon

by Chantelle Bellrichard, CBC News,  Jan 9, 2019

A tentative agreement has been reached to allow workers for a natural gas pipeline company to access to an area in northern B..C. that had been the focal point of a First Nation protest.

The hereditary leadership of the Wet’suwet’en Nation spelled out some of the details of the tentative deal in a Facebook livestream on Wednesday from the healing centre of the Unist’ot’en camp.

RCMP arrive at Unist’ot’en camp with hereditary chiefs

Members of the RCMP Division Liaison Team arrive at Unist’ot’en checkpoint. Photo: Jesse Winter/StarMetro Vancouver.

By Perrin Grauer, Alex McKeen, Jesse Winter, StarMetro Vancouver, Jan. 9, 2019

UNIST’OT’EN CAMP— The RCMP and hereditary chiefs, with media in tow, arrived at the Unist’ot’en camp about 65 kilometres outside of Houston, B.C. in a bid to peacefully shut down the days-old standoff with members of the Wet’suwet’en nation.

RCMP roadblock lifted, allowing supporters and media access to Unist’ot’en anti-pipeline camp

Supporters of the Unist’ot’en camp wait by the RCMP exclusion zone on a forest service road. (Chantelle Bellrichard/CBC)

Hereditary chiefs expected to give update on talks with RCMP when media reach camp

CBC News, Jan 9, 2019

RCMP have opened their roadblock on a remote forest road in northern B.C., allowing access to a camp that has been the focal point of a First Nations protest against a natural gas pipeline.

After day and a half of talks, Wet’suwet’en Nation hereditary chiefs reached an agreement with the RCMP that includes opening the area that had been off limits to supporters and the media since Monday, before police entered a fortified checkpoint at the Gidimt’en camp and arrested 14 people.

Unist’ot’en camp awaits RCMP raid; Solidarity actions continue

Port of Vancouver blocked on Jan 9, 2019. Photo: Facebook

As the Unist’ot’en awaits the RCMP raid on their checkpoint, solidarity actions and rallies are continuing across the country. In Vancouver, BC, a vital route to the Port of Vancouver has been blockaded while in Montreal five people were arrested after blocking traffic on the Jacques-Cartier Bridge, an important route into the city.

Talks underway between Unist’ot’en camp and RCMP to reach ‘a peaceful solution’ says hereditary chief

Hereditary chiefs of Wet’suwet’en Nation in northern B.C. Photo: Kathleen Martens/APTN

by Simon Charland & Kathleen Martens, APTN National News, Jan 8, 2019

An RCMP operation to enforce a court injunction over a pipeline dispute in northern B.C. has come to an end for now without further arrests, APTN News has learned.

Hereditary Chief Na’Moks of the Wet’suwet’en Nation confirmed Tuesday night talks were underway to reach “a peaceful solution” after Monday’s raid at a checkpoint 20 km down the road from the camp.

Video: Worldwide Solidarity with Wet’suwet’en