Advertisement

B.C. First Nations groups say RCMP crackdown on anti-pipeline camp imminent

Click to play video: 'David Suzuki attends Vancouver anti-pipeline rally'
David Suzuki attends Vancouver anti-pipeline rally
A rally was held in downtown Vancouver in support of those arrested at the protest camp in northern BC. David Suzuki was in attendance and has these thoughts on the situation – Jan 8, 2019

First Nations groups in B.C.’s northwest say they believe police are preparing to enforce an injunction against an anti-LNG pipeline protest camp south of Houston.

Local residents have reported dozens of RCMP vehicles in the area and that Houston and Smithers motels are hosting large numbers of RCMP officers.

“[On Friday] members of the RCMP’s Aboriginal Police Liaison met with the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs and indicated that specially trained tactical forces will be deployed to forcibly remove Wet’suwet’en people from sovereign Wet’suwet’en territory,” said demonstrators in a statement.
Story continues below advertisement

“The RCMP’s ultimatum, to allow TransCanada access to unceded Wet’suwet’en territory or face police invasion, is an act of war.”

The dispute centres around the TransCanada Coastal GasLink pipeline project, which is intended to convey liquefied natural gas from fracking projects in the Peace Region to the future $40 billion LNG Canada plant in Kitimat.

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

The pipeline route travels through Wet’suwet’en First Nation territory, and the nation’s elected leaders signed a benefits agreement with the province for Coastal GasLink in 2014.

WATCH: LNG Canada confirms investment decision to build export facility

Click to play video: 'LNG Canada confirms investment decision to build export facility'
LNG Canada confirms investment decision to build export facility

However, some Wet’suwet’en oppose the development and have established a years-long camp, known as Unist’ot’en, blockading the Morice River Bridge.

In December, a B.C. Supreme Court judge ruled in favour of Coastal GasLink, granting an injunction against demonstrators occupying the area around the bridge.

Story continues below advertisement

The order has since been expanded to include the Morice West Forest Service Road, where other Wet’suwet’en demonstrators have set up a second checkpoint known as the Gitdumt’en access point.

The protesters assert that the project is infringing Aboriginal title, citing the 1997 Delgamuukw Supreme Court of Canada ruling. The court found that the Wet’suwet’en had not given up title to 22,000 square km of territory, and demonstrators say those rights are represented by their hereditary chiefs.

Its not clear when the police may move.

The RCMP issued a media release Sunday morning affirming its role in enforcing the injunction order, and stating that police had been in dialogue with the camp in recent months about possible enforcement.

“We would like to emphasize that the RCMP respects the Wet’suwet’en culture, the connection to the land and traditions being taught and passed on at the camp, and the importance of the camp to healing,” states the release.

“Should enforcement take place, the RCMP will be prepared to ensure the safety of everyone involved — demonstrators, police officers, area residents, motorists, media and general public.”

Late Sunday, the Union of BC Indian Chiefs issued a media release saying it was “concerned about the safety of Wet’suwet’en land defenders.”

Story continues below advertisement

“We strongly condemn the RCMP’s use of intimidation, harassment, and ongoing threats of forceful intervention and removal of the Wet’suwet’en land defenders,” said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip in a statement.

“The RCMP’s actions are in direct contradiction to both government’s stated commitments to true reconciliation and to full implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples.”

Sponsored content

AdChoices