ELSIPOGTOG FIRST NATION, N.B. – The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations says the federal government must work with all bands to ensure treaties are implemented in the aftermath of violent clashes last week at a protest in eastern New Brunswick.
Shawn Atleo met Thursday with the council of the Elsipogtog First Nation near Rexton where there is an ongoing protest against shale gas exploration.
Atleo says he supports the people of Elsipogtog as they assert their treaty rights and responsibilities over lands and waters.
He says First Nations are not against resource development, but they won’t agree to development at any cost and governments must ensure their rights are protected.
Some members of Elsipogtog were arrested a week ago when the RCMP enforced a court-ordered injunction at the site of a protest outside a compound where SWN Resources stored exploration equipment and vehicles.
Police said they seized guns and improvised explosive devices when they enforced the injunction to end the blockade of the compound.
Six police vehicles were burned and police responded with pepper-spray and fired non-lethal beanbag-type bullets to defuse the situation.
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