Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s new round of consultations with First Nation communities over the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project got off to a rocky start Monday.
Outside the hearing in Kamloops organized by Natural Resources Canada (NRC), three members of Tiny House Warriors – an Indigenous anti-pipeline group – were arrested after a noisy demonstration.
APTN News has confirmed Justice Frank Iacobucci chaired the meeting at Thompson Rivers University.
Representatives from Trans Mountain were also at the Phase 3 hearing formed to meet with 117 Indigenous groups impacted by the proposed pipeline expansion project.
“These roundtables are a space for potentially impacted communities with varying views on the project to come together and help shape this process,” said Catherine Leroux of NRC.
“We stand firmly behind the right to peaceful protest. However, actions that could interfere with any groups ability to safely participate in this process raises serious concerns.”
The consultations come after the Federal Court of Appeal said the government failed in its constitutional duty to consult properly with Indigenous groups.
It refused to approve an application from the National Energy Board in October.
A spokesperson said the university was still tallying up damage it says demonstrators caused.
“I checked and we won’t have an estimate for a few days,” said Darshan Lindsay.
Cpl. Jodi Shelkie of Kamloops RCMP believes the call for police came from campus security after demonstrators took up positions outside the meeting room.
“We had been advised that there were eight protestors at Thompson Rivers University,” Shelkie said.
“Five officers from Kamloops RCMP attended the scene.”
Shelkie said three people – a male and two females – were arrested and released Tuesday night and charges were pending.
She said the “protesters” smeared red paint on walls and allegedly assaulted a security guard.
The Tiny House Warriors confirmed three of its members were taken into custody. It posted video of the incident on its Facebook page.
“The land defenders arrested were Mayuk Manuel, Snutetkwe Manuel, and Isha Jules,” the group said in a release.
“Mayuk Manuel and Snutetkwe Manuel are daughters of the late Arthur Manuel, a renowned Secwepemc Indigenous leader on the world stage and a strong advocate for self-determination.”
Spokesperson Kanahus Manuel said her group opposes the “closed-door meetings by federal bands that turn away proper and rightful title holders.
“Just because the government talks to a few bands recognized by Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, that doesn’t amount to meaningful consultation.”
Tiny House Warriors say their mission is to stop the TransMountain Pipeline from crossing Secwepemc nation’s unceded territory.
Their strategy is to place tiny houses along the 518-kilometre route.
Hate to remind you that is what we are facing anyway once the oil runs out and huge profits go into someone’s pockets but by then maybe we can’t grow much anymore anyway since our pollinators will have been decimated. Better to change course now before it’s too late.
Hate to remind you that is what we are facing anyway once the oil runs out and huge profits go into someone’s pockets but by then maybe we can’t grow much anymore anyway since our pollinators will have been decimated. Better to change course now before it’s too late.
The government must obtain consent not simply consult with Indigenous peoples. Most importantly……consent CANNOT be obtained through Band Chiefs and Councils as they are a creation of the Canadian government. The only way to obtain Indigenous consent is through their hereditary governing systems. That means the family head or clan system in most cases. Nothing short of this can possibly meet Canada’s obligation to abide by The Convention on Indigenous Rights. A meeting between a retired S.C. judge and the Band Chiefs and Council’s cannot lead to consent!
The government must obtain consent not simply consult with Indigenous peoples. Most importantly……consent CANNOT be obtained through Band Chiefs and Councils as they are a creation of the Canadian government. The only way to obtain Indigenous consent is through their hereditary governing systems. That means the family head or clan system in most cases. Nothing short of this can possibly meet Canada’s obligation to abide by The Convention on Indigenous Rights. A meeting between a retired S.C. judge and the Band Chiefs and Council’s cannot lead to consent!
Right on.
The government and NEB are risking a repeat next year of the Federal Court of Appeal’s ruling of failure to meaningfully consult First Nations. With luck, the pipeline will be delayed long enough for everyone to realize that there is no longer a market for Canadian bitumen. Canadian taxpayers can write off the $4.5B paid to Kinder-Morgan, and save most of the $9B or so it would cost to complete this boondoggle.
TMPL makes a profit of over $200 million. The debt cost per year is $100 million so the feds are making a profit now on the old pipe. There is a huge market for bitumen in China. The thicker stuff can be used to make asphalt and other byproducts
Right on.
Yeah! Go tiny house warriors, The government And corporations, Forgot what life is worth. They’ve had oil for so long, got too comfortable that they,
Are the problem. It’s reflective on Alberta’s premier r.notley.. forget what they say. Treat them like they treat us,.as unimportant.. I applaud your trenchwork,. Be wise to them doing nasty things for media propaganda while blaming your outfit. They’ve done it before, but now were wiser… so go forth tiny warriors mother earth and our ancestors would be proud.. hi hi.
The government and NEB are risking a repeat next year of the Federal Court of Appeal’s ruling of failure to meaningfully consult First Nations. With luck, the pipeline will be delayed long enough for everyone to realize that there is no longer a market for Canadian bitumen. Canadian taxpayers can write off the $4.5B paid to Kinder-Morgan, and save most of the $9B or so it would cost to complete this boondoggle.
TMPL makes a profit of over $200 million. The debt cost per year is $100 million so the feds are making a profit now on the old pipe. There is a huge market for bitumen in China. The thicker stuff can be used to make asphalt and other byproducts
Yeah! Go tiny house warriors, The government And corporations, Forgot what life is worth. They’ve had oil for so long, got too comfortable that they,
Are the problem. It’s reflective on Alberta’s premier r.notley.. forget what they say. Treat them like they treat us,.as unimportant.. I applaud your trenchwork,. Be wise to them doing nasty things for media propaganda while blaming your outfit. They’ve done it before, but now were wiser… so go forth tiny warriors mother earth and our ancestors would be proud.. hi hi.
Its wonderful Canada has 1st Nations people and non-Aboriginal water defenders working together to expose the corruption of the oil industry and government. Real change always comes from the people. When will our Supreme Court judges listen to Aboriginal leaders, scientists, doctors, mothers and fathers who see the impact of big oil on our planet ?
I do believe we should go green but in the mean time I do not want to live in a tent city without the convenience I have been accustomed to, no air travel, no heat in my house and having to grow and preserve my own food
It’s great to have a reasonable discussion. I share your concerns but I have never been prevented from having any of those things. The goal is a gradual change to cleaner energies. No one wants to starve oil workers. We are behind the rest of the world in changing our ways. Fossil fuels are old technologies.
The Indigenous people who’s land would be affected by the government’s plans for the pipeline should be a part of the meetings and have a big say in the final decisions made – after all, it is their land. The way in which the government is still treating the Indigenous people are going in the complete opposite direction toward reconciliation with them.
Its wonderful Canada has 1st Nations people and non-Aboriginal water defenders working together to expose the corruption of the oil industry and government. Real change always comes from the people. When will our Supreme Court judges listen to Aboriginal leaders, scientists, doctors, mothers and fathers who see the impact of big oil on our planet ?
I do believe we should go green but in the mean time I do not want to live in a tent city without the convenience I have been accustomed to, no air travel, no heat in my house and having to grow and preserve my own food
It’s great to have a reasonable discussion. I share your concerns but I have never been prevented from having any of those things. The goal is a gradual change to cleaner energies. No one wants to starve oil workers. We are behind the rest of the world in changing our ways. Fossil fuels are old technologies.
The Indigenous people who’s land would be affected by the government’s plans for the pipeline should be a part of the meetings and have a big say in the final decisions made – after all, it is their land. The way in which the government is still treating the Indigenous people are going in the complete opposite direction toward reconciliation with them.
Why bother with this charade. The pipeline is going ahead. Get on with it and start building it.
HAHAAH who says? Clearly, it is not, Sounds like you could care less about this Planet and its people. But some do.
How about we spend the 260 billion now cleaning up the tar sands before we build a pipeline that will destroy our coastal waters
Dysfunctional nonsense- our country doesnt work. Stop letting 8 people thwart 38,000,000 peole
Go Tiny House Warriors
Why bother with this charade. The pipeline is going ahead. Get on with it and start building it.
HAHAAH who says? Clearly, it is not, Sounds like you could care less about this Planet and its people. But some do.
How about we spend the 260 billion now cleaning up the tar sands before we build a pipeline that will destroy our coastal waters
Fossil fuel use and colonialism, 2 things that have to be relegated to history. Humans #1 priority should be to switch over to green, renewable energy to save ourselves and the planet by lowering greenhouses gasses. Imbalanced distribution of economic resources that are directly related to colonial policies need to change. Humans can stop killing themselves because of their paranoid, homophobic need for war and greed. Respect and consult with your indigenous brothers and sisters, they are going to save us.
Charge them like you would any other person that damages public property
Good fror Tiny houses warriors.
Upsetvand charged for A little red paint compared to poisoned water suply is pathetic compared to potential loses of life andcland when a spill occurs. Who will the RCMP arrest for the deaths, “murders”
Strength to the peaceful warriors2
Why are you not protesting the dumping of Raw sewage into the Fraser River system by the many cities with inadequate water treatment facilities. You think salmon like to swim in poo….
Dysfunctional nonsense- our country doesnt work. Stop letting 8 people thwart 38,000,000 peole
Go Tiny House Warriors
Fossil fuel use and colonialism, 2 things that have to be relegated to history. Humans #1 priority should be to switch over to green, renewable energy to save ourselves and the planet by lowering greenhouses gasses. Imbalanced distribution of economic resources that are directly related to colonial policies need to change. Humans can stop killing themselves because of their paranoid, homophobic need for war and greed. Respect and consult with your indigenous brothers and sisters, they are going to save us.
Charge them like you would any other person that damages public property
Good fror Tiny houses warriors.
Upsetvand charged for A little red paint compared to poisoned water suply is pathetic compared to potential loses of life andcland when a spill occurs. Who will the RCMP arrest for the deaths, “murders”
Strength to the peaceful warriors2
Why are you not protesting the dumping of Raw sewage into the Fraser River system by the many cities with inadequate water treatment facilities. You think salmon like to swim in poo….