Unist'ot'en Camp gate Dec 18, 2018. Photo: Laurie Hamelin/APTN
The RCMP are setting up exclusion zones and closed roads to the public and media as officers get set to dismantle two camps on unceded Wet’suwet’en territory.
“During the police enforcement operation, temporary exclusion zones and road closures will be established for police and public safety reasons,” said the news release sent out Monday morning that confirmed the RCMP will enforce a court order requested by a pipeline company trying to build a pipeline through Wet’suwet’en territory.
“Those areas will be clearly marked and media/public are welcome to stand at the perimeter, but no one will be allowed to enter the exclusion zones. These zones will only be maintained as long as necessary.”
See full statement here: What to expect during the police enforcement of court ordered injunction in Houston, BC
The raids have been highly anticipated after a B.C. judge granted an interim injunction in December against two check points leading to the construction site for the LNG Coastal GasLink pipeline.
The Unist’ot’en camp closed access to its site across the Morice River in 2010.
Since then, workers for Coastal GasLink, a subsidiary of TransCanada Corp., have been refused access to the construction site the company claims is a kilometre from the Unist’ot’en camp, where a number of buildings sit.
After the court injunction was granted, members of the Gidmit’en clan set up a check point and camp on the same access road but in their portion of the Wet’suwet’en territory.
The injunction was then amended to include that area, about 20 kilometres away from the Unist’ot’en camp.
It’s not clear how many RCMP officers are involved in the raids but some reports on social media claim 30 police vehicles are involved.
“The local residents and the motoring public may be inconvenienced during the injunction enforcement period as pedestrians and vehicles will not be allowed to enter any temporary exclusion zones,” said the RCMP release.
“We will have officers stationed at publicly accessible roads within the exclusion zones who can assist with any concerns or issues from the motoring public so please do not hesitate to approach any of them and seek assistance with alternate routes.”
The Gidmit’en Clan, whose members are at the second check point, have called any RCMP raid an “act of war.”
The elected chiefs and councils of the five Wet’suwet’en bands have approved the pipeline.
More to come.
What side is your bread butttered
What side is your bread butttered
Thank you for the explanation.
After hundreds of years Big Corp and Big Gov still don’t get sustainability, nor honesty, nor compromise right.
The “exclusion” of witnesses and press is a colonial tactic practiced by Israel and Us occupiers when they want to control the narrative or commit crimes unrecorded. Good luck and thank you to the Hereditary chiefs that have resisted being bought off versus protecting their future generations.
Thank you for the explanation.
After hundreds of years Big Corp and Big Gov still don’t get sustainability, nor honesty, nor compromise right.
The “exclusion” of witnesses and press is a colonial tactic practiced by Israel and Us occupiers when they want to control the narrative or commit crimes unrecorded. Good luck and thank you to the Hereditary chiefs that have resisted being bought off versus protecting their future generations.
WOW!!!!, nice job of vetting who posts content,. This site is nothing but propaganda.
To all if you brave warriors and warrioresses We hold this prayer for your safty and fir divine a swift but gentle solution and outcome that the world can see your plight and join this wave against Corporate militarized oil companies seeking to destroy habitats HUMAN NEEDS OVER CORPORATE GREED
Why did the elected chiefs and councils of all involved first nations approve this project if it goes against the will of the people? My elected officials do things I disagree with all the time, it doesn’t mean I’m in the right to go and physically block city workers who are trying to do their job. Where is the outrage against the elected officials who approved this?
WOW!!!!, nice job of vetting who posts content,. This site is nothing but propaganda.
To all if you brave warriors and warrioresses We hold this prayer for your safty and fir divine a swift but gentle solution and outcome that the world can see your plight and join this wave against Corporate militarized oil companies seeking to destroy habitats HUMAN NEEDS OVER CORPORATE GREED
Why did the elected chiefs and councils of all involved first nations approve this project if it goes against the will of the people? My elected officials do things I disagree with all the time, it doesn’t mean I’m in the right to go and physically block city workers who are trying to do their job. Where is the outrage against the elected officials who approved this?
This effectively reduces the RCMP to corporate goon status. Since the RCMP are under the Prime Minister and we know corporations and the ultra rich captains grea$e wheels and get to pull the levers of power to their liking. How many other times in Canadian history has this happened? Campaign finance is a burning issue in the USA. It’s way overdue here too — its time has come
But it says “The elected chiefs and councils of the five Wet’suwet’en bands have approved the pipeline” Is this not correct? And if it is, what am I missing?
Band Council Chiefs are often seen as illegitimate in Indigenous Communities. Very few people vote in the elections, as it is an imposed system by the Canadian federal government. Band Council Chiefs are often viewed as an extension of the federal and provincial government. Traditional or Hereditary Chiefs are usually more respected within communities and do more for their people. Band Councils and Corporations frequently create divides within communities, because people can be drawn to money.
This explains a lot. Thank you.
This reduces the RCMP to “corporate goon” status, since they’re under the Prime Minister and corporations grea$e political wheels. As campaign finance is an issue in the US, it’s certainly a problem here too needing to be raised and dealt with as an issue. Anything so overdue, its time has come!
Please look at the Official government web site, and look under Services of Canada and look at the Constitution of Canada, in it you will find that we can PEACEFULLY GATHER and other information.
Further down you will also find Treaties, in it you will find the various times that Treaties signed. Within this it explains how the area of BC has not been signed up until recently.
We are a Sovereign nation within a country.
I have thrown my stone in the water, I will continue to throw stones in the water to get out to the masses. I will throw my seed in their minds in hopes that hearts grow…..
And finally: this little bit of land was given to us of what’s left of this whole land by the government, in fact forced there. So after all these years they want it back when they didn’t want it in the first place……
I hear you…I won’t forget what they (we) are doing to them (ourselves)…it’s really unfair for any person to be displaced and then made a refugee on their own land in order to “move humanity forward”. Really? Is this the best humanity can do, build more pipelines, or create more nuclear plants? Hell no. Work with the land, build solar, build wind, adaptation doesn’t mean choosing the cheapest, easiest solutions, if we can’t evolve without destroying our home then we are stagnating and don’t deserve to be called the top predator.
The only solace is that this is all just temporary anyways…Earth will be hit in the future from outer space, and the devastation from the impact will hopefully wipe the human greed from the world permanently, and unfortunately, all the human good along with it. Let’s all try to help each other live as peacefully and as healthily as possible until that time comes. Please do our best to take care of one another.
In the meantime, hopefully these people who are having their way of living destroyed are being compensated somehow for the oil spills in the future which will render the land unfit for any human’s and animal’s consumption. The Earth will recover eventually, but only those who have the means can recover without much effort, these people who are being robbed of their livelihood deserve better than this.
Already typed a comment …what ….You did not like it You have no business on land that is not yours ,,,,….
Pipelines are unsafe both to the land they cross as well as the water ….and air ….These people do not own the resources that serve all and should have no legal right to ante them up for their own Wealth …….there will be accidents and whether they are structural or human error …. the resulting damage will be the same ….. Accidents happen everyday …..Existing Pipelines worm their way throughout ….leaks quietly occur ;;;; There is no place for outdated energy sources ….Get on board and invest in clean sources ….The World is watching ….STOP
Exclusion Zone? Whose government brainchild is this? Which government official or policy authorized the RCMP to prohibit the media from observing police activities? Since when is a Canadian police force (even if a para-military one) allowed to hide from the Fourth Estate when on the job?
Safety? give me a break. Canadian reporters are professionals and are regularly sent into real war zones and real danger all over the world.
Agreed wholeheartedly! The Media must be allowed to report the truths they witness! The exclusion of media is setting a VERY Dangerous situation for all involved and should be illegal If it is not already!
Not just all involved. All Canadians.
I’m sickened and ashamed of our government. They do not represent me or the future of our country.
Im with the Hereditary Chiefs.
This effectively reduces the RCMP to corporate goon status. Since the RCMP are under the Prime Minister and we know corporations and the ultra rich captains grea$e wheels and get to pull the levers of power to their liking. How many other times in Canadian history has this happened? Campaign finance is a burning issue in the USA. It’s way overdue here too — its time has come
But it says “The elected chiefs and councils of the five Wet’suwet’en bands have approved the pipeline” Is this not correct? And if it is, what am I missing?
Band Council Chiefs are often seen as illegitimate in Indigenous Communities. Very few people vote in the elections, as it is an imposed system by the Canadian federal government. Band Council Chiefs are often viewed as an extension of the federal and provincial government. Traditional or Hereditary Chiefs are usually more respected within communities and do more for their people. Band Councils and Corporations frequently create divides within communities, because people can be drawn to money.
This explains a lot. Thank you.
This reduces the RCMP to “corporate goon” status, since they’re under the Prime Minister and corporations grea$e political wheels. As campaign finance is an issue in the US, it’s certainly a problem here too needing to be raised and dealt with as an issue. Anything so overdue, its time has come!
It is completely misleading to only include the sentence that elective chiefs support the pipeline without providing the context that elected chiefs and councils only have authority over reservation lands. The hereditary Chiefs are the ones who are responsible for the traditional territory – which remains unceeded lands.
It’s like saying the Premier of Sacatchewan supports a new bridge in Vancouver, BC. Shame on you.
Thank you for this Helena! You read my mind.
I also found that final sentence very vague and confusing.
thank you for this explanation. I found that one sentence very confusing, having seen a post with the image of hereditary Chiefs and recall it claiming they say NO. Other countries are attaining clean, renewable energy. I am so grateful to the Chiefs for saying NO in effort to help Canada turn away from outdated and dangerous sources of energy.
Do not exclude the important information that the 5 hereditary chiefs have refused the proposed pipelines on numerous occasions. The 1997 Supreme Court ruling gave control of the 22,000 km2 of land to the hereditary chiefs, and the wishes of the elected chief and council do not apply.
In accordance to The Crown Law,What ever is decided, by the said Chief,The Council,does not mean the entirety of the said membership,only they,the said chief,councial,where indian title exsist,so does crown title,they go hand in hand,accordance to,pursant to.This is Federal,The Crown law,any judge presiding,is breaking the Law,Lex,as determined by the aforementioned distinct said tribal indian.
Please look at the Official government web site, and look under Services of Canada and look at the Constitution of Canada, in it you will find that we can PEACEFULLY GATHER and other information.
Further down you will also find Treaties, in it you will find the various times that Treaties signed. Within this it explains how the area of BC has not been signed up until recently.
We are a Sovereign nation within a country.
I have thrown my stone in the water, I will continue to throw stones in the water to get out to the masses. I will throw my seed in their minds in hopes that hearts grow…..
And finally: this little bit of land was given to us of what’s left of this whole land by the government, in fact forced there. So after all these years they want it back when they didn’t want it in the first place……
I hear you…I won’t forget what they (we) are doing to them (ourselves)…it’s really unfair for any person to be displaced and then made a refugee on their own land in order to “move humanity forward”. Really? Is this the best humanity can do, build more pipelines, or create more nuclear plants? Hell no. Work with the land, build solar, build wind, adaptation doesn’t mean choosing the cheapest, easiest solutions, if we can’t evolve without destroying our home then we are stagnating and don’t deserve to be called the top predator.
The only solace is that this is all just temporary anyways…Earth will be hit in the future from outer space, and the devastation from the impact will hopefully wipe the human greed from the world permanently, and unfortunately, all the human good along with it. Let’s all try to help each other live as peacefully and as healthily as possible until that time comes. Please do our best to take care of one another.
In the meantime, hopefully these people who are having their way of living destroyed are being compensated somehow for the oil spills in the future which will render the land unfit for any human’s and animal’s consumption. The Earth will recover eventually, but only those who have the means can recover without much effort, these people who are being robbed of their livelihood deserve better than this.
“There are reports that RCMP have breached the checkpoint at Gidumt’en. Wet’suwet’en Access Point on Gidumt’en Territory. The RCMP are armed and moving in. Also reports of military present. Allegedly Gidumt’en cell service and communication has been jammed and cut off by police.
I don’t know if they were military or “militarized” RCMP. We counted over 30 police vehicles and two semi flatbeds with big earth moving machines on them. The paddy wagons came down the road with between 9 and 14 people arrested. Gidimt’en camp is now deserted except for 2 or 3 people who chained themselves to a bus and another person hanging under the bridge. These people have warm gear on. Police will be back tomorrow to attack the Unist’ot’en check point and then their camp. Nathan Cullen came to the site today and was denied access. Hereditary chiefs were “allowed” in but only one chief per clan and they were given until noon to go in. We will see what tomorrow brings. It’s a remote area. No cell service at the police roadblock where supporters gathered today, who will go back tomorrow.
Already typed a comment …what ….You did not like it You have no business on land that is not yours ,,,,….
Pipelines are unsafe both to the land they cross as well as the water ….and air ….These people do not own the resources that serve all and should have no legal right to ante them up for their own Wealth …….there will be accidents and whether they are structural or human error …. the resulting damage will be the same ….. Accidents happen everyday …..Existing Pipelines worm their way throughout ….leaks quietly occur ;;;; There is no place for outdated energy sources ….Get on board and invest in clean sources ….The World is watching ….STOP
Exclusion Zone? Whose government brainchild is this? Which government official or policy authorized the RCMP to prohibit the media from observing police activities? Since when is a Canadian police force (even if a para-military one) allowed to hide from the Fourth Estate when on the job?
Safety? give me a break. Canadian reporters are professionals and are regularly sent into real war zones and real danger all over the world.
Agreed wholeheartedly! The Media must be allowed to report the truths they witness! The exclusion of media is setting a VERY Dangerous situation for all involved and should be illegal If it is not already!
Not just all involved. All Canadians.
“an act of war”? – good luck and BTW apologies in advance
Let’s get this thing started
I hope The RCMP have reviewed Oka, Ipperwash and Gustafson Lake BC and realize Tomorrow is Another Fay.
As long as The RCMP have reviewed Oka, Ipperwash and Gustafson Lake BC everything should be Ok.
I’m sickened and ashamed of our government. They do not represent me or the future of our country.
Im with the Hereditary Chiefs.
We have already paid $6B to LNG Canada (which is made up of multi-national corporations outside of Canada) to entice the LNG industry to pollute our waters in order to send this LNG to Asia (using hydro from the Site C Dam) which is costing us $15B. Is this where our fossil fuel tax is going? I stand with the Wet’suwet’en people standing against this fraudulent action by the B.C. government. It is a violation of their treaty rights. The “story” is it will help to get Asia off of coal. But it will create more GHG emissions than coal would produce. So, it is also fraud.
For all intensives purposes and all ive read that heriditary chiefs have not approved the pipeline.
Yes, I you are right about this fact.
Do you have a drone to witness what is going on? x0xox0
That is a very good idea
APTN and others are reporting the significant pipeline-Crown-aboriginal rights confrontation that’s heating up in northern BC. Conflicting public relations spins are likely.
Before sparks fly, please write context articles to raise understanding of the nationally important dimensions.
• One key question is how to disentangle hereditary authority vs. elected authority within aboriginal communities, both in relation to federal and provincial authorities. In likely court cases, this will have wider effect on how Canada implements Sec 35 of the Constitution and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
• Another key question is how to understand, manage and oversee positive civil disobedience in Canada. This is a global period of disruptive environmental, social and economic stresses. Laws usually evolve under pressure to serve as a stabilizing structure in adapting society to change that has to be faced.
Our actions and answers on these questions will be defining Canada. Four big Canadian national projects are reference points: (1) respectful reconciliation of settler with aboriginal, (2) transition to an environmentally grounded economy, (3) peaceful constructive resolution of conflicting interests in civil conversations about shared interests, (4) projecting democratic reach, and enforceable social and environmental standards, into transnational agreements and transactions.
Advance light on these questions will be useful.
After 12yrs UNDRIP is still not enshrined in Canadian law….. and likely never will be.
the term ‘settler’ is a pejorative; please refrain from use
It’s interesting that you filter any and all comments on your misinformation. You are not the news, you are propaganda.
The Government of Canada imposed band council has no jurisdiction over the territory, as outlined in Delgamuukw v. British Columbia [1997] 3 SCR 1010.
You know this, so that means that you are purposefully lying to and misleading the public. You are functioning as a State controlled media company, a mouthpiece.
Edit your report to reflect the truth of the matter, otherwise you are disposing of any credibility.
https://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/1569/index.do
This is so sad….
I’m Fairly certain the chiefs have NOT approved the pipeline on their land, which is the opposite of what the final line of this article says
Agreed! From my knowledge all 5 clans and chiefs have said no to pipelines. Unist’ot’en camp emails has sent me that information.
It is completely misleading to only include the sentence that elective chiefs support the pipeline without providing the context that elected chiefs and councils only have authority over reservation lands. The hereditary Chiefs are the ones who are responsible for the traditional territory – which remains unceeded lands.
It’s like saying the Premier of Sacatchewan supports a new bridge in Vancouver, BC. Shame on you.
Thank you for this Helena! You read my mind.
I also found that final sentence very vague and confusing.
thank you for this explanation. I found that one sentence very confusing, having seen a post with the image of hereditary Chiefs and recall it claiming they say NO. Other countries are attaining clean, renewable energy. I am so grateful to the Chiefs for saying NO in effort to help Canada turn away from outdated and dangerous sources of energy.
Do not exclude the important information that the 5 hereditary chiefs have refused the proposed pipelines on numerous occasions. The 1997 Supreme Court ruling gave control of the 22,000 km2 of land to the hereditary chiefs, and the wishes of the elected chief and council do not apply.
In accordance to The Crown Law,What ever is decided, by the said Chief,The Council,does not mean the entirety of the said membership,only they,the said chief,councial,where indian title exsist,so does crown title,they go hand in hand,accordance to,pursant to.This is Federal,The Crown law,any judge presiding,is breaking the Law,Lex,as determined by the aforementioned distinct said tribal indian.
“There are reports that RCMP have breached the checkpoint at Gidumt’en. Wet’suwet’en Access Point on Gidumt’en Territory. The RCMP are armed and moving in. Also reports of military present. Allegedly Gidumt’en cell service and communication has been jammed and cut off by police.
I don’t know if they were military or “militarized” RCMP. We counted over 30 police vehicles and two semi flatbeds with big earth moving machines on them. The paddy wagons came down the road with between 9 and 14 people arrested. Gidimt’en camp is now deserted except for 2 or 3 people who chained themselves to a bus and another person hanging under the bridge. These people have warm gear on. Police will be back tomorrow to attack the Unist’ot’en check point and then their camp. Nathan Cullen came to the site today and was denied access. Hereditary chiefs were “allowed” in but only one chief per clan and they were given until noon to go in. We will see what tomorrow brings. It’s a remote area. No cell service at the police roadblock where supporters gathered today, who will go back tomorrow.
“an act of war”? – good luck and BTW apologies in advance
Let’s get this thing started
I hope The RCMP have reviewed Oka, Ipperwash and Gustafson Lake BC and realize Tomorrow is Another Fay.
As long as The RCMP have reviewed Oka, Ipperwash and Gustafson Lake BC everything should be Ok.
We have already paid $6B to LNG Canada (which is made up of multi-national corporations outside of Canada) to entice the LNG industry to pollute our waters in order to send this LNG to Asia (using hydro from the Site C Dam) which is costing us $15B. Is this where our fossil fuel tax is going? I stand with the Wet’suwet’en people standing against this fraudulent action by the B.C. government. It is a violation of their treaty rights. The “story” is it will help to get Asia off of coal. But it will create more GHG emissions than coal would produce. So, it is also fraud.
For all intensives purposes and all ive read that heriditary chiefs have not approved the pipeline.
Yes, I you are right about this fact.
Do you have a drone to witness what is going on? x0xox0
That is a very good idea
APTN and others are reporting the significant pipeline-Crown-aboriginal rights confrontation that’s heating up in northern BC. Conflicting public relations spins are likely.
Before sparks fly, please write context articles to raise understanding of the nationally important dimensions.
• One key question is how to disentangle hereditary authority vs. elected authority within aboriginal communities, both in relation to federal and provincial authorities. In likely court cases, this will have wider effect on how Canada implements Sec 35 of the Constitution and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
• Another key question is how to understand, manage and oversee positive civil disobedience in Canada. This is a global period of disruptive environmental, social and economic stresses. Laws usually evolve under pressure to serve as a stabilizing structure in adapting society to change that has to be faced.
Our actions and answers on these questions will be defining Canada. Four big Canadian national projects are reference points: (1) respectful reconciliation of settler with aboriginal, (2) transition to an environmentally grounded economy, (3) peaceful constructive resolution of conflicting interests in civil conversations about shared interests, (4) projecting democratic reach, and enforceable social and environmental standards, into transnational agreements and transactions.
Advance light on these questions will be useful.
After 12yrs UNDRIP is still not enshrined in Canadian law….. and likely never will be.
the term ‘settler’ is a pejorative; please refrain from use
It’s interesting that you filter any and all comments on your misinformation. You are not the news, you are propaganda.
The Government of Canada imposed band council has no jurisdiction over the territory, as outlined in Delgamuukw v. British Columbia [1997] 3 SCR 1010.
You know this, so that means that you are purposefully lying to and misleading the public. You are functioning as a State controlled media company, a mouthpiece.
Edit your report to reflect the truth of the matter, otherwise you are disposing of any credibility.
https://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/1569/index.do
This is so sad….
I’m Fairly certain the chiefs have NOT approved the pipeline on their land, which is the opposite of what the final line of this article says
Agreed! From my knowledge all 5 clans and chiefs have said no to pipelines. Unist’ot’en camp emails has sent me that information.