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We redecorated the Johnson Street Bridge! All Eyes to Wet’suwet’en!
Wet’suwet’en Solidarity Victoria

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RCMP Land Helicopters at Unist’ot’en Gate

On the morning of February 8th, 2020, RCMP officers landed at the gates of Unist’ot’en Village by helicopter. Unist’ot’en chiefs and house members began calling on their ancestors for support. They held a cremation ceremony for Canadian/Indigenous reconciliation, and burned a copy of the injunction that the RCMP was there to serve on behalf of Coastal GasLink (TC Energy). After about 30 minutes, the RCMP got back into their helicopters and left.
Earlier today, RCMP were trying to intimidate our chiefs and threatening charges against land defenders for damaging the bridge leading to the Gidimt’en checkpoint.
The Gidimt’en have maintained a metal gate to protect their yintah, as is their right under Anuk nu’at’en (Wet’suwet’en law) and UNDRIP. The metal gate was sturdily attached to the bridge.
Instead of taking proper steps to remove the gate, RCMP, or industrial contractors under the escort of RCMP, pulled the metal gate with a tow truck and damaged the bridge. RCMP denied access to the Gidimt’en checkpoint to the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs, by claiming that the Gidimt’en checkpoint had damaged the bridge and that safe access was impossible. It is our firm belief that RCMP actions are directly responsible for any damage to the bridge.
Accredited journalists present on site were originally told they could film from five feet away, but were detained repeatedly by police, and were removed from the immediate area. They were then made to stand 60 feet away from any police action and were denied access by the RCMP to film the removal of the metal gate. Accordingly, in the absence of impartial witnesses, the RCMP are claiming that the Gidimt’en checkpoint damaged the only road access to their yintah.
RCMP Land Helicopters at Unist’ot’en Gate

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Lots of photos at Colin Smith Takes Pics.

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Two helicopters dropped RCMP officers just outside the gate to the Unist’ot’en Healing Centre around 11 a.m. today, as police moved to evict the last of three locations set up by Wet’suwet’en members opposed to a gas pipeline through their traditional territory.
Freda Huson, the director of the healing centre, donned regalia as the helicopters arrived, including a blanket representing the land. Women from the healing centre headed to the gate to the camp with her and began a ceremony.
When an RCMP officer called over the gate asked to speak to Huson, a legal observer staying at the camp told him she was in ceremony.
Huson later walked toward a large fire that had been built on the snowy bridge, with a copy of the injunction granted Dec. 31 barring the Wet’suwet’en from blocking Coastal GasLink’s access to its pipeline work sites.
“RCMP are liars!” she yelled, throwing the injunction in the fire. “It’s not worth the paper it’s written on.”
The women ring bells to summon ancestors and call out the names of missing and murdered Indigenous women.
Media — including The Tyee — are on the scene, as well as legal observers. Others in the camp remain in the healing centre.
Huson explained the song that was part of the ceremony.
“We’re trying to save the water, the land for all humankind. Not just us. And they won’t listen,” she said. “So that’s why it had to come to this.”
“They tore down our traps. They’ve disrespected my chiefs. So that is why it comes to this. Why we have a cremation ceremony for Canada.”

RCMP Arrive at Unist’ot’en Healing Centre as Injunction Enforcement Continues. Two helicopters drop off officers, who are greeted by songs and ceremony. Tyee is on the scene. Amanda Follett Hosgood 2.8.2020| TheTyee.ca

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Extinction Rebellion Toronto (Posted)

Tonight, in solidarity with #Wetsuweten people, Toronto rebels held space at the intersection of Bay and Queen streets in Toronto’s financial district, in between City Hall, banks and corporations.
We demand an immediate end to the colonial violence happening right now at Unist’ot’en Camp. #NoPipelines #WetsuwetenStrong
Follow Wet’suwet’en Access Point on Gidimt’en Territory for updates.
Couldn’t make it tonight? Join us tomorrow Feb 8 at 11am at Dovercourt Park: https://www.facebook.com/events/484525335770468/
#EyesOnWetsuweten #ClimateJustice

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