There is so much going on. This is a small summary.
Sakura Saunders
2.10.22at 3:33 PM
Today, we held a rail and port blockade for almost 5 hours in solidarity with the #Wetsuweten and #Unistoten
From Unist’ot’en to Mi’kma’ki
Respect Indigenous Sovereignty!
This is not reconciliation
We support the Wet’suwet’en Nation!
#ShutCanadaDown #shutdowncanada
Hundreds of protesters spilled onto Winnipeg’s downtown streets Monday to defend land thousands of kilometres away in northern B.C. where Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs and supporters are trying to stop construction of a natural gas pipeline.
“When I say land, you say back!” the shout emanated from Portage and Main, as protesters hollered their approval.
They locked arms in a round dance while blocking traffic at three intersections early Monday evening, in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en people’s fight against the pipeline and RCMP enforcement actions.
Anger boiled over last week after the RCMP began arresting people trying to prevent the construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline. Marches in solidarity with the protesters were held across the country on Monday.
The epicentre of the battle may be far away, but protesters in Winnipeg carried the displeasure of the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs with them as they congregated at Portage Place mall before splitting off.
“We’re trying to let the world know that we aren’t going to back down and we’re going to keep this up as long as we have to,” said Kimberley Kostiuk, a member of Long Plain First Nation, clutching an eagle feather and sweet grass.
‘Destroyed just over money’
“I don’t appreciate the corporate greed — pipeline people wanting to destroy and rape our land,” she said. “Our people live out there, they fish, they hunt, this is their way of life. And it’s getting destroyed just over money, it’s just not worth it.”
Winnipeg protesters lock arms in support of Wet’suwet’en fighting B.C. pipeline. Monday’s demonstration was one of many happening across the country. Ian Froese · CBC News · Posted: Feb 10, 2020
VICTORIA — Among hundreds of pipeline protesters who descended upon and helped block the doors of B.C.’s legislature Tuesday were two Victoria city councillors.
Long-time councillor Ben Isitt and newcomer Sharmarke Dubow both joined activists who oppose the Coastal GasLink pipeline.
“I was there to show support for the Indigenous leaders and youth who issued a call to action today,” Isitt told CTV News Vancouver Island. “And to act as an observer to make sure everyone was safe.”
Victoria councillors join anti-pipeline protest as mayor distances city from their actions. Scott Cunningham. Journalist, CTVNews, Published Tuesday, February 11, 2020
UPDATE: Bay Street bridge has been cleared for traffic as of 6:37 p.m. Protestors started to move off of Johnson Street bridge and head back towards the legislature at around 7:05 p.m.
Earlier: Both of Victoria’s main bridges, the Johnson Street bridge and the Point Ellice or Bay Street bridge have been closed since approximately 5:30 p.m. by demonstrators who had previously been gathered at the BC Legislature building.
They plan to continue their shutdown of the two bridges in and out of the city until around 7 or 8 p.m.
Both major bridges in Victoria shut down by supporters of Wet’suwet’en anti-pipeline movement by Brishti Basu, VIctoria Buzz, 2.10.2020
If you’ve been online or watched the news over the past few days, it’s impossible that you haven’t heard about the conflict on Wet’suwet’en territory. On February 6, in the early hours of the morning, RCMP officials outside of Houston, B.C., conducted a pre-dawn raid on one of three camps set up on the territory. These camps are occupied by Indigenous land defenders who are blocking construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline in Northern B.C. Since the initial raid, the RCMP have reportedly arrested 28 unarmed people, with officers reportedly even going so far as to drag a naked woman out of her vehicle.
It’s important that Canadians pay attention to what’s happening in Northern B.C. But if you’re anything like us, you probably have a few questions about what exactly is happening, why it’s happening and why it’s so problematic. Here’s what you need to know.
What is the Wet’suwet’en territory?
Wet’suwet’en territory is a large traditional territory about 300 kilometres west of Prince George, in Northern British Columbia, that is occupied by members of the Wet’suwet’en Nation, which comprises five clans. According to the Vancouver Sun, the territory is about 22,000 square kilometres. The nation is unceded territory, meaning it is not covered by treaty, and according to lawyer Dr. Pamela D. Palmater, the Wet’suwet’en people have been living on and governing those lands under their laws for generations. “[They’ve decided] through their system of hereditary governance and talking to the people that they don’t want any pipelines or any projects on their territory that could possibly contaminate water or the land or make people sick,” she says. “So they made that decision, [and] they’ve been successful in keeping other pipeline projects out of their territory.” That is until now.
Here’s What’s Happening on Wet’suwet’en Territory. And why everyone needs to be paying attention by Katherine Singh, FLARE.com, FEB 11, 2020
PODCAST: By Any Means Necessary
In this segment, Jacquie and Sean are joined by Molly Wickham, spokesperson of the Gidimt’en Clan of the Wet’suwet’en Nation, to talk about the Canadian government’s decision to enforce an injunction by Coastal GasLink to raid a Wet’suwet’en resistance camp and allow construction of a gas pipeline through ancestral territory, how misleading headlines about the supposed withdrawal of police from Wet’suwet’en territory today gloss over the reality that land defenders still face an eviction order, why a corporate PR campaign employing a handful of indigenous voices is complicating the media narrative, what this moment reveals about the power of indigenous and working-class people as they #ShutDownCanada from coast-to-coast, how native traditions and perspectives impact the strategy of the resistance movement, and what supporters can do to stand with the land defenders in the protracted fight against corporate extraction.
Wet’suwet’en Land Defenders Defy Eviction Order and Shut Down Canada. From: By Any Means Necessary
Listen to “Wet’suwet’en Land Defenders Defy Eviction Order and Shut Down Canada” on Spreaker.https://widget.spreaker.com/widgets.js
Lydia Colihue shared a post.
Yesterday at 2:42 PM
UPDATE: Rail Blockades Break Out in Listuguj and Halifax –Tyendinaga, Kahnawake & other Blockades/Occupations Continue Across “Canada” support of the Wet’suwet’en – #CALLforSUPPORT!
**See map of current rail blockades across the territory below
[Feb 11th]–Land defenders across the continent are calling for support in sustaining the many actions in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en, which continue this hour.
As militarized RCMP raid and attempt to lock down Wet’suwet’en territory–arresting Unis’tot’en matriarchs yesterday afternoon–dozens of blockades and occupations have continued to break out across so-called “Canada.” At this time A TOTAL OF 6 RAIL BLOCKADES are ongoing continue to shut down “significant” sections of the Canadian rail network, which CN Rail says will force the closure of adjacent lines immenently.
Calls for solidarity have been made across Turtle Island, to COME OUT to the front lines with their physical presence, and/or help supply them. The following are a list of going actions in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en at this hour:
RAIL BLOCKADES:
- TYENDINAGA: Mohawk Land Defenders continue blocking all rail traffic between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal on DAY 6 of the action and are in URGENT need of supplies (full list here: https://www.amazon.ca/hz/wishlist/ls/1IK8OV2ZN98WF)
- KAHNAWAKE: Mohawk Land Defenders continue to block the CN Candiac commuter rail line, where service has been suspended since Feb 8th in Montreal. *More information on support pending
- LISTUGUJ: Mik’maq Land Defenders have blocked all rail traffic across Listuguj Mik’maq territory near so-called Gaspé Quebec, which is ongoing at this hour. * More information on support pending
- NEW HAZELTON: Gitxsan land defenders have blocked all rail traffic between Prince Rupert and Prince George, and is ongoing until RCMP leave the territory. * More information on support pending
- SQUAMISH: Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam land defenders have also blocked all CN rail traffic into the Vancouver ports. * More information on support pending
- HALIFAX: Mik’maq Land Defenders and supporters have blocked CN rail and shut down the Halifax Port as of this morning. Land defenders ended the blockade at 5PM AST
OCCUPATIONS: - OTTAWA: Indigenous youth and land defenders continue to occupy the federal Ministry of Justice at 284 Wellington, demanding an end to the militarization of Wet’suwet’en territory and lifting all charges against land defenders. Land defenders are calling for people to come down and help hold the space, as well as legal observers.
TORONTO: Indigenous youth and defenders who had been occupying the constituency office of Liberal MP Carolyn Bennett, the federal Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations have now been removed by RCMP.
VICTORIA: Indigenous youth and land defenders lock down the BC legislature to disrupt Throne Speech and continue to occupy the steps of the British Columbia legislature. Land defenders are calling on people to come down to the front lines to help keep the lock down running.
ROAD BLOCKS - WINNEPEG: Over 400 indigenous Land Defenders and supporters shut down Portage and Main during the evening rush hour, and call for active support at this hour (3:33PM CST).
COMOX VALLEY, VICTORIA ISLAND: Land defenders have blocked Highway 119 as of this morning. * More information on support pending
*ALL EYES ON WET’SUWET’EN!
OIL & GAS OUT OF WET’SUWET’EN LAND!
AMULEPE TAIÑ WEICHAN!
#ShutDownCanada #WetsuwetenStrong #RCMPOut
See interactive map here: https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/wetsuwetenstrong-rail-blockades_418039?fbclid=IwAR0ESpiFVs7aCrCkFPbfli-dlQH7sx_wqMxx-lvAe1g-Qs4zysxaraf-r6A#4/47.37/-96.50
Quakers, social justice and revolution 