Upwards of 30 people made their way to Premier John HorganB次元官网网址檚 MLA office in Langford Wednesday morning, with organizers calling the Indigenous/women-led action a way to show solidarity with First Nation members in the B.C. north.
The action is in support of UnistB次元官网网址檕tB次元官网网址檈n and GidimtB次元官网网址檈n First Nations on WetB次元官网网址檚uwetB次元官网网址檈n traditional lands near Houston, B.C.
On Jan. 7, RCMP arrested 14 people at the GidimtB次元官网网址檈n camp after being granted an interim injunction by a B.C. Supreme Court judge to remove the First Nations camps that were blocking access to a Coastal GasLink pipeline construction site.
Three days later, a tentative agreement was reached between hereditary leaders of the WetB次元官网网址檚uweB次元官网网址檛en First Nation and RCMP saying First Nations members will abide by the injunction if RCMP agree to leave a nearby UnistB次元官网网址檕tB次元官网网址檈n healing camp be.
Hereditary leaders said the agreement was made to ensure the safety of residents at the camp.
READ MORE: WetB次元官网网址檚uwetB次元官网网址檈n strike tentative deal with RCMP allowing access to protect camp
The overarching theme of the action in Langford was to express B次元官网网址渄iscontent with CanadaB次元官网网址檚 conduct, hold the RCMP to account for ongoing colonial violence toward the WetB次元官网网址檚uwetB次元官网网址檈n people and their allies, and call on Premier John Horgan and the B.C. government to respect B次元官网网址榓nuc niwhB次元官网网址檌tB次元官网网址檈n (WetB次元官网网址檚uwetB次元官网网址檈n law) and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,B次元官网网址� according to organizers.
The group started at the Tim HortonB次元官网网址檚 on McCallum Road and marched to the West Shore RCMP detachment on Highway 14 where they gathered and addressed officers through a megaphone, chanting B次元官网网址淩CMP stand down.B次元官网网址�
West Shore RCMP said the demonstrators B次元官网网址渄isrupted community policing operationsB次元官网网址� and blocked public access to the building. RCMP said community volunteers for the Speedwatch Program were unable to leave the detachment and a 79-year-old volunteer had to be escorted past the demonstration by police officers for a meeting inside the building.
Emergency operations were not affected.
B次元官网网址淭he RCMP fully support the right to peaceful and safe protest,B次元官网网址� said Cpl. Chris Dovell of West Shore RCMP. B次元官网网址淏ut businesses and community volunteers also have the right to conduct meetings.B次元官网网址�
An Indigenous/women-led action group is standing in solidarity with the WetB次元官网网址檚uwetB次元官网网址檈n access point on GidumtB次元官网网址檈n territory. Plans to march to Millstream Rd/Hwy 14, RCMP and Premier John HorganB次元官网网址檚 office in
B次元官网网址� Shalu Mehta (@ShaluMehta32)
The group then made its way down Goldstream Avenue towards HorganB次元官网网址檚 office, blocking intersections at VeteranB次元官网网址檚 Memorial Parkway and Jacklin Road.
Traffic moved slowly behind the group as they drummed and chanted things like B次元官网网址渨e stand with UnistB次元官网网址檕tB次元官网网址檈nB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淛ohn Horgan stand down.B次元官网网址�
Vehicles held up at the intersections honked angrily, telling the group the get off the road while other vehicles driving by honked in support.
According to organizers, this is one of dozens of actions across North America in response to a frontline call-out for rolling solidarity actions in support of WetB次元官网网址檚uwetB次元官网网址檈n sovereignty.
READ MORE: Hundreds rally in Victoria for WetB次元官网网址檚uwetB次元官网网址檈n pipeline protesters
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not protesting,B次元官网网址� said organizer Serena Baker. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e here standing in support and solidarity with people who werenB次元官网网址檛 protesting, who werenB次元官网网址檛 doing anything but living life in their home that theyB次元官网网址檝e occupied for numerous years.B次元官网网址�
An individual named Dakota Smith spoke in front of HorganB次元官网网址檚 office and said the group is getting louder and trying to be heard but said he does not feel heard when listening to members of the government speak.
B次元官网网址淲e want everyone to be aware of whatB次元官网网址檚 going on and the atrocities that the RCMP are committing there,B次元官网网址� Smith said.
The group has arrived at Premier John HorganB次元官网网址檚 office in chanting B次元官网网址淛ohn Horgan stand downB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渟olidarity with UnistB次元官网网址檕tB次元官网网址檈nB次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址� Shalu Mehta (@ShaluMehta32)
An Indigenous rights activist from Alert Bay and elder whoB次元官网网址檚 given name is Tsastilqualus said the main focus on Wednesday morning was to stand in support with UnistB次元官网网址檕tB次元官网网址檈n. She said B次元官网网址減olice are being used to protect corporations and not the people.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 very shameful of this government talking reconciliation one minute and then sending the troops in the same breath,B次元官网网址� Tsastilqualus said. B次元官网网址淲hatB次元官网网址檚 happening up in that territoryB次元官网网址tB次元官网网址檚 criminalB次元官网网址tB次元官网网址檚 no different for 150 years now.B次元官网网址�
shalu.mehta@goldstreamgazette.com
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