Supporters of WetB次元官网网址檚uwetB次元官网网址檈n First Nation members and hereditary chiefs in opposition of Coastal GasLink gathered at the BC Legislature building Friday morning with a message for the public.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not going to stop until weB次元官网网址檙e treated with the same equal rights as every person on this planet should be treated,B次元官网网址� said Nabidu Musgwama DzawadaB次元官网网址檈nuxw, addressing the crowd gathered outside the government building.

The group came together after 13 people were arrested by members of the Victoria Police Department early Wednesday morning after occupying the lobby of the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources on Blanshard Street for more than 15 hours.

The group was occupying the space in opposition of the Coastal GasLink pipeline, set to run through WetB次元官网网址檚uwetB次元官网网址檈n territory. Activists said they were seeking confirmation that B.C. Premier John Horgan would meet with WetB次元官网网址檚uwetB次元官网网址檈n hereditary chiefs.

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In a statement about the arrests, VicPD said they worked with representatives from both the protest group and the province to find a peaceful resolution, using plainclothes community liaison officers to listen to and speak with participants.

Members of the group said they were initially denied access to food and water throughout the demonstration. VicPD denied those claims and said food and water were facilitated.

VicPD said after 15 hours, officers were asked to remove people from the building and made the arrests B次元官网网址渦nder the lawful authority of the Trespass Act.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭he minimum amount of force was utilized to effect the arrests,B次元官网网址� VicPD said in the statement. B次元官网网址淎s such, the arrests took place over a four-hour period. During the arrests officers were required to carry protesters from the inside of the building to waiting police vehicles.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址楳akwala (Dakota Smith) spoke to the crowd Friday morning saying the arrests fuel the groupB次元官网网址檚 charge to support WetB次元官网网址檚uwetB次元官网网址檈n First Nation members standing against Coastal GasLink.

B次元官网网址淸The arrests] happened in downtown Victoria. We can only imagine what they are doing at UnistB次元官网网址檕tB次元官网网址檈n and the GidimtB次元官网网址檈n check points,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭his violence has to stop. I am tired of watching my loved ones be abused.B次元官网网址�

Activist Sii-am Hamilton was one of 13 arrested by VicPD.

B次元官网网址淲e were told that we were trespassing,B次元官网网址� she told Black Press Media. B次元官网网址淎nd I know that this is unceded Coast Salish territory and we are Coast Salish, so weB次元官网网址檙e not trespassers.B次元官网网址�

Hamilton vocalized her frustration in an address to the crowd. B次元官网网址淲hat happened two days ago is a perpetuation of violence my people have been experiencing since first contact,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲hat all the youth experienced that night is the legacy Canada has created. That is the relationship that Canada has with Indigenous people.B次元官网网址�

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Hereditary chiefs have taken a stance in conflict with members of the WetB次元官网网址檚uwetB次元官网网址檈n Band Council, some of which support the Coastal GasLink project B次元官网网址� a 670-kilometre pipeline set to run from northeastern B.C. to LNG CanadaB次元官网网址檚 export facility in Kitimat.

Coastal GasLink signed agreements with the 20 elected First Nation councils along the pipelineB次元官网网址檚 proposed path.