Nasty Coastal GasLink! Nasty BC Supreme Court! Nasty RCMP! Update by Unist’ot’en Camp

A few excellent comments to the Herald article below:

Steve English

What a laugh – to suggest that we are lily white and that our oil and gas industry is somehow better, that we listen to all voices more, than other jurisdictions. The difference between us and those places where regulations are tighter and where fracking, for instance, is banned, is people power- people willing to stand up for their own welfare and that of future generations rather than willingly give up and bow down to corporate greed.

We have no real charter rights when it comes to what the corporations want.

The voices telling us that we are losing our environment and our liveable climate are simply ignored.

Avery Baldrick
I don’t know why Alberta needs a war room with all these fine Post Media commentators. Right, nice guys don’t get paid.

Dee Bee Goode
“With all the injustice in the world, it’s beyond rich that the unelected, unaccountable United Nations would seemingly single out Canada — one of the greatest champions of human rights, democracy and the rule of law,” Savage said Tuesday.”

That statement is myth. In regards to FN’s, Canada is one of the longest standing countries who have disregarded basic human rights, treaty rights and rule of law (constitutional rights) at every turn. Any advancements in human rights prior to 2008, weren’t for the Indigenous population. As per the repeal of section 67, 2008, FN’s finally obtained modern day charter protections. With FN’s having to fight Canada tooth and nail to meet is human rights obligations for a decade or more after. Basic numbered Treaties haven’t been implemented in full (TLE, Cows and Plows as basic examples, some reserves don’t have schools), over 60% of Canada remains unceded for the past 150+ years while ongoing/unhindered infringement from settler provincial governments continues. We have over 250+ court cases which have touched on resource development and FN’s rights which FN’s have won, as outlined by the book resource rulers/resource reckoning. To add, FN’s outcomes aren’t improving overall as the auditor general has highlighted a growing social economic gap in his special annual reports. We can keep going, but you get the picture. Canada has to be held accountable, because after 150+ years of land thief, open racism and discrimination, Canadians are calling for 150 more.

CGL Posts Injunction Notice, RCMP Threatens Helicopter Companies, Trespassers Heard Building Trail Toward Gidimt’en Checkpoint

This RCMP plane circled Gidimt'en checkpoint repeatedly.

This RCMP plane circled Gidimt’en checkpoint repeatedly.

Jan 8 2020, 2pm UPDATE by Unist’ot’en Camp

CGL posts injunction notice, RCMP threatens helicopter companies, and trespassers heard building trail toward Gidimt’en Checkpoint.

We have received reports that Coastal Gaslink has posted notice of the injunction enforcement order at the 39km mark of the Morice Forest Service Road. Combined with the posting of this notice on their website, this means the Wet’suwet’en are given until approximately 3pm on Friday to comply with the order and remove gates and cabins on our own unceded lands.

A helicopter company has informed us that RCMP phoned their head office and instructed them that our territory is now a “no fly zone,” and that they are not permitted to make any flights here. According to the pilots with that company, all other helicopter companies in the area have received the same instructions. [!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh Vile Canada; Oh Vile abuse-enabling Legal System]

Finally, trespassers were heard walking toward and behind the Gidimt’en checkpoint, and chainsaws were heard operating. Snowshoe tracks were found, and we believe that the trespassers were trying to create a trail to access / surround the camp.

We continue to stand strong in our laws and to remain peaceful. No access will be granted to Wet’suwet’en territories without our consent.

Coastal GasLink posts 72-hour notice to clear way to pipeline work site in northern B.C., The order stamped Tuesday by the B.C. Supreme Court registry addresses members of the Wet’suwet’en Nation and supporters by The Canadian Press, Jan 8, 2020, Calgary Herald

HOUSTON, B.C. — A natural gas pipeline company has posted an injunction order giving opponents 72-hours to clear the way [On unceded lands! UNBELIEVABLE DISRESPECT AND GALL!] toward its work site in northern British Columbia.

The order stamped Tuesday by the B.C. Supreme Court registry addresses members of the Wet’suwet’en Nation and supporters who say the project has no authority without consent from the five hereditary clan chiefs.

It comes one year after RCMP enforcement of a similar injunction along the same road sparked global rallies in support of Indigenous rights and raised questions about land claims.

The order requires the defendants to remove any obstructions including cabins and gates on any roads, bridges or work sites the company has been authorized to use.

If they don’t remove the obstructions themselves, the court says the company is at liberty to remove them. [Triple Nasty!]

It orders any peace officer to enforce the order, giving authorization to RCMP to arrest and remove anyone police have “reasonable or probable grounds” to believe has knowledge of the order and is contravening it.

“The police retain discretion as to timing and manner of enforcement of this Order,” it says.

The order does not apply to a metal gate on the west side of a bridge outside the Unist’ot’en camp, unless it is used to prevent or impede the workers’ access.

Fourteen people were arrested by armed officers at a checkpoint constructed along the road leading to both the Unist’ot’en camp and the Coastal GasLink work site on Jan. 7, 2019.

The B.C. Supreme Court granted Coastal GasLink the new injunction on Dec. 31.

The company has signed agreements with all 20 elected First Nation councils along the 670-kilometre pipeline route, but the five Wet’suwet’en hereditary clan chiefs say no one can access the land without their consent.

Coastal GasLink shared photos Tuesday of what it says are more than 100 trees that have been felled across the logging road.

At a press conference Tuesday, hereditary chief Na’moks called for construction to cease and for the B.C. government to revoke the company’s permits.

He said the Wet’suwet’en felled the trees to protect their own safety.

“Those trees put across the road were for our safety. We must look at the history of the RCMP one year ago and what they did to our people and the guests in our territory,” he said.

Judy Wilson to Sonya Savage: Get educated on land rights by Carl Meyer, January 7th 2020, National Observer

A prominent First Nations leader says Alberta’s energy minister “needs to be more educated” on Indigenous land rights, after an urgent warning by a United Nations committee provoked the province’s anger.

Kukpi7 Judy Wilson, secretary-treasurer of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, told National Observer that she felt Alberta Energy Minister Sonya Savage was misguided when she slammed a UN directive calling on Canada to halt construction on energy projects.

“I think that she doesn’t understand what the proper title-holders are,” Wilson said. “I think she needs to be more educated on that.”

Alberta NDP energy critic Irfan Sabir also told National Observer that Savage’s remarks show the UCP government in Alberta refuses to respect Indigenous rights. [As ever, it’s Alberta’s Racist Way]

The UN directive calls on Canada to stop construction on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project, the Site C dam and the Coastal GasLink pipeline until the government can properly carry out its constitutional duty to consult and obtain free, prior and informed consent from Indigenous people.

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination said it was concerned large projects in Canada could cause “irreparable harm to Indigenous peoples rights, culture, lands, territories and way of life.” It also said it was disturbed by law enforcement’s “harassment and intimidation” and alarmed by the “escalating threat of violence.” [And BC Supreme Court had the gall to rule the impacted community trying to stand up for their rights and protect themselves had caused irreparable harm to the pipeline company]

After news broke Tuesday of the December directive from the UN, Savage issued a statement criticizing the international body as “unaccountable” and “unelected” and suggesting it was “beyond rich” that its work would “single out Canada.” [IT’S OBVIOUS WHY CANADA WAS SINGLED OUT. We’re a country with mnay dangerous racists – especially in our police forces and legal system, and our authorities and courts enable oil and gas company trespasses, pollution, public health harm, environmental degradation, financial devastation to municipalities, families, farms, individuals etc, for mostly foreigners to pile up on private profits]

“We wish that the UN would pay as much attention to the majority of First Nation groups that support important projects such as Trans Mountain and Coastal GasLink,” Savage wrote.

“First Nations leaders increasingly recognize that responsible natural resource development can serve as a path from poverty to prosperity for their people. Yet this UN body seemingly ignores these voices.”

With all the atrocities in the world, many committed in other oil producing countries, UN efforts would be better directed there than at Canada…

… But the issue of which First Nations leaders are speaking is precisely what is at stake, countered Wilson. “Only the proper title-holders of the land have that decision-making authority,” she noted.

In the case of Coastal GasLink, the proper title-holders are hereditary, Wilson said. While the company has indicated it has signed agreements with all elected First Nations councils, five Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs are demanding the province suspend permits for the pipeline.

The hereditary chiefs have cited Wet’suwet’en trespass laws when they sent an eviction notice recently to the company. Hereditary chief Na’moks even cited the UN directive in comments: “The world is watching; the United Nations is watching. This is not just the Wet’suwet’en,” said Na’moks, according to CBC News.

Alberta NDP energy critic Irfan Sabir said in a statement that “we believe the economy, environment, and Indigenous rights can, and must, go hand-in-hand.” The former Alberta NDP government led an anti-racism initiative and formed the Indigenous Climate Leadership Initiative, he noted.

“As a result, we were able to move much needed resource development forward in a responsible manner,” said Sabir. “The current UCP government’s dismissive attitude towards the environment, refusal to respect Indigenous rights, and lack of vision will only lead to further delays and more projects being questioned.”

The UN directive is not the first time that the organization has cast a critical eye on Canada’s relationship with Indigenous people and its pursuit of fossil fuel and energy projects, in the context of discrimination.

In June 2019, Baskut Tuncak, the UN’s special rapporteur on human rights and hazardous substances and wastes, concluded that Indigenous communities in Canada are “disproportionately impacted” by toxic industrial byproducts to the point that it raised questions of discrimination.

In addition to its warning about resource projects, the new UN directive recommends Canada “establish, in consultation with Indigenous peoples, a legal and institutional framework to ensure adequate consultation” and to incorporate free, prior and informed consent into domestic legislation.

In British Columbia, the province passed legislation in November to implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It has not yet been passed federally.

The UN body also urged Canada to “prohibit the use of lethal weapons, notably by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, against Indigenous peoples.” RCMP were “prepared to shoot” land defenders blockading Coastal GasLink construction, the Guardian reported in December, citing internal police documents.

“Canada needs to heed these international bodies, international law, and they keep talking about upholding the rule of law, but Canada isn’t doing that as a country,” Wilson said.

“The rule of law is very clear with regards to discrimination, we should be moving as a country past that. We should be working on a better direction, instead of reinforcing the old fossil fuel and oil industry. We’re wasting a lot of time because of climate change.”

Refer also to:

Gidimt’en spokesperson Sleydo’, a.k.a. Molly Wickham, accuses RCMP of acting as mercenaries for industry, “We are still being threatened with violence, death, and the removal of our children for simply existing on our lands and following our laws”

J Hill: “Who would have thought that the once proud RCMP would have become corporate contract killers?” Chief Na’Moks: “We will never, ever forget what happened on this day last year. It goes into Wet’suwet’en history. It goes into British Columbia history. It goes into Canadian history, and it is implanted for us forever.”

Happy New Year! “Merriest fossil fuel stories” of 2019 show frac industry melting down. Roaring 20s speed into “tragedy on the horizon” where investments could “go to zero quickly.” Vital warning by Bank of England Governor Mark Carney: Pension funds could be hit by ‘worthless’ fossil fuels

All Eyes on Wet’suwet’en: International Call for Week of Solidarity! Canada’s “Rule of Law” exposes it’s public interest harming, corporate interest protecting, dark underbelly – again. Thank all that is good: ***Unist’ot’en evict Coastal Gaslink from their Territory*** and Hereditary Chiefs of all 5 Wet’suwet’en clans reject BC Supreme Court Justice Marguerite Church’s decision, which criminalizes Anuk ‘nu’at’en (Wet’suwet’en law)!

This entry was posted in Global Frac News. Bookmark the permalink.