Since June 2015, Unist’ot’en members have physically impeded pipeline proponents such as TransCanada and Chevron from entering their territory.
The Unist’ot’en clan of the Wet’suwet’en has set up a protective camp south of Houston and has been filming the interactions between camp members and anyone who attempts to enter their territory without consent.
In a recent video posted on You Tube, a TransCanada representative threatens to notify the RCMP if camp members refuse to grant them access through a checkpoint on Chisolm Road.
“Since we were denied the ability to use a public road [Chisolm Road] on Aug. 28, 2015, we notified the RCMP,” said Shela Shapiro, Spokesperson for TransCanada’s Coastal GasLink Pipeline project.
The situation escalated last week when the Unist’ot’en camp issued a press release claiming camp members were preparing for a “large-scale RCMP mass arrest operation.”
Camp spokesperson Freda Huson told The Interior News that a police Since June 2015, Unist’ot’en members have physically impeded pipeline proponents such as TransCanada and Chevron from entering their territory.
The Unist’ot’en clan of the Wet’suwet’en has set up a protective camp south of Houston and has been filming the interactions between camp members and anyone who attempts to enter their territory without consent.
In a recent video posted on You Tube, a TransCanada representative threatens to notify the RCMP if camp members refuse to grant them access through a checkpoint on Chisolm Road.
“Since we were denied the ability to use a public road [Chisolm Road] on Aug. 28, 2015, we notified the RCMP,” said Shela Shapiro, Spokesperson for TransCanada’s Coastal GasLink Pipeline project.
The situation escalated last week when the Unist’ot’en camp issued a press release claiming camp members were preparing for a “large-scale RCMP mass arrest operation.”
Camp spokesperson Freda Huson told The Interior News that a police source had leaked information about the possible operation.
In a press release, the B.C. RCMP said those claims were false, adding that the RCMP has no intention of taking down the camp set up by the Unist’ot’en.
Corporal Janelle Shoihet, Media Relations Officer for the RCMP, said that despite what is being portrayed by some media and on social media, the B.C. RCMP remains impartial in this dispute.
“The B.C. RCMP respects the rights of individuals to peacefully protest,” said Shoihet. “We value the Wet’suwet’en culture, the connection to the land and traditions being taught and passed on at the camp, and the importance of the camp to healing.”
According to TransCanada’s Coastal GasLink Pipeline, the company has made over 90 attempted contacts with the hereditary chief and the Unist’ot’en spokesperson.
“We [Coastal GasLink] have been wanting to engage in dialogue with leaders of the [Unist’ot’en] camp for some time now,” said Shapiro. “We’ve extended invitations to leaders of the camp to come and see the care and attention we take in the field alongside other Wet’suwet’en field work participants.”
Shapiro said environmental fieldwork can only be carried out during certain times of the year, and is designed to help Coastal GasLink understand the environmental sensitivities and cultural resources that need to be protected in the area.
Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd. proposes to develop a natural gas pipeline from near Dawson Creek, B.C., to the proposed LNG Canada liquefied natural gas export facility near Kitimat, B.C.
Chevron representatives offer tobacco and bottled water as gifts
On July 23, 2015, Chevron representatives attempted to enter Unist’ot’en territory seeking to conduct work for the Pacific Trail Pipeline.
In a video posted on You Tube, Rod Maier, Manager of External Relation and Communications for the Kitimat LNG Project, asks for permission to enter Unist’ot’en territory so that Chevron can conduct environmental field studies.
“We’re inviting you [Unist’ot’en members] to work with us on this project, to develop it in a way that protects the environment and it provides benefits to the Wet’suwet’en people as meaningful participants in the project,” said Maier. “To be able to do that, we need access to the territory; will you allow us access to the territory here?”
Freda Huson, Unist’ot’en Spokesperson, calmly explains her point of view.
“I am not protesting; I am not demonstrating; I am occupying our homelands,” says Huson. “We’ve already written you [Chevron] letters saying you guys don’t have our consent.”
“You [pipeline proponents] are destroying the planet so you won’t be able to purchase food from the grocery shop,” she continued. “Agriculture is dying; you’ll be long gone and you’re children will be the ones suffering; they will have no water do drink.”
In the video, the Chevron representatives attempt to offer bottled water and tobacco to Unist’ot’en camp members as a gift.
“No, thanks,” says Huson, declining the offer. “We’ve got clean water right here that’s good to drink; and that’s pollution [the plastic], that adds to the landfill.”
According to Ray Lord, Communications Manager for Chevron, the pipeline proponent would like to carry out the 2015 pre-construction work plan for the Pacific Trail Pipeline “without incident or disruption.”
“Our preferred path forward to resolve this issue has, and continues to be through constructive engagement,” said Lord. “Chevron has always been willing to meet with the Unist’ot’en hereditary chief and organizers of the Unist’ot’en camp to listen to their concerns and to share information about the Pacific Trail Pipeline project.”
The Pacific Trail Pipeline is a proposed 480 km natural gas pipeline that will deliver gas from Summit Lake, B.C., to the Kitimat LNG facility.
Not everyone has been denied access to Unist’ot’en territory
While Unist’ot’en members have been impeding all pipeline proponents from entering their territory, some logging companies such as Canfor have been granted access.
“Canfor has ongoing dialogue with the Unist’ot’en camp members,” explained Corinne Stavness, Director of External Affairs at Canfor. “To date, they [Unist’ot’en members] have been letting our employees and contractors pass through their camps, which we greatly appreciate.”
Since 2010, the Unist’ot’en has been trying to stop oil and gas pipelines from being built on their land. Among the pipeline projects planned to cross their territory are TransCanada’s Coastal GasLink, Chevron’s Pacific Trail Pipeline and Enbridge’s Northern Gateway.
Wet’suwet’en chiefs say Unist’ot’en do not speak for their nations
In a recent press release, four Wet’suwet’en chiefs say Unist’ot’en members do not speak on behalf of their nations.
The four chiefs include Wet’suwet’en First Nation Chief Karen Ogen, Nee Tahi Buhn Chief Ray Morris, Burns Lake Band Chief Dan George and Skin Tyee Nation Chief Rene Skin.
“We have long believed it is short sighted to turn down projects such as the Coastal GasLink project before understanding the true risks and benefits; that is just an easy way to avoid dealing with complex issues,” says Chief Ogen, Spokesperson for the four chiefs and for the First Nations LNG Alliance, a group of First Nations that support LNG development in British Columbia.
Chief Dan George states, “Our Nations support responsible resource development as a way to bring First Nations out of poverty and bring opportunities for our young people.”
The chiefs say they are also concerned with the number of individuals and groups, some Aboriginal, some political, some environmental and others, who have signed the We Stand with the Unist’ot’en petition.
“The definition of sustainability for some of the groups who signed the petition and live in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, elsewhere in Canada and outside the country, is very different from what it means for Nations in Northern B.C. that are anxious to climb out of poverty and find meaningful opportunity,” says Chief Skin. “This issue needs to be resolved by the Wet’suwet’en people, and not by others who hold no interest in our land.”