Unist’ot’en camp in B.C. still in place, while different clan sets up new blockade outside of injunction zone

Another clan of the Wet’suwe’ten Nation in British Columbia has come to the aid of the Unist’ot’en camp that has been ordered to remove a barricade that is preventing the Coastal GasLink company from accessing land for its future pipeline.

While the Unist’ot’en camp blockade is still in place, a new barricade has been erected approximately 20 km down the road by the Gitumden clan.

“We are constructing a camp. We are going to be controlling access to Gitumden Territory as a collective,” Molly Wickham told APTN News.

“We need to uphold our responsibility, it has been on the shoulders of the Unist’ot’en for too long.”

The new camp is set up on the Morice River Road – the same access road the Unist’ot’en camp is on.

“We are creating conditions where we can stay here and live here,” said Wickham.

The Coastal GasLink pipeline is a new 670 km pipeline that will bring fracked gas from Dawson Creek, B.C. to LNG Canada’s processing plant in Kitimat on the coast.

The pipeline, which has consent from the elected band council but not the Nation’s highest hereditary chiefs, will run through 190 km of Wet’suwe’ten Territory.

Last Friday, a B.C. Supreme Court judge ordered the Unist’ot’en to remove the barricade because it blocks access to the pipeline site.

Structures are now being built along the side of Morice River Rd.

“Morice River Road is the only access into the camp and into the back reaches of all Wet’suwet’en Territories and so you have to come through Gitumden Territory,” said Wickham.

In court documents, Coastal GasLink said that it needs to start construction on the pipeline in the new year or it will incur financial hardship.

“We’ll be here ready for them and anyone else that tries to access Gitumden Territory,” said Wickham.

“Until the time that we feel there is no threat of trespass onto our territory by unwanted industry.”

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14 thoughts on “Unist’ot’en camp in B.C. still in place, while different clan sets up new blockade outside of injunction zone

  1. Roddy says:

    Why Canada does not insist on democratically elected governments in
    Saudi Arabia and other countries where governments that rely on lineage are the norm shows a distinct double standard. Crudeau speaks out of both sides of his mouth

  2. Why Canada does not insist on democratically elected governments in
    Saudi Arabia and other countries where governments that rely on lineage are the norm shows a distinct double standard. Crudeau speaks out of both sides of his mouth

  3. i FEEL INTO THIS CONCERN AND HOLD STRONG WITH YOU TO BE BOLD AND CLEAR WITH THE OIL COMPANIES. NO MEANS NO.

  4. I will burn my smudge and send my prayers of strength and solidarity for y’all. May our Creator give y’all the words of wisdom that the colonizers will hear so that they will think before they act, to think about the distruction of land, water and all life that cannot be replaced…. aho

  5. I will burn my smudge and send my prayers of strength and solidarity for y’all. May our Creator give y’all the words of wisdom that the colonizers will hear so that they will think before they act, to think about the distruction of land, water and all life that cannot be replaced…. aho

  6. Until British Columbia and Canada collectively begin to recognize that the untraditional governance structures they have put in place for First Nations & Aboriginal peoples are not traditional governance structures, they will forever clash with First Nations and Aboriginal peoples. True government to government relationships need to evolve where the governments begin to work with the traditional governance authorities and not those they have in their back pockets!

  7. Until British Columbia and Canada collectively begin to recognize that the untraditional governance structures they have put in place for First Nations & Aboriginal peoples are not traditional governance structures, they will forever clash with First Nations and Aboriginal peoples. True government to government relationships need to evolve where the governments begin to work with the traditional governance authorities and not those they have in their back pockets!

  8. I’m so grateful that these people refuse to cave to colonizing policies. Am sending money and letters in to elected officials and others. Sorry it is not really feasible to go up to stand with you in solidarity.

  9. I’m so grateful that these people refuse to cave to colonizing policies. Am sending money and letters in to elected officials and others. Sorry it is not really feasible to go up to stand with you in solidarity.

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