15 arrested at pipeline blockade in Wet’suwet’en territory as RCMP enforce injunction

Fifteen more people, including two journalists, have been arrested near a pipeline site in northwestern B.C. where protesters have set up a blockade.

The RCMP began enforcing an injunction granted to Coastal GasLink Thursday, arresting 14 people along the Morice Forest Service Road. Mounties have said the road needed to be cleared so they could “rescue hundreds of workers.”

The blockade was set up Sunday by members of the Gidimt’en clan, one of five in the Wet’suwet’en Nation, cutting off access to the site. Workers were given eight hours’ notice to leave.

RELATED: Tensions building in Wet’suwet’en territory as B.C. pipeline conflict continues

In a statement, Wet’su’wet’en hereditary chiefs said they are outraged at the “immense RCMP resources allocated to remove the water protectors,” citing in part the flooding that has devastated other parts of the province.

“RCMP should be assisting flood victims and communities, not out invading our Territory and arresting our peaceful people and supporters. At a time of natural disasters and displacement of many in the ancestral homelands south of us, RCMP chooses to enforce a ‘rescue’ mission of the CGL camp workers,” it reads.

“We have expressed our concerns about the Coastal GasLink consultation process. We have nor will ever support the CGL pipeline.”

RELATED: Progress on Wet’suwet’en rights and title slower than parties would have liked

Police say they found two “building-like structures” with people inside, and “encouraged those inside numerous times to leave or face arrest.” Next, they “broke through the doors, entered the structures, and arrests were made without incident.” Eleven people were taken into custody, but police say the two journalists identified themselves as such “later.”

Soon after, officers were “advised that a group of individuals were throwing rocks at industry vehicles.” When they got to the 44 kilometre mark, they arrested four people.

“One individual who identified themselves as a journalist was not arrested and was escorted out of the area after enforcement ended,” the RCMP statement says.

“Once again all enforcement actions were documented, including the use of video and body-worn cameras for court or complaint purposes. The area has been cleared of all obstacles at this time and industry has access to assess any damage or impacts.”

All 15 remain in custody at the Houston detachment. Of those arrested Thursday, one was released without charges, eight were released on conditions, and five have been taken to Prince George where they will appear in court on Monday.

BC Pours Resources into RCMP Raid on Wet’suwet’en Territory during Provincial Climate Emergency: "Prioritizing fossil fuel expansion while British Columbians grapple with a climate emergency is an alarming, criminal and incredibly poor decision" https://t.co/qTT0nTTXNV pic.twitter.com/4dVKt55wtN

— UBCIC (@UBCIC) November 19, 2021

The Union of BC Indian Chiefs has similarly condemned the deployment of RCMP to enforce this injunction while the province is in a state of emergency, and the climate is in crisis.

“We are absolutely outraged that the Province of BC authorized a military-style raid on peaceful land defenders in order to allow Coastal GasLink to build their Liquified Natural Gas pipeline while much of the province is suffering from life-threatening, catastrophic flooding related events,” says Grand Chief Stewart Philip.

“Prioritizing fossil fuel expansion while British Columbians grapple with a climate emergency is an alarming, criminal and incredibly poor decision by Premier Horgan and Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. We are calling on B.C. and Canada to recognize and uphold Indigenous Title and Rights, including the right to self-determination, and institute a moratorium on fossil fuel expansion in the wake of clear and present climate catastrophe.”

RELATED: One year after the Wet’suwet’en protests

In a statement released Wednesday, the elected Wet’suwet’en council said the protesters didn’t consult with them before blocking the road and their actions “can’t claim to represent the members of the Gidimt’en or any others in the First Nation.” The elected chief and council have approved the project.

Coastal GasLink has said in statements throughout this week that it’s concerned for its workers, who were at risk of running out of water and other supplies.

“It is unfortunate that the RCMP must take this step so that lawful access to our lodges and public forestry roads can be restored,” it said Thursday. “As soon as it is safe to do so, water and other supplies will be brought into our workforce lodges.”

The pipeline that would transport natural gas from Dawson Creek in northeastern B.C. to Kitimat on the coast is more than halfway finished with almost all of the route cleared and 200 kilometres of pipeline installed so far, the company said. The RCMP’s enforcement of an injunction along this same route on Wet’suwet’en territory sparked nation-wide solidarity protests IN 2019.

The dispute over the 670-kilometre natural gas pipeline flared previously in 2019 and 2020, and protesters who defied the court injunction were arrested.

Opposition to the pipeline among Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs at the time sparked solidarity rallies and rail blockades across Canada last year.

Since then, a memorandum of understanding has been signed between the federal and provincial governments and Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs, easing tensions up until now.