As members of B.C.SA国际影视传媒檚 Wet始suwet始en Nation continue to resist the development of the Coastal GasLink pipeline project amid intensifying police action on traditional, unceded Wet始suwet始en land, demonstrators took to the streets of Yellowknife Friday to show support and solidarity, while condemning recent arrests at the hands of CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 national police force.
Clutching SA国际影视传媒淩espect Existence or Expect ResistanceSA国际影视传媒� signs and chanting SA国际影视传媒榃ater is Life,SA国际影视传媒� more than two dozen demonstrators gathered in front of NWT MP Michael McLeodSA国际影视传媒檚 constituency office on 48 Street.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e trying to be loud about an issue that matters and affects all of us,SA国际影视传媒� said demonstrator Ady McLeod.
SA国际影视传媒�(Michael McLeod) needs to be acting. The Indigenous people of Canada deserve to be defended on their own land. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 time to speak up,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
On Thursday, arrested six protesters at a camp on Wet'suwet'en territory. The arrests come as police begin to enforce an injunction recently ordered by B.C.SA国际影视传媒檚 Supreme Court. Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs say Coastal GasLink has no authority on its traditional lands.
Opponents of the multi-billion dollar pipeline say the project will have devastating environmental consequences to the First NationSA国际影视传媒檚 water and wildlife.
Coleen Hardisty, a protester previously involved in Yellowknife demonstrations against the Dakota Access Pipeline, called Thursday's arrests extremely troubling.
She felt SA国际影视传媒渟orrowSA国际影视传媒� and SA国际影视传媒減anicSA国际影视传媒� watching Wet始suwet始en Nation members being forcibly removed from blockades.
Hardisty was among demonstrators who took their concerns direc
tly into McLeodSA国际影视传媒檚 office.
The Liberal MP was in Ottawa on Friday, a staffer told demonstrators.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檇 like to know what his plan is for when companies come for our drinking water,SA国际影视传媒� said Hardisty. SA国际影视传媒淏ecause itSA国际影视传媒檚 inevitable.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淲hy is the federal government allowing the national police force, the , to forcibly remove people from their own lands?,SA国际影视传媒� another demonstrator asked a McLeod staffer, who jotted down questions and concerns to relay to the MP.
As someone who often exercises her right to protest, Adithi Balaji told SA国际影视传媒 the recent arrests of peaceful protesters shocked her.
SA国际影视传媒淭hey were just fighting for what they believed in,SA国际影视传媒� said Balaji.
SA国际影视传媒淭he idea the could just come here now and arrest us is terrifying.SA国际影视传媒�
FridaySA国际影视传媒檚 demonstration in Yellowknife was one of many displays of solidarity held across the country in recent weeks.
