Saturday, February 15, 2020

PIPELINE PROTEST IN NIAGARA FALLS ON SUNDAY COULD MEAN BORDER SHUTDOWN

Friday, February 14th 2020


Some members of Niagara's Indigenous community are planning a protest Sunday to show support for Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs who are opposed to the Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline in BC.

It will happen this Sunday February 16th at 2 p.m. and may impact border traffic heading into and out of the U.S. at the Rainbow Bridge.

The group is meeting at highway 420 and Stanley at 2pm, then walking up the 420 to Rainbow Bridge where they will demonstrate for around an hour.

Indigenous rights advocate, Deane McGean tells CKTB while this is a peaceful, educational event, it will likely obstruct traffic in the area.

Following the gathering at the border the group will head to Oakes Garden Theatre to finish the event off.

"Let it be known that our Brothers and Sisters from Wet’suwet’en Nation are not in this alone. The Niagara Region is home to 16 000 + Indigenous people and we support them. The Government of Canada has continuously failed to meet its legal responsibilities to the original inhabitants - specifically, the Wet’suwet’en Nation. The Wet’suwet’en hereditary governance system predates confederation and they are still here today. This was reaffirmed by the landmark Delgamuukw-Gisday'way case of 1997 (also known as Delgamuukw v. British Columbia)." - Organizing Committee Member

Niagara Indigenous community to rally against pipeline

Demonstration to show support for Wet’suwet’en Nation in British Columbia
NEWS Feb 14, 2020 by Richard Hutton Niagara This Week - Niagara Fall


Niagara Indigenous groups are planning a demonstration on Sunday to show support for members of the Wet’suwet’en Nation in British Columbia, who are fighting to block a pipeline from being built on their territory. - Joelle Kovach/Torstar

Indigenous groups from across the region are gathering in Niagara Falls Sunday to show solidarity with members of the Wet’suwet’en Nation in British Columbia. The demonstration has been organized to draw attention to what the organizers are calling “Canada’s false commitments to reconciliation” in the wake of arrests of members who are protesting the construction of the already-approved Coastal GasLink pipeline. While 20 elected band councils have approved the pipeline construction, chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en have claimed the pipeline can’t proceed through unceded traditional territory without their consent.Tensions flared in recent weeks after the company building the natural gas pipeline, TC Energy, obtained an injunction against any construction blockades from B.C.’s top court. The 670-km pipeline would carry liquefied natural gas from northeastern B.C. to a port in Kitimat, where a conglomerate of companies is building a $40-billion export terminal.Protests have been held across the country, with supporters taking to the streets for demonstrations and blockading rail lines used by CN. The protests have caused disruptions to train service between Toronto and Montreal and Toronto and Ottawa.The Niagara group says in a release that “the use of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, development of an exclusion zone, refusal to negotiate in good faith, and treatment of the press” are of concern.

Demonstrators will meet at 2 p.m. on Sunday at Hwy. 420 and Stanley Avenue before marching to the Rainbow Bridge, where the formal demonstration, including guest speakers, will take place.

After the demonstration, a closing ceremony will be held at the Oakes Garden Theatre.

With files from The Toronto Star.

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