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January 24, 2020

12 Anti-Pipeline Activists Arrested in Wet'suwet'en Solidarity Protest
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In Canada, police arrested 12 indigenous youth activists early Wednesday
morning, ending their day-long sit-in occupation of the offices of the
Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources in British Columbia.
Their protest was the latest among dozens of solidarity actions taken in
support of the Wet'suwet'en First Nation, which is resisting the $6.6
billion Coastal Gas Link fracked gas pipeline. Earlier this month,
Wet'suwet'en leaders evicted construction workers from the territory and
set up a road blockade that cut off access to a Coastal Gas Link
worksite. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have since set up a
checkpoint nearby, raising fears of a raid. This is First Nations
activist Ta'Kaiya Blaney, one of the 12 arrested on Wednesday.

Ta'Kaiya Blaney: "Because what indigenous people remember and Canada has
forgot is that we have a sacred obligation to this land. As human
beings, we all have a responsibility to that which gives us life. And as
indigenous peoples who have safeguarded and stewarded these territories
since time immemorial, it is crucial that our sovereignty be respected
for our collective climate future."



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