This thread will continue to be updated as the day goes on
After over a week of speculation, RCMP have confirmed they will be enforcing an injunction against a Gidimt’en Camp in Wet’suwet’en territory.
A temporary injunction issued by the BC Supreme Court last month, requested protestors leave the camps and allow Coastal GasLink workers access to the territory.
Initially, the injunction was issued against a Unist’ot’en camp blocking the Morice River Bridge, but was later extended to cover the Gidimt’en camp that was established after it was made.
Over the past week, members of the Gidimt’en tribe stationed at the camp, near Houston, noted increased RCMP pressence, and a number of hotels in the area being filled with additional police.
This morning, RCMP confirmed the speculation, issuing a statement saying they would be enforcing the injunction.
As part of the enforcement, police will be setting up a number of exclusion zones and road closures.
11:29 am
Gidimt’en clan member Jennifer Wickham noted 23 marked and unmarked vehicles en route to the camp.
According to Wickham, cell phone service has been spotty at the camp, which could cause issues maintaining contact with the camp.
A recent update from the camp says RCMP gave chiefs until noon to get past the road block.
We will continue to update you as more information becomes available.
12:36
RCMP arrived at the Gidimt’en camp roughly an hour ago and began blocking access to those attempting to enter.
Police had given Chiefs until noon to pass the blockade, with access denied to all others.
1:14
Certain house chiefs have been allowed access past the blockade, while others, particularly certain Unist’ot’en chiefs have reportedly been denied access.
Supporters outside the camp have gathered at kilometre 27 of Morice River Road to back those within.
2:39
RCMP are actively blocking individuals from passing the blockade set up at the 27 km mark.
3:30
Reports from outside the RCMP blockade as of 3:00 this afternoon are that members of the RCMP have begun to make their way past the checkpoint.
According to on-site witnesses, they are also accompanied by members of the military.
No actions have been officially reported as of yet.
4:15
At roughly 3:00 this afternoon, RCMP and members of the military began to breach the blockade and move in to the Gidimt’en camp.
Communications from within the camp have gone dark for the time being.
Those within the camp believe police to be blocking outbound communications.
According to spokesperson Freda Huson, police have also begun to make their way toward the Unist’ot’en camp.
Huson further stressed fears of RCMP severing communications from the camps.
5:11
Unofficial reports from within the camps are that at least 11 individuals have been arrested following the breaching of the camp’s gates.
Believed to be among the arrested individuals is Gidimt’en spokesperson Molly Wickham.
Rallies being held across Canada
Rallies have been planned in 26 cities across Canada in support of the Wet’suwet’en Nation over the RCMP enforcement in their territories.
From Halifax to Victoria, residents will gather tomorrow to stand with the Nation in opposition of the injunction issued against the Gidimt’en and Unist’ot’en camps.
As RCMP begin to enforce the injunction against the Gidimt’en camp, Nation member Jennifer Wickham says it is important to note that the Wet’suwet’en people have never given consent to allow the construction of the pipeline.
Wickham says that by enforcing the injunction, the RCMP and government are ignoring their title rights.
All five of the Wet’suwet’en clans stand unanimously opposed to the pipleine proposal across their 22 thousand square kilometers of land.
You can follow this link to a Facebook page with details on the rallies.
Nathan Cullen supports discussions
In a statement released this afternoon, Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen says he intended to attend the checkpoint to show his support for a peaceful resolution.
Cullen says he helped secure passage through the blockade for a number of Chiefs so that they could take part in contained dialogue with RCMP.
On top of that, Cullen says he has been in contact with TransCanada, as well as both the Federal and Provincial Governments.
He is calling for the Federal Government to engage in discussions with the Wet’suwet’en to demonstrate their commitment to meaningful reconciliation.
Breakdown of Coastal GasLink discussions
According to Wet’suwet’en Chief Dune Za Namox (denee Zay Numox), a lack of openmindednes led to the breakdown of discussions with Coastal GasLink.
He went on to say that those in attendance were there for peaceful discussions, but ended up being restricted from entering their own land.
