Yesterday morning, police in Ontario began arresting land defenders on Tyendinaga territory near Belleville who were protesting next to the CN Rail line that cuts through Mohawk territory. The Tyendinaga Mohawk are acting in support of the Hereditary Chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation who continue say “no” to the construction of the Coastal Gaslink (CGL) pipeline on their ancestral lands. Read more about the Wet’suwet’en’s fight for their rights.
The Canadian government, British Columbia government and RCMP are violating these rights by arresting land protectors and occupying Wet’suwet’en lands so the CGL pipeline can move forward.
The federal government must instead work to end the blockades by removing the RCMP from Wet’suwet’en territory, sending CGL away, and meeting with the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs. These actions would show that the federal government respects Wet’suwet’en law and the rulings of the Supreme Court of Canada.
Canada must address Indigenous Peoples’ long-standing grievances and injustices and recognize their legitimate right to self-determination. This situation is the result of a shameful history of colonization and dispossession that can no longer be ignored. Our governments cannot justify their illegal actions as being in the national interest. Over the past few weeks, Council of Canadians supporters have shown up in solidarity with Wet’suwet’en land defenders from coast–to coast–to coast.
Join me in taking action following today’s arrests on Tyendinaga territory. It’s important to continue to show provincial and federal governments that thousands of Canadians support land defenders – and to let them know that we’re watching.
Here’s what you can do:
- Continue to show up in solidarity with land defenders. Find local events.
- Write a statement showing your solidarity with the land defenders and share it on your social media. Read the Council of Canadians’ newest piece about the five things you should know about the Wet’suwet’en’s fight for their rights.
- Write a short letter to the editor in your local community paper (or a national paper) showing your solidarity with land defenders. You can use the Council of Canadians’ tool for writing to your local paper to send it.
Thank you for your ongoing support of land defenders.