Hundreds gathered outside the Kelowna Law Courts to take part in a rally to show solidarity with Wet香蕉视频直播檚uwet香蕉视频直播檈n First Nation in its fight against the Coastal Gaslink Pipeline last Sunday.
Last Thursday, RCMP began enforcing an injunction order against Wet香蕉视频直播檚uwet香蕉视频直播檈n hereditary chiefs and supporters blocking a liquefied natural gas project that goes through its traditional territory in B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 northwest region.
Since then, six people were arrested at a protest camp as well as another 11 for allegedly barricading themselves in a warming centre along the only access road to the construction site for the contentious pipeline project, which runs across Wet香蕉视频直播檚uwet香蕉视频直播檈n territory.
Protesters are matching down Water Street.
香蕉视频直播� Michael Rodriguez (@MichaelRdrguez)
Dixon Terbasket helped organize Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 rally. As a member of the Syilx First Nation and wildlife technician with the Okanagan Nation Alliance, he was happy to see people of all ethnicities come together to support Canada香蕉视频直播檚 First Nations people and their land.
香蕉视频直播淲hat we香蕉视频直播檙e doing is trying to create awareness,香蕉视频直播� said Terbasket.
香蕉视频直播淚 just want to be respected as a human being, as somebody from this land and my children should have the same opportunities as (everyone else).
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 good to see people from all different backgrounds here. There香蕉视频直播檚 an open dialogue created by people supporting us.
香蕉视频直播滻t香蕉视频直播檚 not just those guys, it香蕉视频直播檚 us guys and that makes a big difference.香蕉视频直播�
The pipeline, which is part of a massive $40 billion LNG Canada liquefied natural gas export terminal project, runs from Dawson Creek to Kitimat.
The forestry road is part of an ongoing exclusion zone, which means that only police officers, hereditary chiefs or elected officials and media have been allowed through the checkpoint.
READ MORE: VIDEO: Six arrested as RCMP enforce injunction at Wet香蕉视频直播檚uwet香蕉视频直播檈n anti-pipeline camps
As tensions remain high along the rural northern B.C. road, a number of demonstrators had been protesting RCMP actions by occupying the legislature in Victoria for more than 24 hours.
Another protest shut down access to the Port of Vancouver.
Gail Classens, one of the rally organizers in Kelowna, said it was important to take action.
香蕉视频直播淲e saw the call for international solidarity actions,香蕉视频直播� said Classens.
香蕉视频直播淭here was the raid on Thursday and then we decided that we had to do something to answer that call, so we made a Facebook event and it started circulating.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 really happy with the turnout.香蕉视频直播�
While the Syilx First Nation is more than 10 hours away from the Wet香蕉视频直播檚uwet香蕉视频直播檈n First Nation, Classens said it香蕉视频直播檚 important to unite as one and show solidarity.
香蕉视频直播淚 think it香蕉视频直播檚 extremely important, (the Wet香蕉视频直播檚uwet香蕉视频直播檈n First Nation) has asked for solidarity events and I think it香蕉视频直播檚 important to stand up and try to fight back even if we are from somewhere that香蕉视频直播檚 far away.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播� with files from Ashley Wadhwani
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