On December 19, anti-pipeline, Indigenous activists claimed they took control of a pipeline site, dubbing it “Coyote Camp,” evicting the legally protected Coastal GasLink workers.
The actions of the extremist militia directly contravenes the wishes of all associated democratically elected indigenous band councils.
According to a news release published by the Wet’suwet’en activists, “Gidimt’en land defenders and supporters have once again evicted Coastal Gaslink workers from a key pipeline drill site, protecting Wet’suwet’en headwaters and re-occupying the area known as “Coyote Camp.”
“Early Sunday,” they continue, “in observance of Wet’suwet’en law, land defenders enforced the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs’ 2020 Eviction Notice to Coastal Gaslink, removing pipeline workers and re-establishing the blockade that ended on Nov 19th after two days of militarized police raids.”
The Wet’suwet’en activists claim that their actions are motivated by racial grievances and claim the RCMP unlawfully removed their people to build the Coastal GasLink pipeline.
Approximately 100 RCMP, equipped with assault weapons, sniper rifles, and dogs were deployed while floodwaters raged throughout the province, to facilitate construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline and the theft of sovereign Wet'suwet'en land.
— Gidimt’en Checkpoint (@Gidimten) December 20, 2021
They further claim that “The Wet’suwet’en people have never sold, surrendered, or in any way relinquished title to Wet’suwet’en land.”
This isn’t the first time Wet’suwet’en activists working under the banner of the Gidimt’en Checkpoint and Yintah Access organization have seized a pipeline facility, and it will not be the last.
In fact, just last month, the group staged a raid which led to 15 activists being arrested and tried in court — though no criminal charges were laid.
These extremists, who are playing off mainstream media incompetence are not a legal authority and hold no rights over the area in dispute.
