All Things First Nations - CF help, protests, solutions, residential schools, etc. (merged)

[The Bread Guy]

... A few protestors and supporters, following the advice of contemporary and prior activists, have explicitly declared that the point of blockades is to create economic harm, or, in plain terms, to steal.  The idea is to steal from parties with no power to directly meet demands in the hopes that they will indirectly assist by applying pressure to those with power to meet demands ...

When you phrase it that way, sounds an awful lot like a strike could fit into that rubric, too.  "Stealing" vs. "Denying".  That may be tough to differentiate ...

 

[Kirkhill]

I’m not sure we want to go down the American path of niche police services all over the place. I’m bloody sure I don’t want police powers in the hand of agencies entirely answerable to corporations. We’ve already seen recently that CN might have unduly influences an investigation by their police into a triple fatal train wreck.

Maybe not, but I thought we already had "niche" police services.  The Canadian Pacific police (1881) are older than the OPP (1909) and many others.  And they are federally authorized.

Would the problems go away if pipelines and powerlines were built on CN/CP rights of way as common, federally authorized rights of way?  Policed by the existing federally authorized police?

 

[Brad Sallows]

>When you phrase it that way, sounds an awful lot like a strike could fit into that rubric, too.  "Stealing" vs. "Denying".  That may be tough to differentiate ...

Strikes and lockouts usually occur after an exhausted sequence of other measures taken to negotiate a contract, and may be avoided entirely if one particular measure - binding arbitration - is accepted by the parties.

Strikers, and companies which lock out workers, are also stealing from themselves.

Workers and companies are the parties directly concerned, and each is the other's primary target.

Job actions mostly occur within the boundaries of well-established laws and rules.  Protests can also do so, but at least some of the current protestors jumped outside that framework immediately.

I suppose we could say that the people who broke into my garden shed and removed my chainsaw are "denying" me its use?

 

[Colin Parkinson]

After poll results came in with a vast majority not supporting the protesters, JT apparently has borrowed a spine, perhaps from Butts?

 

[Kirkhill]

I don't knoow if this has been posted yet - but here is the alternative to the Belleville method of managing the situation.

A CN Policeman, Edmonton city police and well-mannered concerned citizens assisting the lawful authorities in the performance of their duties.

‘Not in our backyard’: Alberta Wet’suwet’en rail blockade meets stiff opposition and shuts down after injunction granted

By Kieran Leavitt
Edmonton Bureau

Wed., Feb. 19, 2020

EDMONTON—Supporters of Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs stood arm-in-arm around their railway barricade just outside Edmonton Wednesday afternoon as a man approached each of them with copies of legal documents from CN rail.

“You’ve been served,” he told them.

Moments later, as the blockade of about 40 people began to be dismantled, gleeful cheers erupted from counterprotesters, some of whom had spent the past few hours arguing and yelling at the protesters.

The blockade popped up in early Wednesday morning just west of Alberta’s capital city and lasted for about 10 hours. It was the latest addition to protests aimed at shutting down Canada’s railways in support of Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs in British Columbia, who have been opposing a natural gas pipeline.

And here, in the heart of Canada’s oil country, the scene had at times been tense.

A counter protestor argues with supporters of the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs as they block a CN Rail line just west of Edmonton Alta, on Wednesday February 19, 2020.

City police and officers with the CN police watched as a group of 15 counterprotesters derided the Wet’suwet’en supporters and swore at them, calling them lawbreakers and “Liberal paid friggin’ protesters,” and trying to break down the barricade the demonstrators had set up.

Some passersby honked their horns in support, while others hurled insults from their car windows.

The demonstrators said they wanted to stay until Prime Minister Justin Trudeau intervened and the RCMP vacated Wet’suwet’en territory in British Columbia.

“The group is acting in solidarity with thousands of people across Turtle Island (North America) who are calling on the RCMP and Coastal GasLink (CGL) to leave Wet’suwet’en territory immediately,” a statement from the protesters said.

Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs have said they will do everything they can to stop Coastal GasLink from building the pipeline, claiming they hold the title and right to determine what happens in their traditional territory, not the elected band councils responsible for decisions on reserves.

Coastal GasLink has maintained it has the support of every elected body on its proposed pipeline route, which is meant to supply natural gas to the B.C. coast, where it would be converted to liquefied natural gas for export. The project would span 670 kilometres from Dawson Creek to Kitimat and is expected to create between 2,000 and 2,500 jobs.

Tents, supplies and food were brought in to the Alberta blockade throughout the day.

A 20-year-old student, who wore a black balaclava and would only identify himself as Poundmaker, said that he was “ready to stand by my convictions.”

“Making sure that we have freedom, justice and peace,” he said. “But, yeah, I’m ready to get arrested for that, so that’s how it is.”

He said he knew there would be opposition, but stressed that the protest wasn’t only about pipelines.

“This is about Indigenous sovereignty and Indigenous rights,” he said. “The RCMP forcefully removed Indigenous people from their lands … it’s disturbing.”

But after they were served with the lawsuit notice from CN — and a short conversation amongst themselves about who was prepared to get arrested — most began to pack up so they could leave.

The copies of the CN notice said that the rail protesters were being sued for unlawfully obstructing the railway and that the company was seeking an injunction against them. An Edmonton judge granted CN Rail a 30-day injunction for all of Alberta on Wednesday.

Lawyers said the blockade had held up 14 trains by lunchtime.

Guy Simpson, an oil industry worker, was at the scene for several hours arguing with the protesters. He eventually started grabbing plywood, pallets and barrels, attempting to tear down the main barricade. He said he was simply trying to clean up “litter.”

And, in fairness to the protesters, they also appeared to control their behaviour.

- Mod edit to add link to article -

 

[Jarnhamar]

Editing

 

[ModlrMike]

Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs have said they will do everything they can to stop Coastal GasLink from building the pipeline, claiming they hold the title and right to determine what happens in their traditional territory, not the elected band councils responsible for decisions on reserves.

And there, for anyone paying attention, is the kernel of the issue. This isn't about CGL, or even the RCMP. It's about who gets to run the show.

 

[The Bread Guy]

Some of the latest for the record from the PM's info-machine ...

Today (Friday 21 Feb 2020), Prime Minister Justin Trudeau convened the Incident Response Group to discuss work underway to end the blockades and restore rail service across the country, and updates on the Ukraine International Airlines tragedy and the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

(...)

The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister updated the group on their continued work to end the blockades. The Prime Minister spoke about his call yesterday with the Council of the Federation, during which he and the premiers talked about the very real impacts the blockades are having on people and businesses across the country. They are focused on restoring fully functional rail service to the country and are actively looking at options to resolve the situation, while remaining committed to building trust and respect among all parties involved.

Minister of Transport Marc Garneau updated the group on the economic impacts of the blockades on Canadian farmers, businesses, and families. Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Carolyn Bennett and Minister of Indigenous Services Marc Miller discussed their ongoing outreach to Indigenous leaders across the country. They noted that the repeated offers to meet with Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs to address immediate and long-term issues have not yet been accepted. Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair provided an overview of the current situation, while emphasizing the critical importance of police independence to ensure trust in our institutions. With RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki, he updated the Prime Minister and ministers on current RCMP operations, including their offer to withdraw from Wet’suwet’en territory to encourage an open dialogue.

The Prime Minister and ministers will continue to work directly with premiers and Indigenous leaders to resolve this situation as soon as possible. The Government of Canada’s priority remains to resolve it peacefully, while protecting the rule of law in our country.

(...)

 

[Oldgateboatdriver]

Well! One Down, No Violence:

https://www.tvanouvelles.ca/2020/02/22/fin-de-siege-a-saint-lambert

Basically, the police (local suburban force) surrounded the area and cut all access to further supporters and more importantly to further supplies. It also made clear to those on the barricade that they could not escape. Then they moved in crowd control group to an ostensible location - to be clearly seen by the protesters - and sent in regular cops to have a "final" little chat with them. Within an hour, they had moved everything out and peacefully dispersed.

The snow was cleared from the tracks starting 20 minutes later. VIA will resume Montreal-Quebec service Monday morning, as will EXO (Montreal's equivalent to GO trains) service. Also, this means all train supply for Eastern points, including the Atlantic provinces, from the Port of Montreal will resume.

I thought we should start the day with some good news.  :nod:

 

[brihard]

Well! One Down, No Violence:

https://www.tvanouvelles.ca/2020/02/22/fin-de-siege-a-saint-lambert

Basically, the police (local suburban force) surrounded the area and cut all access to further supporters and more importantly to further supplies. It also made clear to those on the barricade that they could not escape. Then they moved in crowd control group to an ostensible location - to be clearly seen by the protesters - and sent in regular cops to have a "final" little chat with them. Within an hour, they had moved everything out and peacefully dispersed.

The snow was cleared from the tracks starting 20 minutes later. VIA will resume Montreal-Quebec service Monday morning, as will EXO (Montreal's equivalent to GO trains) service. Also, this means all train supply for Eastern points, including the Atlantic provinces, from the Port of Montreal will resume.

I thought we should start the day with some good news.  :nod:

Good.

I’m concerned we might start seeing smaller, dispersed pop-up blockades that hit and fade in such a manner as to present the rail companies from being able to safely run trains. Alternatively we may see outright minor sabotage.

The vulnerability of our economy to a couple arterial rail links has been demonstrated. That vulnerability remains, spending on how dedicated the other wise is / how stupid a few might be willing to get.

 

[AbdullahD]

Good.

I’m concerned we might start seeing smaller, dispersed pop-up blockades that hit and fade in such a manner as to present the rail companies from being able to safely run trains. Alternatively we may see outright minor sabotage.

The vulnerability of our economy to a couple arterial rail links has been demonstrated. That vulnerability remains, spending on how dedicated the other wise is / how stupid a few might be willing to get.

You are spot on, we have had pop up blockades on the northline here outside of what has been shown on the news. Since we employ a LOT of natives and/or people related to natives, we get to hear the rumors. Right now the rumors are Moricetown will be getting another Blockade.. the first one that happened after the Hazelton one came down was a fellow blocking the rail with his snowplow (a suicidal act in my opinion).

They also had some closer to Prince Rupert but the port and related businesses employ around 3,800 natives and those natives shut it down.. quickly.

I do find it extremely interesting how those protesting, have been able to miss so much work, especially in an area were 100k+/yr jobs are being handed out to anyone who can breathe.. so yeah the time to protest and the lack of anything more important or pressing to do, is quite.. interesting. Not to mention were they have been putting up blockades.. in areas that take more work to blockade.. but are closer to certain communities and demographics.

But I think my viewpoints are well understood. So I will let this lay.
Abdullah

 

[SeaKingTacco]

You are spot on, we have had pop up blockades on the northline here outside of what has been shown on the news. Since we employ a LOT of natives and/or people related to natives, we get to hear the rumors. Right now the rumors are Moricetown will be getting another Blockade.. the first one that happened after the Hazelton one came down was a fellow blocking the rail with his snowplow (a suicidal act in my opinion).

They also had some closer to Prince Rupert but the port and related businesses employ around 3,800 natives and those natives shut it down.. quickly.

I do find it extremely interesting how those protesting, have been able to miss so much work, especially in an area were 100k+/yr jobs are being handed out to anyone who can breathe.. so yeah the time to protest and the lack of anything more important or pressing to do, is quite.. interesting. Not to mention were they have been putting up blockades.. in areas that take more work to blockade.. but are closer to certain communities and demographics.

But I think my viewpoints are well understood. So I will let this lay.
Abdullah

Abdullah,

Thanks for the Northwestern BC update, from somebody who knows the area and its people.

 

[Jarnhamar]

Planned meeting between feds, Wet’suwet’en now delayed due to Trudeau’s comments: chief
https://globalnews.ca/news/6581735/wetsuweten-meeting-delayed-chief/amp/


:

 

[SeaKingTacco]

Planned meeting between feds, Wet’suwet’en now delayed due to Trudeau’s comments: chief
https://globalnews.ca/news/6581735/wetsuweten-meeting-delayed-chief/amp/


:

Did these guys go to a school in North Korea to learn negotiating?

They have a federal government that is terrified of bad press on this file. Nearly no reasonable will be refused. And they won't talk. Because, reasons....

 

[Jarnhamar]

Did these guys go to a school in North Korea to learn negotiating?

They have a federal government that is terrified of bad press on this file. Nearly no reasonable will be refused. And they won't talk. Because, reasons....

If they ended up talking and were offered some kind of fair deal or compromise then they would be the bad guys if they refused. This way they don't have to worry about being put in that situation, tI'm sure they'll continue to keep finding reasons to stall. I don't think their goal here is to find a solution.

 

[Brad Sallows]

If the position is "no pipeline", what is it that is being negotiated, exactly?

 

[Colin Parkinson]

If the position is "no pipeline", what is it that is being negotiated, exactly?

The price of "Yes"

 

[OldSolduer]

The price of "Yes"

Follow the money.

 

[brihard]

OPP are breaking up the blockade near Belleville as I type this. Already at least one arrest. There’s a protest scheduled for Parliament Hill this morning, and probably we’ll see more activity as the prairies and B.C. wake up... I hope this stays as peaceful as circumstances allow.

 

[OldSolduer]

OPP are breaking up the blockade near Belleville as I type this. Already at least one arrest. There’s a protest scheduled for Parliament Hill this morning, and probably we’ll see more activity as the prairies and B.C. wake up... I hope this stays as peaceful as circumstances allow.

I have to say that I hope everyone comes through this with no serious injuries or deaths. Also, I hope the police are painted in a positive light. It seems they are tarred with the "bad guy" brush no matter what they do.