Wet'suwet'en camp leader, journalists arrested as RCMP enforce pipeline injunction in northern B.C.

Fifteen morepeople, including akey leader in the fight against the Coastal GasLink pipeline as well astwo journalists, were arrested Friday as police action continued against opponents of the projectbeing built west of Prince George, B.C.

RCMPbroke down the doorat a resistance camp, known as Coyote camp,that hasoccupied a key work site for Coastal GasLink since Sept. 25, and arrested multiple occupantsincluding two whopolice say identified themselves as journalists.

The camp hadhalted Coastal GasLink's plans to drill a tunnel for their natural gas pipeline under the Wedzin Kwa river

Police said upon arrival at the camp Friday, they read a copy of a B.C. Supreme Court injunction notice allowing pipeline construction to move forwardand warned those inside to leave multiple times, before forcibly entering and making arrests.

So far, a total of 29 people have been arrested for breach of the B.C. Supreme Court injunction in a multi-day operation by the RCMP which the police force says has also involved removing felled trees and overturned equipment to make forest service roads supporting pipeline construction passable.

Jennifer Wickham, media coordinator for theGidimt'en Checkpoint, said her sister Sleydo' also known as Molly Wickham was among those arrested Friday.

Sleydo' has been a key voice of opposition and organization against the pipeline.

The Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) said those arrested Friday also included photojournalistAmber Bracken, who was on assignment for news outlet The Narwhal, and documentary filmmaker Michael Toledano.

In a statement, the CAJ said it is "deeply concerned" by the arrests and is seeking more information. The Narwhal, in a statement of its own, said it "extremely disturbed" by the arrest and said Bracken was carrying a formal letter of assignment with her.

Latest in standoff over pipeline

On Nov. 18, 14 people were arrested as RCMP dismantled blockades along the Morice River Forest Service Road that lead to twoworkcamps.

The blockades stranded about 500 Coastal GasLink employees, causing water rations and fears over food shortages, after the company declined to comply with an eviction notice issued by the Gidimt'en Checkpoint, which controls access to part of the Wet'suwet'en territory.

Police said of the14 people arrested Nov. 18, one has been released with no charges, eight have been released with conditions and five are being transported to Prince George for a court appearance Monday.

WATCH |Renewed Wet'suwet'en pipeline standoff results in arrests:

Renewed Wetsuweten pipeline standoff results in arrests

3 years ago

Duration 2:06

Several people were arrested at a barricade put up by Wetsuweten members and hereditary chiefs who oppose the Coastal Gas Link Pipeline, despite the project having the support of the First Nations elected chiefs.

Sleydo' said last month that members of the Gidimt'en are making their stand now to protect the Wedzin Kwa. "It's our sacred headwaters, our clean drinking water, and our salmon spawning river," she said.

In 2020, the enforcement of a B.C. Supreme Court injunction led to solidarity protests across Canada, including the shutdown of railways in eastern Ontario.

Members of the Gidimt'en Clancalled on supporters to repeat history and shut down key infrastructure, like highways and railways.

In response, support rallies occurredincommunities across the country on Fridayincluding in Victoria, Toronto and Caledonia, Ont., wherethe Highway 6 bypass was shut down.

"The Wet'suwet'enpeople have been defending the yintah[territory]for thousands of years and that is never going to stop,"said Wickham.

Coastal GasLink has signed deals with 20 First Nation elected band councils along the pipeline route, including from Wet'suwet'en territory, but has not won approval of the majority of hereditary chiefs.

The elected council of the Wet'suwet'en First Nationissued a statement Wednesday condemning the ongoing pipeline resistance.

A day later, the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs released a statement in solidarity with the Gidimt'en membersof the Wet'suwet'en Nation.

In an online statement issued by the Office of the Wet'suwet'enon Friday,thehereditary chiefs of the clans of the Wet'suwet'encondemned the police raids.

"We have not nor will ever support the CGL pipeline... we declare that RCMP are not welcome on out territories," the statement signed by 12 hereditary chiefs representing fiveWet'suwet'en clans read.

Coastal GasLinksaid in an online statement Friday that supplies have been reaching the two worker camps that were previously cut off. The company called the steps taken by the RCMP "unfortunate" but necessary to restore access to bring supplies, including food and water, to their employees and contractors.