Pipeline protesters peacefully disrupt traffic in Kamloops

Photo: Derek Rodgers/DigitalRearranged Photography

Around 40 people staged a peaceful protest at the intersection of Summit and McGill today in Kamloops in support of hereditary chiefs of the Wet'suwet'en nation.

At issue is a natural gas pipeline.

The Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs oppose Coastal GasLink's plans to build a pipeline from Dawson Creek and across northern B.C. to LNG Canada's export terminal in Kitimat.

Fourteen people were arrested more than a year ago when RCMP enforced an injunction that allowed pre-construction across Wet'suwet'en territory for the $6.6-billion project, a key part of the provincially approved $40-billion LNG Canada development.

Following the enforcement, the chiefs reached a deal to allow workers temporary access to the site.

The B.C. Supreme Court granted Coastal GasLink an expanded injunction on Dec. 31 and the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs responded by issuing the company an eviction notice in early January, arguing the company was violating traditional Wet'suwet'en laws.

There has been increasing tension since then, with RCMP saying traps "likely to cause bodily harm," including notched trees and stockpiles of fuel, had been found along a forest service road leading to the pipeline construction area.

An RCMP checkpoint limits access to the region, although hereditary chiefs maintain they hold sole title to the unceded lands and do not support the pipeline.