Protesters walk with Wet’suwet’en

Protesters gathered in downtown Fredericton to rally against the pipelines being built in Northern British Columbia.

The overall goal of the partial blockade was to slow down traffic and raise awareness of the forceful shutdown of the Gidumt’en blockade on Wet’suwet’en First Nation in Northern British Columbia.

About 70 people attended the rally. Signs read “No pipelines,” and “People over Pipelines.”

“I’ve never done anything to this scale as organizing goes,” said rally organizer Kyanna Kingbird.

She is a member of the Esgenoôpetitj First nation. Kingbird

wanted to set up a protest to draw attention to the indigenous rights that are being violated across Canada.

“It is a very big deal because this is turning into almost a norm for how you treat indigenous people attempting to assault their sovereign rights over their own lands,” she said.

Protesters met in Officers Square and walked across the Westmoreland St. bridge heading North Bound and then returned continuing back heading Southbound. The goal was to slow down traffic so drivers could read the signs to raise awareness. Police escorted the protesters to ensure no injuries occurred.

Following the rally, protesters met in Officer’s square, standing in a large circle, and were given a chance to speak out.

“What the RCMP did in BC is what they were created to do and it is time for Canada to change, ” said one protester.

He and many others are eager for change and will continue to fight for indigenous rights.

“It’s good to see people who want to step up and learn the power of their own individual being and how when you come forward with something that you care about, you’ll see how much other people care about it as well,” Kingbird said.