Wet’suwet’en solidarity protest blocks roads at STU
Student protestors at St. Thomas University took a stand against the Coastal GasLink project by blockading the road during a blizzard.
Indigenous student Nadia Wysote encouraged non-indigenous people to practice empathy for the Wet’suwet’en.
“I would say to all Canadians and everyone living in Canada to learn Canada’s real truth, and learn the truth that is not taught in schools, because Indigenous history is also Canadian history,” said Wysote.
The blockade was done in support of the Wet’suwet’en peoples opposed to the pipeline running through their territory. Conflict over the consent of the elected chiefs and the opposition of the hereditary chiefs has sparked blockade protests across Canada.
“We need to block the forts, block the rails, block the roads, until they start following their own laws, and they respect indigenous rights,” said Naomi Gullison, the leader of the rally.
The short blockade was part of the hour long rally put on by STU sustainability in collaboration with Gullison. She also wants the university to stop investing in oil and gas companies.
She says that STU funds TransCanada Energy, the company responsible for the Coastal Gaslink project, and that this is a betrayal of their indigenous students.
Ron Tremblay, chief of the Wolastoq Grand Council, also attended, and thanked students for their support. He says that Canada is breaking its own laws by allowing the pipeline project to move forward.
“We here in the east coast never surrendered one drop of earth, one drop of water, and one breath of air,” Said Tremblay.
The blockade was preceded by a song, after which Gullison urged protestors not to use violence, and to break up the blockade when asked. She said that violence is not the Wet’suwet’en way.
When protestors were approached by UNB security and asked to leave, the blockade quickly dissolved.
Cars who approached the blockade were given ample room to turn around, although there were concerns about driving conditions in the snow.