Edmontonians march in solidarity with Wet’suwet’en people who oppose Coastal GasLink project
Global News
More than 100 people took part in a protest on Edmonton's High Level Bridge on Monday night to show solidarity with Wet’suwet’en people who oppose a natural gas pipeline project.
More than 100 people took part in a protest on Edmonton’s High Level Bridge on Monday night to show solidarity with Wet’suwet’en people who oppose a natural gas pipeline project that would run through the First Nation’s territory in northern B.C.
Protesters stopped as songs were sung before walking across the bridge that connects downtown Edmonton to Old Strathcona. Vehicle traffic was stalled on the bridge as protesters crossed the span.
Some protesters could be heard chanting “land back” while others spoke critically of the RCMP’s actions with regard to protests at the site of the actual pipeline in B.C.
Similar solidarity protests to the one held in Edmonton Monday night have taken place in other Canadian cities. Three days ago, dozens of protesters blocked a major intersection in Winnipeg. Among other things, they called on the RCMP to leave the First Nation’s territory in B.C.
The Coastal GasLink project is a 670-kilometre pipeline that would transport natural gas from Dawson Creek to Kitimat. It is already more than half completed. According to Coastal GasLink, almost all of the route is cleared and 200 kilometres of pipeline has already been installed.
TC Energy is the Calgary-based company that is building the pipeline.
The elected council of the Wet’suwet’en Nation and others nearby have agreed to the project, but it has been opposed by Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs.