Hamilton man, 73, arrested after Wet'suwet'en solidarity rally, says Canadians have to 'push issue forward'

Nearly a month after Shawn Selway was arrested in Hamilton at a demonstration in support of Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs, the well-known Hamilton resident, recently named "North Ender of the Year," says he plans to continue show his support for Indigenous people in Canada. 

Selway had left a Nov. 21 demonstration when he was stopped by police and arrested for mischief.

The 73-year-old, who was recognized by the North End Neighbourhood Association earlier this year for his community involvement, was at the event to support Indigenous land defenders resisting the Coastal GasLink pipeline in northern British Columbia.

Selway says despite his arrest, he is frustrated to see governments voice support for reconciliation while disregarding the Wet'suwet'en on their own territory, and will keep showing support. 

"That tells me that we, the Canadian people, who are waiting for our representatives to do what they said they'd do, are going to have to push this issue forward," he said.

"So when Indigenous people call for us, the rest of the people, to show support for them, we ought to get out there and do it."

The Hamilton demonstration last month was part of a national show of support, three days after the RCMP arrested more than a dozen people and cleared barricades placed by Wet'suwet'en and Haudenosaunee people opposing the pipeline's construction on unceded territory.

Selway says he had helped paint a message on a blocked-off section of Bay Street, in front of the federal building, in support of the chiefs. "ALL OUT FOR WEDZIN KWA," read the hot pink block letters, using the Wet'suwet'en name for the Morice River in British Columbia. The waterway is central to the dispute over the construction project, which includes plans to drill a tunnel underneath it.

"The Wet'suwet'en, and the Six Nations people who have been out there supporting them, called for a broad show of support across the country," says Selway. "The call went out here in Hamilton, so I attended."

He was in front of nearby Firstontario Centre when he was stopped by two Hamilton police officers and informed he was under arrest, he said.

"I was handcuffed and taken to the station," he said, noting he was detained for about four hours and questioned by a detective. "I was apparently the only one arrested. I couldn't see why they were making quite such a big deal of it."

Selway says police kept his phone, boots, coat, gloves and hat as evidence, sending him home in "a pair of blue, polyester booties." He says he has no idea what they expect to find on his phone, but he'd like to get it back. "I find it to be quite punitive."

Police confirmed to CBC Hamilton that Selway is charged with mischief under $5,000. They had previously announced that one person was arrested at the event. 

"As the matter is before the courts no further information can be released," said Const. Krista-Lee Ernst in an email.