Protest in New Brunswick Grows

THUNDER BAY – Aboriginal News - Protesters in New Brunswick against shale gas development came to a line of Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers in St. Charles New Brunswick.

From the scene, Steven Standing Wolfpaw Kakinoosit reports, “What a tense day today. Had two showdowns with police today. First was by the 134 site. That one was tense, but things got very tense at the second showdown by St-Charles. Thought for sure that the RCMP were going to charge our lines at the second showdown. The were geared up and ready to fight, they even had bean bag shotguns. They looked like those shotguns from the Buck Hunter Arcade game”.

Rallying support for Elsipogtog First Nation

“The most tense moment for me was when I saw and heard the police select and target my girlfriend. I was filled with pride when she began to sing a prayer and healing song for the RCMP, their families and all of us,” adds Standing Wolfpaw Kakinoosit.

“Its is just more proof that the police are only here to serve corporate interests and would even think for a second to try and harm three women who were simply sitting on the ground,” continues Standing Wolfpaw Kakinoosit.

Anti Fracking Protests

The protests are mounting in frequency. Aboriginal people, as keepers of the land, see the issue as one key to their role in society, and key to the future of Mother Earth and Turtle Island.

For Monday, December 2nd the move is to increase the scope of the protests.

The message from New Brunswick from the protestors who are calling themselves the HWY 11 Land Defenders is to “Show solidarity by taking action in your community. Where possible, highway shutdowns are encouraged however any action of support, such as banner drops, are welcome”.

Thunder Bay Connection

In Thunder Bay following a meeting between Ontario and the Fort William First Nation, over the Big Thunder Wind Park, a motion was brought forward at the Chiefs of Ontario meeting offering support to the Robertson Superior Treaty nations in their ongoing fight to protect the Nor’Wester Mountain Escarpment.

Some from the First Nation are vowing to go to the mountain and occupy it.

Others are stepping up into grassroots political action. Sources tell NetNewsLedger that there will be a focused campaign to get out the Aboriginal vote in the next provincial and civic election. The goal of that effort will be sending a political message to Queen’s Park over how Fort William First Nation and Aboriginal issues are handled in Thunder Bay.

Steven Standing Wolfpaw Kakinoosit and Amber-Lynn Running Wolf, are from the Vancouver area. They travelled across Canada arriving in New Brunswick to support the Elsipogtog First Nation people in their struggle to protect their lands.

When they return it is likely they will be meeting with people from all of the communities they traveled through on their journey. It is likely from this effort there will be the seeds of future activists planted by their actions.

The group is associated with the Idle No More movement.