Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

February 25, 2020

Hereditary Chiefs and media arrested at Gitxsan rail blockade in New Hazelton, BC


More actions in Shut Down Canada on Facebook at:



Breaking News! Injunction granted Tuesday morning against Kahnawake Mohawks south of Montreal
CBC reports ://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/blockade-kanesatake-oka-pipeline-1.5474931


New Rail Blockade Today
New rail blockade Tuesday morning, Feb. 25. in Sherbrooke, Quebec.

Cheyenne River Lakota Chairman
South Dakota 
Solidarity with Wet'suwet'en 

Canadian police arrest Hereditary Chiefs and media on Monday night at Gitxsan rail blockade. On Tuesday morning, a new rail blockade shuts down GO train service in Ontairo.


Watch video recorded live on Monday night at Gitsxan -- great coverage

https://www.facebook.com/c.t.merriman/videos/10163147398545008/

More livestreams from Gitxsan:

https://www.facebook.com/gitxsanhuwilpgov/

By Censored News

"Gitxsan territory: Three hereditary chiefs were arrested with 10 others and released after the community blocked the highway. I saw a young Gitxsan man yell, "How does it feel to not have any power?" at a line of RCMP as they retreated from a bonfire melting the asphalt off Highway 16." -- Michael Toledano, New Hazelton, northwestern BC near Smithers.


Hereditary Chief Spookw said after being arrested and released, ""This is just the beginning. From what I've seen with all the people here is if there is another blockade, there are enough people to do it next that it won't fall on us, that were arrested tonight."

Ricochet media reports, "In the second major police raid of the day, the RCMP have moved in on the rail blockade near New Hazelton, B.C., erected this afternoon by members of the Gitxsan Nation. An unknown number of arrests have been made.

Gitxsan hereditary chiefs Norman Stevens (Spookw) and Yvonne Lattie (Gwinitxw) have been arrested, according to social media posts from inside the raid. Arresting hereditary chiefs on their own territory would represent a significant escalation in the ongoing crisis surrounding the construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline through Wet’suwet’en territory." More: https://ricochet.media/en/2955/rcmp-arrest-two-hereditary-chiefs-at-gitxsan-rail-blockade

NEW! Tuesday Rail Blockade Tuesday Morning

CBC reports, "Protesters shut down GO Transit out of Hamilton early Tuesday in response to Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) moving to end a blockade by the Mohawks of Tyendinaga, of a rail line near Belleville, Ont. on Monday. GO Transit announced on its website that "As the result of the ongoing police investigation along the tracks between Aldershot GO and Hamilton GO, our trains will not be able to service Niagara Falls GO, St. Catharines GO, Hamilton GO or West Harbour GO stations on Tuesday morning." https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/indigenous-protest-go-trains-1.5474884


List of actions following the raid on Tyendinaga Mohawks

#UPDATE: As Police Invade Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, Blockades, Marches, and Occupations Break Out En Masse Across so-called Canada
[Feb 25] As the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) raided the Tyendinaga rail blockade yesterday morning, Land Defenders across Turtle Island took to the streets and the rails to continue standing in solidarity with the Wet'suwet'en and Mohawk Nations.
The raid on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory rail blockade took place early yesterday morning, after a midnight ultimatum to vacate the premises was given by the OPP the night before. Ten people have been arrested with multiple charges,* with the snowplow used in the action being hauled by police. Despite the brutal raid on the Tyendinaga blockade, the community remains resolute in the support of the Wet'suwet'en, gathering throughout the day and night to resist against the police presence.
Meanwhile, dozens of actions have broken out throughout so-called Canada, with blockades and other actions springing up in different territories throughout the day and night. SOME of the highlights include several blockades being raised throughout the day in the Mohawk communities of Kahnawake and Kanesatake in so-called Quebec; rail blockades in Hamilton; road blockades in Six Nations of the Grand River Territory; an international bridge crossing into the United States in Sault Ste Marie; Gitxsan rail blockade in northern so-called British Columbia; and indigenous youth occupying the front steps of Parliament to name a few. In Ottawa, indigenous youth occupied the main artery leading to the Canadian Parliament, while police snipers watched by in nearby buildings.
Wet'suwet'en Land Defenders have called for ongoing solidarity in demanding the complete demilitarization of their territory and an end to the Coastal GasLink Pipeline. Mobilizations across the territory are ongoing and developing at this hour.
Here is a list of ACTIONS which took place yesterday and/or are ONGOING needing support this hour:

RAIL BLOCKADES:
- GITXSAN TERRITORY (NEW HAZELTON): Gitxsan Land Defenders have raised a rail blockade on the afternoon of Feb 24th near the town of New Hazelton in northern so-called British Columbia. Police have arrested two Gitxzan elders overnight and Land Defenders are calling for reinforcements and support at this hour.
- HAMILTON: Land Defenders and allies have raised a rail blockade on York Boulevard in Hamilton in solidarity with the Wet'suwet'en as of 5PM Feb 24th and are calling for reinforcements and support at this hour.
- TYENDINAGA: Police have raided the territory and have removed one of two rail blockades. However, Mohawk Land Defenders are calling for ongoing front line support in the territory. To DONATE to the mobilizations, email tyendinagadonations@gmail.com
- KAHNAWAKE: Mohawk Land Defenders continue to block the CP Candiac commuter rail line, where service has been suspended since Feb 8th in Montreal.
-*SASKATOON: Indigenous youth, women, disabled LGBTQ2S inner-city community members have blocked CN Rail lines in Saskatoon's Pleasant Hill neighborhood. The Land Defenders have been severely harassed by white supremacist groups, and are calling for reinforcements at this hour.
- *SALMON ARM (aka New Brunswick): After having been served an injunction in blockading CN Rails near Caledonia, New Brunswick yesterday, Mi'kmaq Land Defenders have taken the blockade to nearby Salmon Arm. Land Defenders are calling for more firewood on-site at this hour.
- LISTUGUJ: Mik'maq Land Defenders have blocked all rail traffic across Listuguj Mikmaq territory near so-called Gaspé Quebec since February 11th, which is ongoing at this hour. More information on support pending***
- KAMLOOPS: Secwepemc Land Defenders are calling for front line SUPPORT in blockading CP Rail tracks across from Neskonlith Hall in support of the Wet'suwet'en and is ongoing at this hour.
OCCUPATIONS
- KAHNAWAKE: Mohawk Land Defenders briefly blocked the Mercier Bridge in the morning and afternoon hours in solidarity with the Wet'suwet'en. Mohawk Warriors barricaded the same location during similar indigenous uprisings, such as the Oka Crisis of 1990, and is a symbol of indigenous struggle in so-called Canada.
(Note: The Mercier Bridge action was a slow-moving motorcade.)
- KANESATAKE: Mohawk Land Defenders have blocked Highway 344 in solidarity with the Wet'suwet'en. Mohawk Warriors barricaded the same location during similar indigenous uprisings, such as the Oka Crisis of 1990, and is a symbol of indigenous struggle in so-called Canada.
- SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND RIVER TERRITORY: Six Nations Land Defenders blockaded Highway bypass between Argyle and Greens Road near the town of Caledonia. Six Nations Land Defenders blockaded the same uring similar indigenous uprisings, such as the reclamation of Kanonhstaton in 2006 and is a symbol of indigenous struggle in so-called Canada.
- SAULT STE MARIE: Land Defenders blocked an international bridge leading to the United States this afternoon in solidarity with the Wet'suwet'en. The blockade went on for several hours blocking traffic in both directions.
- VANCOUVER: Indigenous Land Defenders and allies have defied a court injunction by blockading the intersection of Clark Drive and East Hastings Street, renewing a blockade to one of the Port of Vancouver’s main entrances. The blockade is ongoing at this hour and in need of reinforcements and support this hour.
- VICTORIA: Indigenous Land Defenders have defied a court injunction and have occupied the front steps of the British Columbia legislature, where indigenous youth have chained themselves to the doors to prohibit entry to the building. Police are on location and Land Defenders are calling for reinforcements and support at this hour.
PROTESTS:
OTTAWA: Indigenous Land Defenders blocked the street artery in front of the Canadian Parliament entrance, stopping traffic at the intersection of Wellington and Metcalfe streets from 9AM throughout the day. The occupation ended in a march to Ottawa City Hall at 8PM last evening.
MONTREAL: Land Defenders and allies organized a flash mob outside of Prime Minister Trudeau's constituency office on the afternoon of Feb 24th in solidarity with the Wet'suwet'en and Mohawk Nations.
ALL EYES ON WET'SUWET'EN!
OIL and GAS OUT OF WET'SUWET'EN LAND!
AMULEPE TAIÑ WEICHAN!
Below television coverage:
https://www.cp24.com/news/rail-blockade-forces-go-train-cancellations-from-niagara-to-aldershot-1.4826332

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