A timeline reveals that the Wet’suwet’en people have opposed the Coastal Gaslink pipeline for over a year. The Memorandum of Understanding, officially ratified May 14, addresses who has governance over the Wet’suwet’en people, but does not resolve the pipeline conflict.
Scott Fraser, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, virtually signed a memorandum of understanding with Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs and Carolyn Bennett, federal Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations on May 14. The document recognizes Wet’suwet’en rights and title and establishes a timeline of negotiation on how to implement them. (Province of British Columbia/Flickr Media)
Members of the Wet’suwet’en community have been actively opposing the Coastal Gaslink (CGL) pipeline since 2018, but nationwide resistance to construction in 2020 raised issues of Wet’suwet’en governance and land titles that have been unresolved for decades.
This has led to a memorandum of understanding (MOU), which aims to resolve the issue of Wet’suwet’en land rights and title, but does not address the CGL conflict. The agreement will give hereditary chiefs more control over decisions about future resource development, according to a copy of the draft obtained by CBC News.
The Memorandum of Understanding outlines a 12-month timeframe to establish Wet’suwet’en title and authority over land and governance; a three-month timeframe to negotiate legal recognition of Wet’suwet’en Houses as their governing body; and a six-month timeframe to establish the legal authority of the Wet’suwet’en people over their land and resources, including the 22,000 square kilometers of unceded territory in northern B.C.
As of Thursday, it has been privately signed by hereditary chiefs, B.C.’s Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Minister Scott Fraser and Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett, according to a statement from the B.C. government.
“We are doing this for everyone,” said Tsayu Hereditary Chief Na’Moks the day of the signing, according to a B.C. press release. “The past cannot be changed, but the future can.”
Topics to be discussed include revenue-sharing, child and family wellness, water and decision-making.
Four elected Wet’suwet’en leaders called for the MOU to be withdrawn in a joint statement Monday, saying they were not involved in discussions. Despite objection, signing continued.
“This MOU consultation has lacked any semblance of credibility. The federal government, the provincial government and the hereditary chiefs have completely ignored many clan members and elected chiefs,” says the statement. “We ask that this premature joint statement be withdrawn.”
Who are the Wet’suwet’en?
The Wet’suwet’en people are a First Nations community who live in the northwestern Central Interior of British Columbia. There are 12 houses, each with a hereditary chief, and five clans within the Wet’suwet’en community. A house, which has titles and territories associated with it, is a group that consists of the closest relatives on the mother’s side. A clan is a group belonging to a particular house. Their traditional government comprises 13 hereditary chiefs, however, this isn’t recognized by the provincial or federal government.
Who are the Unist’ot’en?
The Unist’ot’en are a house group within one of the five Wet’suwet’en clans. They are the original peoples distinct to Wet’suwet’en land. They have opposed all seven proposed pipelines that would cross through their land.
What is the Coastal GasLink pipeline?
The final approved route for the CGL pipelines (CGL website)
The Coastal Gaslink pipeline was proposed by TC Energy (formerly TransCanada) in 2012; it was set to run through many Indigenous territories. Its purpose is to transport liquefied natural gas from northeast B.C. to its coast for export to the Asian market. Work on the pipeline started in 2018, which was met with great opposition from the Wet’suwet’en community.
Who are the land defenders? Who are the protesters?
Land defender and protester may be used interchangeably, but they are different. Land defenders are members of Indigenous communities opposing the pipeline. In this case, it would be the Wet’suwet’en people defending their land.
Protesters are those that set up blockades and protest in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en community.
A Timeline of the Nationwide Wet'suwet'en Solidarity Movement
2012 - 2014 - Planning for TC Energy’s proposed $6.6bn Coastal GasLink (CGL) pipeline takes place
Talks and studies for route of proposed natural gas pipeline take place
Meetings held with First Nations, local governments, landowners and community residents, according to CGL website
B.C. Environmental Assessment Office accept proposal for CGL pipeline
2015 - CGL claims consultation with Indigenous groups in the area
“Extensive consultation” with Indigenous groups around the Morice River, near Houston lead to CGL proposing an alternative route, according to CGL website
According to Unist’ot’en community website, the hereditary chiefs from all five clans reject all pipeline proposals
2016 - All paperwork for CGL project completed
CGL gets 10 permits from the B.C. Oil and Gas Commission, marking completion of major approvals needed for construction and operation of pipeline
South of Houston Alternate Route proposed after feedback from Wet’suwet’en leaders, according to CGL website
MAY 2018 - CGL announces start to construction
CGL gets approval for South of Houston Alternate Route Environmental Assessment Office
In October, CGL announces construction on project
SEPT 13 2018 - CGL signs project agreements with 20 elected Indigenous bands
A map of all 20 Indigenous communities affected by the Coastal GasLink Pipeline. (CGL Website)
CGL signs agreements with all the elected Indigenous bands of communities affected along pipeline route, totaling 20
NOV 26 2018 - CGL applies for injunction after their access to Morice River bridge is blocked
Almost a week after employees were stopped by a Unist’ot’en camp blockade, CGL applies for an injunction to get access to the Morice River bridge
The Morice River bridge is the eastern boundary to the camp
DEC 14-17 2018 - Wet’suwet’en members and allies set up blockade in response to injunction
A blockade at the Gidimt’en Access Point. (Wet’suwet’en Access Point on Gidimt’en Territory/Facebook)
CGL is granted interim injunction to enforce their access to the areas needed for pre-construction activities before the official order is made
The injunction gives Wet’suwet’en members and their allies camped on the Morice River bridge 72 hours to remove any blockades
The order also gives CGL workers legal authority to remove barriers themselves if land defenders refuse to
The Gidim’ten, a Wet’suwet’en clan, set up the Gidimt'en Yintah Access Checkpoint on the road leading to the Unist’ot’en camp in response to injunction
DEC 21 2018 - CGL injunction is modified to allow access to a larger area
CGL is given an extension on their injunction to include the removal of any blockades of Morice Forest Service Road (South of Houston)
JAN 7 2019 - RCMP officers arrest 14 land defenders
Heavily armed RCMP officers move to enforce injunction after CGL workers are blocked by Gidimt’en Checkpoint, arresting 14
Nation members and allies positioned at Gidimt’en Checkpoint retreat to a “safe zone,” and reinforce the blockade with logs and barbed wire
DEC 20 2019 - Guardian exclusive reveals that RCMP were prepared to shoot Indigenous land defenders
DEC 31 2019 - Injunction granted to CGL for removal of anything blocking land needed for pipeline
B.C. Supreme Court grants CGL interim injunction calling for removal of obstructions in Unist’ot’en camp including cabins and gates on any roads, bridges or work sites the company has been authorized to use
RCMP is authorized to enforce the order, but at an unknown time and extent
JAN 5 2020 - Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs evict CGL from land
Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs representing five clans of Wet’suwet’en Nation formally evict CGL from their territories, after a year of protests and objections
They hoped that B.C. would uphold the law under the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People, which the province had previously agreed to do
Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs and the B.C. government don’t come to an agreement during talks
JAN 8 2020 - Protests and traffic blockages take place across Canada
Organizers at the Wet’suwet’en blockade send out a call for solidarity protests across the country
Protests break out at railways across Canada, ferry terminals, major roads and government offices
Activists protest fossil fuel extraction at a mining convention in downtown Toronto and in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en Nation on Feb. 29, 2020. (Manuela Vega/JHR Ryerson)
FEB 3 - 5 2020 - Talks between hereditary chiefs and B.C. government take place, come to a close with no agreement
Talks between Hereditary Chiefs and provincial government end after two days without reaching agreement
FEB 6 2020 - RCMP officers raid small camp near Unist’ot’en, six people arrested
Before dawn, RCMP raids a small support camp down the road from Unist’ot’en
Six people are arrested and released without charges
Hours later, members of Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory hold up railway traffic east of Toronto, near Belleville, Ont.
FEB 6 - 26 2020 - Protests, blockages and actions take place across Canada in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en community
FEB 7 2020 - 4 arrested in second Wet’suwet’en camp raid; RCMP block media access; VIA Rail stops service between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal
(Indigenous Environmental Network)
At least 40 officers (some sources say more than 60) surround the Gidimt’en Checkpoint, a second Wet’suwet’en camp
Militarized tactical teams are deployed via helicopter with assault rifles, snipers and dogs
Four land defenders are arrested after refusing to sign a condition of release that would prohibit them from visiting homesites on unceded Wet’suwet’en territory, such as the Gidimt’en Checkpoint
Among those arrested are land defenders Gidimt’en Chief Woos’ daughter Eve Saint, Anne Spice of the Tlingit Nation, Denzel Sutherland-Wilson of the Gitxsan nation, and a Mohawk supporter
RCMP exclusion zone established, blocking media access to the area
VIA Rail stops service on one of its busiest routes due to Belleville-area blockade. Travel between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal is cancelled
Canadian National Railway (CNR) obtains court injunction to end Belleville demonstration
Protests arise at ports in Vancouver and Delta, B.C.
A crowd of protesters gather in front of the Canadian Consulate in San Francisco to show solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en people. (Peg Hunter/Flickr Media)
FEB 8 2020 - 11 land defenders arrested on third day of raids; Blockades in Toronto and Montreal
On the third day of raiding camps, RCMP arrest 11 land defenders
Protesters in Toronto block Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) traffic moving through downtown area
Kahnawake Mohawk community members south of Montreal erect a blockade on a CPR line
FEB 10 2020 - RCMP surround Unist’ot’en camp, arrest 7 members of camp during ceremony for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG)
Helicopter takes RCMP officers and snowmobiles to Unist’ot’en camp gate, officers surround camp
Unist’ot’en Matriarchs Freda Huson, Brenda Michell and Dr. Karla Tait arrested while holding ceremony to call on ancestors to honour missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls
Four other land defenders also arrested
FEB 11 2020 - Canadian National Railway stops transport in part of B.C.
Canadian National Railway (CN) stops transport between Prince George, B.C., and Prince Rupert B.C., due to a blockade near Hazelton, B.C.
CN says they’ve halted more than 150 freight trains since recent round of blockades started on February 6
FEB 12 2020 - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calls on demonstrators to “observe rule of law”
After both CN and the Manitoba government apply, CN beats the provincial government to obtaining a court order to end blockade on railway west of Winnipeg
Trudeau calls on demonstrators to “observe rule of law”
FEB 13 2020 - CN stops service in Eastern Canada
CN shuts down operations in Eastern Canada
They say blockades in Manitoba and B.C. have ended, but there hasn’t been enough enforcement to stop blockades in Ontario
FEB 14 2020 - Rail blockade in northwest B.C. halted as Indigenous leaders agree to talks with government
Indigenous leaders agree to meet with federal and provincial politicians, so organizers lift a rail blockade that halted train traffic to and from Port of Prince Rupert
FEB 16 2020 - Protesters shut down busy Ontario border crossing
Trudeau cancels trip to Barbados less than 24 hours before departure to address protests
Meanwhile, protesters temporarily shut down busy Rainbow International Bridge, the crossing between Ontario and New York State
FEB 18 2020 - Emergency House of Commons debate reveals party to party action plans, CN temporarily lays off 450 employees
Emergency debate is held in House of Commons, Opposition Conservatives advocate for forceful action while Liberals push for ongoing dialog with support from other political parties
Meanwhile, CN issues temporary layoff for 450 employees in response to ongoing blockades
FEB 19 2020 - Counter-protesters dismantle blockade in Edmonton, VIA Rail temporarily lays off almost 1,000 employees
Protesters erect a blockade along a stretch of CN rail line in Edmonton, but are faced with counter-protesters who dismantle the barricade after an injunction is served by the rail company, removing barrels and signs
VIA Rail announces nearly 1,000 temporary layoffs in response to ongoing service suspensions across the country
The rail line cancels plans to resume route between Ottawa and Quebec City as new blockade arises near Montreal
FEB 20 2020 - RCMP offer to move officers from Wet’suwet’en territory hoping it leads to dismantling of blockades
Federal Public Safety Minister Bill Blair says RCMP offered to move officers from Wet’suwet’en territory to nearby town, hoping to de-escalate protests
Blair says this concession ‘meets key condition from hereditary chiefs and calls for all rail blockades to be dismantled’
Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs travel to Quebec and Ontario to thank supporters who have maintained blockades
A demonstrator in downtown Toronto holds up a satirical poster on Feb. 29, 2020, condemning Trudeau's decision to allow the CGL pipeline to be built. (Manuela Vega/JHR Ryerson)
FEB 21 2020 - Trudeau blames Indigenous leaders for not being receptive to negotiation
Trudeau says barricades must stop and injunctions to clear rail lines must be enforced
Trudeau calls situation “unacceptable and untenable”
He points finger at Indigenous leadership, who he says have not been receptive to government in attempts at negotiation
FEB 22 2020 - Anti-pipeline demonstrations in Saskatchewan begin
Anti-pipeline demonstrations start, including protest along railway tracks in Saskatoon, S.K.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says train was allowed to pass through protest area as scheduled, warning that protest must remain lawful and that transport routes cannot be disrupted by illegal blockades
People protest fossil fuel extraction at a mining convention in downtown Toronto in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en Nation on Feb. 29, 2020. (Manuela Vega/JHR Ryerson)
FEB 24 2020 - Several arrested at Belleville-area railway blockade; 3 hereditary chiefs arrested in northern B.C.
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) enforce injunction to clear Belleville-area rail blockade in Ontario
OPP arrest several protesters, line up in front of remaining protesters at encampment
In B.C., 14 arrested at a blockade near New Hazelton, between Prince Rupert and Prince George
Three hereditary chiefs taken into custody as RCMP remove demonstration on CN Rail main line in northern B.C.
FEB 25 2020 - GO Transit routes suspended and cancelled in Toronto, Hamilton; demonstrators arrested at major intersection in Vancouver
Metrolinx, operator of GO Transit in Ontario, suspends multiple routes as protests appear around Toronto and Hamilton
Blockade at Hamilton GO station causes numerous cancellations and delays during morning commute
In Vancouver, police arrest several demonstrators at major intersection leading to city’s port, just hours after warning them the protest was violating court injunction
CPR obtains injunction to end blockade in Mohawk community of Kahnawake, south of Montreal
FEB 26 2020 - Talks between hereditary chiefs and Canadian government ‘cancelled’ after miscommunication; Quebec Premier suggests protesters are armed at rail blockade in southern Montreal
Tsayu Territory Hereditary Chief Na’moks with Wet’suwet’en Nation says the federal and provincial governments have cancelled planned talks
Hours later, Na’moks says meeting is back on and scheduled for the next day, stating that cancellation was due to “miscommunication”
Demonstrators reinforce rail blockade on Kahnawake Mohawk territory south of Montreal with concrete barriers and loads of rocks
Quebec Premier Francois Legault suggests provincial police are not dismantling blockade because those on the reserve are potentially armed with assault rifles
Kenneth Deer, secretary of Mohawk Nation at Kahnawake, calls accusation “highly irresponsible and ludicrous”
FEB 29 2020 - Wet’suwet’en clans support signing of draft memorandum of understanding (MOU)
Wet’suwet’en clans complete their review of the MOU, giving their support for its signing
MARCH 1 2020 - Wet’suwet’en leaders and Canadian government meet proposed agreement in rescheduled talks, do not address pipeline
Wet’suwet’en hereditary chief and senior government ministers say they’ve reached a proposed agreement with federal government that addresses Wet’suwet’en governance and land rights, but not the pipeline
A joint statement said all parties recognize the disagreement on the pipeline conflict
Details not to be released until the Wet’suwet’en people review the draft
Work on CGL pipeline, which would take place in Morice River area, set to resume after pausing for the duration of the talks on March 2
MARCH 4 2020 - 5 activists arrested for staging sit-in in B.C. minister’s office
A group of activists are invited into Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Scott Fraser’s office on condition that they will leave after, but after the meeting, the group refuses to leave
Police take four hours to reach and arrest the activists because of the crowd of almost 100 protesters in front of B.C. legislature
MARCH 10 2020 - Wet’suwet’en pipeline supporters feel left out of talks with government
Theresa Tait Day, a Wet’suwet’en hereditary sub-chief, testified in front of House of Commons Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs saying the voices of the elected council, Wet’suwet’en women and clan members are being silenced during negotiations between the government and the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs
“By refusing to hear from elected councils, these governments have, without merit, prevented the most credible current voices from being heard, she said. “As female Wet'suwet'en members and community leaders, we want to be heard and involved in the decision-making.”
MARCH 18 2020 - Meeting around MOU draft agreement postponed due to COVID-19
Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs say meetings around draft agreement have been postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic
MARCH 30 2020 - Union of BC Indian Chiefs release open letter calling for a stop to CGL pipeline construction
Union of BC Indian Chiefs calls for stop to CGL pipeline construction in open letter amid COVID-19 outbreak
The letter states that construction activities; such as pipe delivery, stockpiling and site preparation and maintenance, put community members that workers come into contact with at risk
It also states that Indigenous communities are more at risk due to their limited access to healthcare and necessary resources
APRIL 21 2020 - Union of BC Indian Chiefs release another letter urging closure of construction camps
Union of BC Indian Chiefs again urge closure of construction camps in open letter
The letter outlines three factors that make the closure urgent:
Despite staff reductions, some projects continue to concentrate large groups of people - one project has 979 workers on site, with more coming
Cramped working and living conditions (such as the sharing of tools) and nature of work, make physical distancing impossible
Workers travelling back and forth between workplace and their own communities increases risk of COVID-19 spread to work sites
The camps’ close proximity to Indigenous communities is raising anxiety of the spread of COVID-19
APRIL 29 2020 - Wet’suwet’en clans agree on revisions to draft MOU
Wet’suwet’en clans agree on revisions to draft MOU
Public release of MOU is set for May 14 after signing by Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs, B.C. government and federal government
MAY 1 2020 - Four Wet’suwet’en elected chiefs call for signing of MOU to be delayed
Four Wet’suwet’en elected chiefs put out a joint statement calling to push back the signing of the MOU on the grounds that they were not made aware of the document or any talks around it
The statement was signed by Chief Rosemarie Skin of Skin Tyee Nation, Chief Dan George of Ts'ilh Kaz Koh First Nation, Chief Maureen Luggi of Wet'suwet'en First Nation and Chief Patricia Prince of Nee Thai Buhn Indian Band
MAY 2 2020 - Hereditary chiefs respond, seek online meeting with elected chiefs
Hereditary chiefs respond by asking for a virtual meeting with the elected chiefs, which takes place on May 7
MAY 11 2020 - Four Wet’suwet’en elected chiefs call for Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett to resign after they are excluded from talks
Four Wet’suwet’en elected chiefs call for Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett to resign after they are not made aware of talks around draft MOU
Work on the CGL Pipeline continues despite fears around the spread of COVID-19. (Jason Hargrove/Flickr Media)
The CGL conflict has raised questions of governance in practice that were left unanswered from the Delgamuukw v. British Columbia case in 1997.
The Supreme Court of Canada case addressed the “definition, the content and the extent of Aboriginal title,” according to The Canadian Encyclopedia website. This included Indigenous ownership of 22,000 square kilometers of unceded territory.
Although the case recognized Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en people’s title over their land and their traditional governance structure, it left the government and Indigenous leaders to apply it in practice.
Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in early March, all actions against the CGL pipeline were halted, however, construction has continued. In B.C., the construction of the CGL pipeline is considered essential.
Although the number of onsite employees has been reduced, continued work raises anxiety in Indigenous communities. No one has tested positive at a CGL camp, so far.
The work threatens the spread of COVID-19 among the workers and the Wet’suwet’en community members.
Many at the Unist’ot’en Camp are concerned about potential risks to elders.
“We face a steady stream of transient workers and RCMP who put our people and communities–and especially our elders–at risk,” says a post on the Unist'ot'en Camp Facebook. “Indigenous communities are already at increased risk from this pandemic, due to a lack of adequate health care and housing infrastructure.”
Although many celebrate the ratified MOU, the Wet’suwet’en community is still divided over the agreement process and support for the pipeline.
Flickr Photo Attribution
“Protester’s sign saying ‘we support you land protectors,’” by Jason Hargrove, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
“Wet’suwet’en_Solidarity_SF_IMG_9244-1,” by Peg Hunter, licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
“Wet’suwet’en, B.C. and Canada launch path to implement rights and title,” by Province of British Columbia, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0