Dear Editor:
The Unist’ot’en protesters went from a hard stand of “no access” to now allowing “soft access” for the Coastal GasLink LNG pipeline to go across a bridge to continue to build the pipeline. How the heck did it get to that so quickly? For starters, the Unist’ot’en camp (protesters) and the Hereditary Chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en Nation were up against a court order. The court order said that they cannot block access to Coastal GasLink.
The court wasn’t giving a suggestion; it wasn’t a recommendation; it was an order to the protesters and Hereditary Chiefs that they cannot block access to Coastal GasLink. Moreover, some Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs saw fit to get decked out in their traditional regalia for the cameras, which led people to talk more about their attire rather than the issue at hand.
Now, the Hereditary Chiefs are claiming a victory that they have an “Agreement” with the RCMP that will allow the pipeline to go through and the bridge is now open, which is a complete change from their tough talk of “No Pipe Lines in our traditional territory”. All the marching and vociferous protesting lately to this Coastal GasLink LNG pipeline was a total disappointment at the end of an otherwise exciting and drama-filled series of events. The protesters and Hereditary Chiefs did a complete 180. If the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs think that they have a good “Agreement” with the RCMP then I have a bridge to sell them.
Rob Louie | Lower Kootenay Band