Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s stern tone against the rail blockades in support of BC’s Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs didn’t stop people from protesting across the country on Saturday.
Crowds of protesters rallied at the Ontario legislature demanding the RCMP leave Wet’suwet’en land and that Ottawa respect Indigenous sovereignty.
Trudeau said Friday the blockades must come down, and that injunctions to clear the rail lines must be enforced.
Chief R. Donald Maralce and Tyendinaga council released a statement saying they are disappointed and perplexed by Trudeau’s comments, but are still willing to resolve the matter peacefully.
Meanwhile, Sarah Dear joined protesters blockading the rail line that crosses Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory on Saturday. She says she voted for Trudeau in 2015 because he promised meaningful reconciliation but he’s since broken that promise.
The barricades are in response to a move by the RCMP to clear protesters from the Coastal GasLink work site in northern BC.
Protests are entering their third week with still no end in sight
