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I join CERD in urging Canada to immediately cease the forced eviction of Wet’suwet’en and #Secwepemc peoples, to prohibit the use of lethal weapons, and to guarantee no force will be used against them. This is a matter of fundamental human rights. 5/7 — Kasari Govender (@KasariGovender) January 10, 2020

Coastal GasLink is building a pipeline from northeastern B.C. toLNG Canada’s export terminal in Kitimat on the coast and has signedagreements with all 20 elected First Nation councils along theplanned 670-kilometre route, but hereditary chiefs say the projectdoes not have their consent.

The company said Saturday that the project is approved, permittedand under construction today by more than 1,000 workers, includingmany Indigenous people from across the North.

But Govender said she believes Canada is shirking itsresponsibilities by allowing construction to continue.

“Canada cannot simultaneously vie for a seat at the security council while ignoring their obligations to other parts of the UN,” she wrote. “It’s critical to the future of human rights that Canada and B.C. cement the credibility of our institutions by meeting our obligations.”

Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

But Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs said he welcomed the pronouncement.

“I believe that this represents the beginning of a genuine transition to a consent-based decision making in regard to Indigenous land rights and Indigenous human rights,” he said.

“So, I applaud decision and hope that other governments and government agencies and police community take heed and act accordingly.”

Unist’ot’en spokeswoman Freda Huson said in an email that the UN must intervene to help defend against the human rights violations.