Numerous arrests have been made by officers at a series of protests sites near Houston, B.C. over the past few days.

Monday’s protest was organized by The Council of Canadians, a national social justice organization, with local spokesperson David Condon advocating for the removal of RCMP officers.

“We believe that the RCMP should be removed from the territory,” said Condon. “They haven’t received free, prior, and informed consent which is what the hereditary chiefs are asking for, and what actually the Supreme Court has said is necessary.”

Coastal GasLink received approval on the pipeline from 20 First Nation band councils along the route, however the issue according to Condon dates back to the hereditary chiefs.

Because the Wet’suwet’en Nation falls on unceded territory and is not covered under the Indian Act, something that Condon said should mean the dissenting opinions of the hereditary chiefs should be respected.

“The band councils are set up under the Indian Act,” he said. “There are still many indigenous people who believe that the Indian Act is a colonial document and it’s not the absolute legal document.”

The B.C. government has confirmed that the pipeline project will move forward with support from the band councils, with Premier John Horgan stating ‘the rule of law applies in British Columbia’ last month after the courts made their decision.

Monday’s protest in Medicine Hat was peaceful in nature as Condon confirmed they didn’t want to enforce any sort of blockade in the city.

However, Condon added they’re determined to see change from the federal level.

“We’ll never get to real reconciliation by using force,” said Condon. “If we really want to do something in this country to make sure reconciliation is more than just a word, they need to back the RCMP off, stop the arrests, and get back to discussion.”

More information on the protests surrounding the Coastal GasLink pipeline can be found on our website.