Vancouver Island: Blockade of Island Inland Highway in Solidarity with Wet’suwet’en

Report from launch of highway blockade on so-called Vancouver Island in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en struggle.

A group of K’omoks land and water defenders on traditional territories, along with concerned Comox Valley residents are currently blockading Vancouver Island Inland highway in BC at exit 117, preventing southbound and northbound traffic from passing or entering the highway southbound at this exit and from exiting northbound at this exit. This action will be taking place indefinitely in support of Wet’suwet’en and the courageous youth at the the Victoria Legislature.

What is happening in Wet’suwet’en is a blatant violation of Wet’suwet’en Hereditary law which, as Wet’suwet’en is unceded territory, is protected under the Canadian Constitution. This means the government of Canada is required to dialogue with and receive consent from the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs prior to any activity on this land. The disregard of this law is a continuation of the cultural genocide and violent oppression of indigenous peoples that Canada has perpetuated for its entire relationship with First Nations.

The forceful removal of a people from their own land to facilitate the trespassing of a multinational company bent on the destruction of said land, poisoning of their water, and eradication of the natural heritage upon which their culture is based is nothing short of an international crime. It has been condemned as such by the international community and must stop. The Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau must enter negotiations with Wet’suwet’en on a nation to nation basis. Premier John Horgan of BC must order the RCMP to stand down immediately and exit Wet’suwet’en territory.

This crime is one in a series that has not only violated First Nations, Métis, and Inuit rights and furthered cultural genocide, but has also irreversibly destroyed the natural world upon which we all depend and is rapidly destabilizing our climate to the point that it will cause the collapse of all human society if not halted immediately.

We are fighting for our culture, rights, and very lives.

We urge you to consider the legacy this destruction is leaving for future generations and indeed the children and youth alive today.