Standing With the Wet'suwet'en Nation

This morning a large group of Tla o qui aht First Nations, environmental activists and citizens, I among them,  marched through the streets of Tofino chanting:

No access!

No consent!

and

Rise up! Take a Stand!

No pipelines on native land!

We marched to Anchor Park in support of the Wet'suwet'en people. On January 7, 2019, RCMP climbed the barricades at the Unist'ot'en healing centre and arrested fourteen peaceful women and elders, who were present on site to protect their traditional territories against a proposed fracking gas pipeline that would go right through their traditional unceded territories, without their consultation or consent. The healing centre is there to help their people heal from the effects of an imposed colonial culture.

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Protests have sprung up across Canada in support. The government is acting against the rulings of the Supreme Court of Canada, which recognized in 1997 that the Wet'suwet'en people have not given up their rights and title to their territory. They are also ignoring the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.

For the government, it is all about money, corporate and "economic interests." The elders warned us today : "Danger is coming. Everything that sustains life is at risk." It was pointed out that "No reconciliation is possible between First Nations and government under the colonial system."

They pointed to young children in the crowd, reminding us that the votes we cast and the actions we take now will impact these youngsters.

Fracking causes earthquakes, landslides, and pollutes the water, spreads out to poison the ocean, fish and whales. We need a new way of thinking. The colonial way is deadly to the earth and living beings,  and must give way to protection of, restoration and healing of the systems that support life.

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Fracking should be banned. No pipelines should be built. Clean sources of energy are abundant; switching to them would create jobs.

The consequences of not changing our way of being on the earth will be devastating beyond what we can imagine. Kleco to First Nations, stewards of these lands from time immemorial, for protecting what is left against those who would destroy it all.

I got home to an email from a friend who is a visionary. She told me she dreamed a wolf was sitting beside her on a high vantage point. He howled. She asked him, "Friend, do you feel a change in the wind?"

On my way to join the march, I heard a long lonely howl. A dog, or.......?

I feel that change in the wind. For sure.