Wet’suwet’en Solidarity at Parliament Hill : Fighting back against the colonial state
Written by: Morgana Adby
Since the Ottawa demonstration on February 24th, the tension at blockades has continued to build. Meanwhile, new blockades are going up in response. Even as the situation has been unfolding unpredictability, the land defenders in Ottawa were staying consistent with their demands and principals.
On the Facebook event, the two demands were written: to get RCMP patrols and CGL off Wet’suwet’en land. Each person interviewed referenced that goal, but the philosophy of the event was reflected in each speech, chant and song. All of which referenced decolonization, and emphasized resistance to small thinking.
Organizers would remind the group, “take your time; its our land,” when the pace would increase. Also emphasized, was new ways of thinking about the status quo, “nobody is illegal on stolen land,”.
Almost a thousand people showed up, hundreds of which stayed for hours. By 5 pm, approximately a hundred people remained on Wellington Street and had taken to playing Queen out of small speakers, as a few young land defenders and allies danced on the pavement. Maybe it was because the Teck mine investment was withdrawn -there was a planned hunger strike that evening had it still been greenlit- or maybe it was the warm weather, that kept the energy so positive.
At one point in the journey, dozens of police formed a line across Wellington; although I heard no orders from police to stop, they acted as a physical barrier. After a couple tense minutes of singing and showing off the signs held, an organizer lead the way through a gap to the right of the road.
Slowly, people all spread out, walking through the now scattered police line, chanting “we have no weapons,” until the police were loosely circled by the group.
Finally, they left their position in the center and dispersed to monitor the large crowd. The group was then free to cross the intersection and continue their march.
A key difference between Wet’suwet’en Solidarity movement now and from a few years ago is the scope. Obviously it has become a national issue, for people that are invested in the blockades going down. However, at this event land defenders conveyed that the reason they continue to show up to events like this is because they also see it as bigger than just one territory.
Although there was clear admiration for the Wet’suwet’en people and knowledge, with a desire to see it thrive as an Indigenous nation, the big issue was the standards being set.
Both Cricket Guest, and Dani Lanoette, two young land defenders spoke about seeing a future where no unceded land is developed without the consent, and no Indigenous people are at risk to violence from the state or individuals to protect corporate interests.
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