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Caledonia blockade to remain in place

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A blockade of Highway 6 in Caledonia will remain in place while B.C.’s Wet’suwet’en people work through the draft agreement struck March 1 between their hereditary chiefs and senior Canadian officials, says a spokesperson for the protest.

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“That consultation process could take up to two weeks,” Colleen Davis, of the Six Nations of the Grand River, said last Friday.

Barricades at the highway went up on Feb. 24, part of cross-country action to show solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en, who are seeking to stop construction of a gas pipeline over their land. Via Rail was forced to suspend all trains in February due to rail blockades established in different parts of the province, including one near Belleville, Ont. One by one, the blockades have came down. On Thursday, a rail blockade on the Mohawk territory of Kahnawake ended.

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Davis said those at the Caledonia blockade continue to get support.

“There are always different people coming and going. People have been coming together like I’ve never seen.”

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She declined to provide numbers of how many people are manning the barricades at either end of the highway between Argyle Street South in Caledonia and Greens Road near Six Nations. But further support is available “if something were to happen,” said Davis.

“We have tents and tarps and a lot of food coming in. People come and visit to make sure spirits are kept up around the camp. We’re so grateful to everyone who is awake to the cause.”

Davis said the blockade has been visited by hereditary chiefs, clan mothers and Six Nations elected Chief Mark Hill.

“Everyone is putting aside their differences to support the cause.”

Earlier this week, in collaboration with police, the Ministry of Transportation placed temporary barriers at the blockade locations for public safety purposes, said a news release from Haldimand OPP.

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“Public safety remains paramount during this demonstration event,” said the statement. “The potential for changing weather and road conditions in the area may cause dangerous conditions and, as a result, the temporary barriers will provide an additional safety measure.”

The agreement between the Wet’suwet’en and Liberal government does not deal with the pipeline running through unceded territory. But it does address the issue of who gets to govern Wet’suwet’en land and how Ottawa can better address traditional governments in place before the band council system was imposed in the 19th century.

“Anyone who supports (the pipeline) is not really awake to who they really are,” said Davis. “There’s no way they would be for something that would harm our Mother Earth the way this would.”

Davis said people recognize the need for jobs but “we can’t eat money.”

She urged people to learn about Indigenous issues.

“Seeing our allies visit here and to know they have compassion in their hearts and respect is so heartwarming,” she said. “We encourage all people to become educated and aware, to stand up and use their voice to speak out against the system that continues to oppose Indigenous peoples.”

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