Barricade on the railways: Understanding the Wet'suwet'en crisis

Since February 6, CN railway services have been crippled across Canada after protesters blockaded rail lines in an act of solidarity with the embattled Wet'suwet'en nation in British Columbia.

For weeks now, footage has circulated from the snowy evergreen forests of Wet'suwet'en territory, where land defenders of the Indigenous Wet'suwet'en nation have held their ground against the RCMP in opposition to a proposed pipeline. For many, the Wet'suwet'en land dispute represents the last stand in a battle over the contentious Coastal GasLink pipeline that the Trudeau government approved in 2018. The $6.6 billion pipeline provides a conduit for natural gas from Alberta and would help shore up much-needed support for Trudeau’s Liberal government in a province that went staunchly Conservative in the last election. 

Although disagreements over the pipeline have been brewing for years, recent images of violence from the RCMP have turned the standoff into an urgent national issue, with growing support among different groups for the Wet'suwet'en nation. Indigenous bands across the country have organized marches in solidarity with Wet'suwet'en, while climate action groups have been spurred to action to protest against the pipeline. 

Trudeau has been criticized for perceived hypocrisy regarding his commitments to Indigenous rights and climate action, two things for which he has vocalized support in the past. Speaking to The Guardian, Wet'suwet'en matriarch, Dr. Karla Tait said “Trudeau has gone to the United Nations to shed tears about the history of Canada’s relationship with Indigenous people. And on the other hand, he’s essentially authorizing the use of force against our unarmed people for upholding our rights.” Tait is one of the 28 people who were arrested in a pre-dawn raid by the RCMP on February 6, which made the issue front page news across the country. 

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has taken a stance in hard opposition to the Wet'suwet'en protesters, saying “it’s about time that our police services demonstrated that this is a country that respects the rule of law.” Caught between appeasing the interests of Albertan companies and Indigenous leaders, Trudeau has taken a passive position, saying that police must find a way to “resolve this as quickly as possible.” 

The crisis, which Trudeau called a “difficult week for Canadians,” has become a touchpoint for the broader historic pain inflicted on Indigenous communities by the Canadian government. Wet'suwet'en territory is a large, remote, traditional territory about 300 kilometres from Prince George in northern British Columbia. The territory was not included in early treaty laws, meaning it is unceded to the Canadian government and has been self-governed for generations. The Wet'suwet'en nation sees the imposition of a pipeline as an unauthorized invasion of their lands, as well as a natural hazard, putting the environment at risk of spills.

According to the CBC, the Coastal GasLink is the largest private-sector investment in Canadian history, but it stands to cut the Wet'suwet'en traditional lands in half. Although 20 band councils initially approved the project during consultation in 2012, hereditary chiefs say that their vote has jurisdiction only in individual reserves, not in the greater territory. This creates an impasse between Canadian law and Indigenous law, a battle that has rarely (if ever) benefitted Indigenous groups in the past. 

However contentious the issue may be, the railway blockages have shined a national spotlight on the fight unfolding in the remote Canadian wilderness. Thousands of travelers have been affected by the shutdown of passenger Via Rail trains, while businesses and homes in Atlantic Canada face shortages of propane shipped by CN rail which is desperately needed in the winter months. As February draws on and supporters become entrenched in opposing positions, Prime Minister Trudeau may also have to pick a side. Although he has expressed support for the democratic rights of the protesters, historically the Canadian government has rarely sided with Indigenous voices. Perhaps the mainstream spotlight forced on the issue through the railroad blockages will allow for a different resolution this time.