- by Dave Beverly-Foster

On Friday, youth from Saugeen First Nation, alongside an elder, organized a march in solidarity with Wet’suwet’en as they fight for sovereignty over their lands. I was lucky to be invited to march alongside them, as part of a group I’m in: Wet’suwet’en Solidarity Grey Bruce, who had rallied in Owen Sound earlier that day.

It felt like a truly special occasion: people from many nations coming together to stand in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en in the west. It was an honour to be led through a part of Saugeen First Nation by some of their youth, who were standing up in defence of indigenous sovereignty, and in defence of the earth.

It was also an honour to be invited to speak a little about my time at Wet’suwet’en a few years ago. I got to speak about the fierce love of the land I saw out there, and my pride at seeing people rise up to answer the Wet’suwet’en call to action here today. And I hope that I was able to communicate that this group I’m a part of, Wet’suwet’en Solidarity Grey Bruce, also stand in solidarity with the indigenous peoples of this place: the peoples of Saugeen First Nation and the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation. I saw many of my friends sharing similar sentiments throughout the day.

As we marched through the reserve, word spread through the long line of people that Trudeau had made some big tough statement about having ‘run out of patience’, and that he was now ‘demanding’ the blockades come down. When I heard, I couldn’t help but laugh. Clearly Trudeau doesn’t understand that Canada can’t make unilateral demands and expect to get what it wants from other nations. He also clearly lacks a sense of how long indigenous people have been fighting for their sovereignty, among other things, and how incredibly patient they have been.

And now the hereditary chiefs of Wet’suwet’en are about to have their patience tested yet again. After years of ‘consultation’ with Coastal GasLink (CGL), and having their alternative pipeline route ignored, after saying no clearly and firmly—and now after having their lands raided by the RCMP, their people arrested and taken from their territory, and having their homes ripped down by CGL workers—after all that, CGL has had their Environmental Assessment permit rejected. CGL failed to address economic, environmental, social and health impacts of the pipeline.

I think the hereditary chiefs could’ve told you that.

This decision by the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office only echoes what the hereditary chiefs have been saying that all along—that their concerns about their territory and their nation have gone unheard. And now, after the invasion into their unceded territory, they’re going to be asked to sit at a table with CGL, yet again, for further consultation. After all this violence. Can we really expect CGL to be acting in good faith? And really: who are the patient ones in all this?

You’d think before you got to the point of invading, arresting, and destroying homes... you’d at least have your paperwork in order.

No one can know what the future holds or how this will resolve. As angry as I am with the actions of the Canadian governments, I wonder if good things might come of this. At least, it has felt good to come together with people who are seeing this injustice occur and standing against it. And I can’t help but feel that it has provided an opportunity for indigenous and non-indigenous people across this continent to come together in a collective assertion of the rights and titles of indigenous peoples, and of the treaty obligations that Canada has towards indigenous peoples.

The march ended at a community centre, where there was the promise of a ‘light meal’--something sorely missing from our demonstrations in Owen Sound, I now realize! Though I, personally, wouldn’t call two different soups, pulled pork, flatbread, and all sorts of snacks, drinks, and desserts a ‘light meal’! Over the course of rallying, marching, and sharing a meal, I believe I saw many new connections begin to be forged.

40% of Canadians are in favour of their own country being economically blockaded over this issue, an issue of land rights and indigenous sovereignty. I really don’t know much about history, but that feels significant to me. Inicdentally, 40% is more support than any political party has received in the last 20 years of federal elections...

I say this with tempered hope: even if the Canadian governments haven’t yet begun in good faith the long process of reconciliation, maybe some of Canada’s people are beginning to realize what reconciliation might really mean. At least, I am hopeful of that.

And as indigenous people and non-indigenous people marched together at Saugeen First Nation, and shared a meal after, it almost felt that way.

It’s a process always in motion and always beginning; maybe even moving backwards sometimes as it moves forwards. I’m only glad to see this local group—now 250 strong—hearing the call to action put out by the hereditary chiefs of Wet’suwet’en, and deciding to stand up together.

If you’d like to join in conversation with us, or find information about future gatherings, check out our facebook group: Wet’suwet’en Solidarity Grey-Bruce.