Pipeline work resumes after blockades in northern B.C., Coastal GasLink says

Coastal GasLinkhas resumed construction on a section of a pipeline route in northern B.C. thathadbeen blockaded fortwo weeks in an ongoing dispute over energy pipelines and Indigenous land rights.

In an email to CBCNews, parent company TC Energysaid it had confirmed that "opposition groups had departed" from aforest service road and a Coastal GasLink drill site on theMorice Riveron Monday.

"Work is safely resuming along the Coastal GasLink project route after the holiday break."

On Dec. 19, 2021, a group identifying itselfas land defenders and water protectorsreturned to a protest camp to reoccupy theremote area on Wet'suwet'en traditional territory, near Houston B.C., about 1,000 kilometres northeast of Vancouver.

Their move to disruptthe construction of Coastal GasLink's natural gas pipelinecame justone month after the high-profile arrests of dozens of peopleblockading the project.

Jennifer Wickham, media co-ordinator for the Gidimt'en Checkpointtold CBC News last month thatWet'suwet'en people and their supporters "are doing what they can in order to ensure that no pipelines cross traditional territory."

RCMPofficers have moved in to arrest people in high profile crackdowns onthese blockades ineach of the last three years.

In 2020, arrests on the Wet'suwet'en traditional territory sparked rail blockades across Canada.

On Sunday, in a social media post, the Gidimt'enCheckpoint posted that "we have received information that dozens of militarized RCMP are en route to Wet'suwet'en territory, to facilitate construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline and to steal our unceded lands at gunpoint."

On Monday, RCMP E Division spokesperson Dawn Roberts told CBC News that "no additional resources" had been sent to the area."We are not aware of any need for an enforcement action."

In a written release Tuesday afternoon, Wickham said people at the blockade had "executed a strategic retreat to avoid arrest and violence at the hands of dozens of militarized RCMP....[they]vanished into the woods, evading police violence and criminalization."

"Our warriors are not here to be arrested. Our warriors are here to protect the land and the water, and will continue to do so at all costs," stated Sleydo' (Molly Wickham), a key leader in the fight against Coastal GasLink.

Late last year, on Nov. 18 and 19, RCMP arrested about 30 Wet-suwet'en members and supporters, along with two photojournalistsat the blockades. Police said the arrests were made because protesters had left more than 500 pipeline employees stranded at a Coastal GasLink work camp, where supplies were running out.

A month laterin December, thenew group of pipeline opponents returnedin bitterly cold winter conditions.

Coastal GasLink said "10 to 12 camouflaged and masked opponents took over the Marten Forest Service Road and Morice River drill site."

At that time, RCMPNorth District's Cpl. Madonna Saunderson said police were investigating reports thata group of protesters "allegedly threatened Coastal GasLink security officials, damaged trucks and fired flares and bear bangers at security officials."

The Coastal GasLinkpipeline project is 60per cent complete, according to the company.

Itwould carry natural gas hydraulically fractured in northeastern B.C. along a 670 kilometre route to a $40 billion export terminal on the coast.

Coastal GasLink has signed deals with 20elected band councils along the pipeline route, including in Wet'suwet'en territory, but has not won approval of the majority of hereditary chiefs.

The hereditary chiefs assert authority over 22,000 square kilometres of the nation's traditional territory, an area recognized in a 1997Supreme Court of Canada decision as unceded.