Expressions of support Wet'suwet'en
The IPCC (the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) asserts that limiting global warming to 1,5 degree could mean the difference between death and life for many humans, but also for many ecosystems in the coming decades. This goal is irreconcilable with projects like the Coastal GasLink pipeline.. This gas pipeline 670 km, crossing Wet’suwet’en territory in British Columbia, should, in its first phase, represent the equivalent of more than 850 000 new cars on our roads. The 2nd phase could double these emissions !
This is why MARE has been actively supporting the Wet’suwet’en for several years now who are courageously fighting to prevent the passage of the gas pipeline on their unceded lands..
Here is, from newest to oldest, all the actions we have taken in this direction.
11 avril 2024
The 11 last april, le MARE vous invitait à participer à une manifestation devant la RBC de Salaberry-de-Valleyfield. Indeed, la Banque Royale du Canada (RBC) tenait son assemblée générale annuelle des actionnaires à Etobicoke, en Ontario, cette journée-là.
Comme ils l’ont fait ces deux dernières années, les Wet’suwet’en et d’autres défenseur.e.s des terres autochtones s’y sont présentés pour dénoncer RBC qui se fait complice de la violence contre leur peuple et la destruction de leurs terres en finançant largement des projets de développement de l’industrie gazière et pétrolière.
Unfortunately, de fortes pluies nous ont obligé.e.s à annuler cet événement.
Mais pas question d’abandonner cet appui ! That is why, dans les jours qui ont suivi, 200 tracts ont été distribués sur les pare-brise des véhicules stationnés autour de la RBC.
D’autres actions suivront ! On vous tient informé.e.s.
21 June 2023
25 May 2023
27 avril 2023
Wet’suwet’en gathering in Montreal
Saturday April 1st 2023, around 40 rallies were organized across the country by the groupDecolonial Solidarity in order to denounce the investments, with billions, of RBC for fossil fuel projects as the Wet’suwet’en of British Columbia see their territory violated by the Coastal Gas Link pipeline project
To Montreal, MARE was present withGreenpeace Québec, Extinction Rebellion andDivest McGill to support several dozen demonstrators who peacefully occupied an RBC branch, rue Sainte-Catherine.
To read the Sun article on this subject, click here.
Support activity for the national campaign of “Decolonizing Solidarity” in support of the Wet’suwet’en (25 February 2023)
The MARE then held its 9th gathering in front of an RBC in the region (that of Vaudreuil, this time) to support the Wet’suwet’en in their fight to prevent the passage of a gas pipeline through their territory.
Here are some photos of the event.
28 october and 22 December 2023
6 October 2022
Wet'suwet'en Roast ! (August 2022)
30 June 2022
10 June 2022
the MARE “adopt” the Salaberry-de-Valleyfield RBC (13 May 2022)
The Royal Bank is one of the world's leading banks when it comes to financing the climate catastrophe as it is the fifth largest bank for financing fossil fuels.
In 2019, it was the first bank in the world for the financing of the oil sands.
This bank is at the head of a group of 27 banks that finance 6,8 billion $ necessary for the construction of the CGL gas pipeline.
The MARE supports the anti-pipeline struggle movement of the Wet’suwet’en people and regularly invites you, since may 2022, to meet with RBC customers and employees to ask the Bank to stop funding Coastal Gaslink (CGL).
It was in large numbers that you answered the call !
Our demands to the Royal Bank :
– Immediately withdraw from the Coastal Gas Link project and any project that violates the rights of indigenous communities;
– End all new fossil fuel funding.
The fight to protect their rights and territory led by the Wet’suwet’en people concerns us all ! It is by being united that we will achieve progress in the future in our various fights to protect the Earth and Social Justice. !
Meeting with Peter Schiefke and Jaime Battiste (mars 2022)
We were able to discuss for a second time the important issues raised by this fight with the federal MP for Vaudreuil-Soulanges., Peter Schiefke, but also with Jaime Battiste, MP for Victoria-Sidney, Nova Scotia and new Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations.
The discussion was frank and respectful. We have brought forward our serious concerns regarding the construction and expansion of pipelines for the climate crisis and the urgency to act. Also discussed was the treatment of Indigenous people by the RCMP and the government and the abuse of their sovereign rights over their ancestral lands..
We also discussed the current state of the environmental crisis in connection with the colonialist values of infinite growth in a finite world and the need to unite indigenous / non-indigenous forces to find a way out of the crisis..
We can conclude by saying that the political pressure must be maintained. We will keep you informed of our next actions.
Demonstration in front of the RBC (21 December 2021)
MARE members gathered for the first time in front of the Royal Bank of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield on 21 December 2021 to request that RBC :
– Immediately withdraw from the Coastal Gas Link project and any project that violates the rights of indigenous communities;
– End all new fossil fuel funding. About a hundred leaflets have been distributed to citizens on this subject.
Meeting of the federal deputy (16 December 2021)
Four members of MARE, who are also representatives of member groups of the Réseau du MARE such as Pincourt Vert, Nature Hudson and the Eco-citizen Group of Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, met with the MP for Vaudreuil-Soulanges, Peter Schiefke, the 16 December 2021 (by videoconference).
We have presented our deep concerns about two points :
- The fact that the federal government continues to fund and support the fossil fuel sector and in particular the construction of new and the expansion of old pipelines/gas pipelines (Trans-Mountain et CGL).
- The fact that the federal government uses its paramilitary force, the RCMP, to impose by violent force the construction of a gas pipeline that crosses the sovereign territory of the Wet’suwet’en without their permission. The discussion was frank and direct and the member listened to us. We asked the member how we, citizens, can help get our message out to the federal government and MPs in Ottawa.
The member promised to raise the issue in the Liberal caucus. He also promised to ask his colleagues about the situation in B.C.. regarding the Wet’suwet’en – he mentioned the Indigenous Caucus Chair for the Liberal Party, Jaime Battiste. He promised to meet with us in January to follow up, what we intend to do.
Demonstrations of 22 and 29 February 2020
22 February 2020
Following the suggestion of a student at Cégep de Valleyfield, the MARE has launched a call for mobilization. In total, nearly 40 people came to peacefully demonstrate their support for the Wet’suwet’en struggle!
29 February 2020
At a time when difficult negotiations began between the Wet’suweten hereditary chiefs and the Canadian government and many barricades were hampering rail transport in Canada, we heard a lot about divisions : between Canadians and Aboriginals, between Quebecers and Aboriginals, among the Aboriginal people themselves.
The 50 attendees, despite the cold, during this peaceful demonstration rather wanted to demonstrate the links that must be forged among the population if we want to push governments to take concrete action for the reduction of greenhouse gases and for the protection of the planet.
One of the banners summed up the protesters' message of solidarity.(e)s : “Thank you to the First Peoples for fighting for the Earth and social justice”
To read the article from the Saint-François newspaper, click here.
