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Fault Lines - Elsipogtog: The Fire Over Water
-
0:07 - 0:09[ NARRATOR Wab Kinew ] Had it not sparked fire,
-
0:09 - 0:14this story would be like that of many other
low-intensity conflicts over resources, -
0:14 - 0:20waiting to erupt across this oil, gas and
fresh water rich country. -
0:22 - 0:27Back in 2010 the canadian province of new
brunswick granted a texas based company -
0:27 - 0:29South Western Energy
-
0:29 - 0:32licences to explore for shale gas.
-
0:32 - 0:36in exchange for investment worth 47 million dollars.
-
0:37 - 0:43If shale gas extraction goes ahead it will be
a boon to new brunswick's struggling economy. -
0:43 - 0:50The province anticipates it could generate
over 1,000 jobs and 1.5 billion dollars, -
0:50 - 0:54staunching the exodus of workers west
to alberta's oil sands [tar sands]. -
0:54 - 0:56[ CRAIG LEONARD, Minister of Energy & Mines for New Brunswick ] To have that kind of revenue
income flow -
0:56 - 0:58and that kind of potential...
-
0:58 - 1:02it would have a dramatic impact on the province.
-
1:02 - 1:05In fact, one of the studies we looked at
just a few weeks ago -
1:05 - 1:12indicates that shale gas development would actually double the economic growth rates in the province.
-
1:12 - 1:15[ NARRATOR ] Three years later, these were
the images from new brunswick -
1:15 - 1:18flashing across canadian television screens.
-
1:19 - 1:22RCMP guns trained on First Nations people,
-
1:23 - 1:25police cars sent up in flame.
-
1:26 - 1:30"We seized a number of firearms
from the encampment at the protest site." -
1:30 - 1:36"We also found explosive devices, a large amount
of ammunition, knives and bear spray." -
1:36 - 1:39"Several shots were fired from within
the encampment." -
1:39 - 1:43"Molotov-style explosives
were thrown at police." -
1:43 - 1:47"And 6 rcmp police vehicles
were destroyed by fire." -
1:48 - 1:52[ NARRATOR ] Faultlines traveled to the province of
new brunswick on canada's east coast -
1:52 - 1:57to find out what went wrong
and ask how it could be set right. -
2:02 - 2:08When Southwestern subsidiary SWN Resources Canada, or "SWIN" as it's locally known,
-
2:08 - 2:11began exploring on land
by the Elsipogtog First Nation, -
2:11 - 2:14the community started hearing about fracking,
-
2:14 - 2:18the process by which gas is extracted
from shale rock beneath the ground, -
2:18 - 2:22by injecting water, nitrogen, and chemicals.
-
2:22 - 2:23Many were alarmed.
-
2:23 - 2:25[ SUSAN LEVI-PETERS, Former elected Chief, Elsipogtog First Nation ] Without no consultation
-
2:25 - 2:27and people not knowing what's going on,
-
2:27 - 2:31and just hearing that we know that the shale gas
is not good for the land and water, -
2:31 - 2:34the protest started,
it's been goin' on for three years now. -
2:34 - 2:39[ DORIS COUPAGE, Elsipogtog First Nation Elder ]
The water, our river, is very very precious to us. -
2:39 - 2:43As we were growing up in the summertime
we'd stay there all summer. -
2:43 - 2:45[ AMANDA POLCHIES, Elsipogtog First Nation Resident ] When I was a kid?
-
2:45 - 2:47I got to go play in the woods,
I got to swim in fresh water. -
2:47 - 2:49I'm breathing fresh air.
-
2:49 - 2:52Now that I have my own kid, I have my son,
-
2:52 - 2:55I want him to experience
the same thing I experienced, -
2:55 - 2:57I want my grandkids to experience that too.
-
2:57 - 3:01I don't want to have them have to worry about
going swimming and -
3:01 - 3:04"oh, this water's contaminated
because they're drilling 50 feet away." -
3:06 - 3:10[ NARRATOR ] In early summer, as SWN
carried out seismic testing near the reserve, -
3:10 - 3:13members of the Mi`kmaq community
set out to stop them. -
3:13 - 3:15They set up a protest camp
-
3:15 - 3:19and drew the support of the local Acadian community
and environmental groups. -
3:26 - 3:28They scouted for signs of testing
-
3:28 - 3:33and for the impact it might be having on the
land and water they rely on and consider sacred. -
3:34 - 3:38[ NO NAME GIVEN ] See you don't want to waste
all this beautiful land right here just for that. -
3:38 - 3:39You know what fracking doe, eh?
-
3:39 - 3:44They put a lot of drills holes, the don't just put one,
they put hundreds within the area. -
3:45 - 3:48[ JOHN LEVI, Elsipogtog War Chief ]
We started slowing down SWN, -
3:48 - 3:51we talked to the people,
-
3:51 - 3:54and y'know, the best way to gain support
-
3:54 - 3:57was we had to sacrifice.
-
3:57 - 4:03So there were people that were willing to get arrested for the cause, y'know, for a good cause.
-
4:03 - 4:07Y'know, save our water, stop fracking.
-
4:09 - 4:12[ NARRATOR ] More than 40 people were arrested.
-
4:12 - 4:16Then one day two women chained themselves
to a seismic testing truck, -
4:16 - 4:19and exploration work ground to a halt.
-
4:19 - 4:22But the reprieve was only temporary.
-
4:22 - 4:24At summer's end, SWN returned.
-
4:24 - 4:26[ LEVI-PETERS ] They made a compound in Rexton,
-
4:26 - 4:29and they put spotlights on it,
-
4:29 - 4:32and then they put a gate on it,
as if it was their trophy, -
4:32 - 4:37they put all these thumper trucks,
about 6, 7 thumper trucks. -
4:37 - 4:40[ NARRATOR ] Elsipogtog community members
lit a sacred fire -
4:40 - 4:45at the exit to the compound
where SWN was parking the trucks. -
4:45 - 4:49The RCMP blocked the adjacent road,
and a blockade went up. -
4:49 - 4:51SWN's vehicles were trapped.
-
4:52 - 4:58Another encampment grew, and the Mi`kmaq
Warrior Society was asked to secure it. -
4:58 - 5:03SWN was losing $54,000 each day
their vehicles remained on the lot, -
5:03 - 5:05guarded by private security.
-
5:05 - 5:09So they obtained a court injunction
against the site's occupants, -
5:10 - 5:13which the RCMP could enforce at any time.
-
5:16 - 5:20As the threat of police action loomed,
tension on the site escalated, -
5:20 - 5:24and on October 17th, the day before
the injunction was set to expire... -
5:24 - 5:27the RCMP moved in.
-
5:30 - 5:33I don't know why they couldn't wait til the deadline.
-
5:34 - 5:38I don't understand, y'know,
I can't speak for the RCMP. -
5:39 - 5:42[ VOICE OVER MEGAPHONE ] ...anyone that
continues to do so [ I.E. STAY IN THE AREA ] -
5:42 - 5:44will be arrested and removed from the area
by police... -
5:44 - 5:46[ JASON AUGUSTINE, District Chief, Mi`kmaq Warrior Society ] ... "drop that gun", What gun?
-
5:46 - 5:49I had a cellphone in my hand,
-
5:49 - 5:51and a fast light in my hand,
cause it was still dark out, eh? -
5:51 - 5:55[ NARRATOR ] Jason Augustine is a district chief
with the Mi`kmaq Warrior Society. -
5:55 - 5:57He was on traffic duty that morning.
-
5:57 - 5:59[ AUGUSTINE ] And they told me again
"drop that gun!", -
5:59 - 6:01"It's not a gun!" I told them again,
-
6:01 - 6:03and the next thing I know they were
already like that on me, -
6:03 - 6:05like they had their guns on me and everything.
-
6:05 - 6:07And that's when the chaos started.
-
6:08 - 6:11[ YELLING/ BANGS ]
-
6:11 - 6:14[ NARRATOR ] Suzanne Patles was sleeping
in the woods nearby. -
6:14 - 6:19She did the first thing you'd expect the defacto
spokesperson for the Warrior Society to do: -
6:19 - 6:22she logged onto Facebook.
-
6:22 - 6:25[ PATLES YELLING ] Get your guns off me!
This is a phone! -
6:25 - 6:28Hey! This is a phone! I have no gun!
-
6:28 - 6:31[ PATLES ] And I sent out a message
and I said everybody's always said -
6:31 - 6:36to let them know when shit gets real,
I said how much more real can this get? -
6:36 - 6:41When there's guns drawn on you
first thing in the morning when you wake up. -
6:41 - 6:42[ AUGUSTINE ] The RCMP's jumped me
-
6:42 - 6:46and they were bashing my head with their boots
til they knocked me out. -
6:46 - 6:50Took a lot to knock me out
while I was hanked up and I was on the ground. -
6:50 - 6:54[ NARRATOR ] Suzanne was in a car
trying to upload a second video -
6:54 - 6:56when the RCMP arrested her too.
-
6:56 - 7:02[ PATLES ] All i seen was one officer
like go to throw his assault rifle -
7:02 - 7:06like towards the windshield,
-
7:06 - 7:08and I went to go put my head down like that,
-
7:08 - 7:11and it went through the windshield
and hit the top of my head, -
7:11 - 7:14and at that moment I was pulled out of the car
-
7:14 - 7:18and hit several more times
with the assault rifle in the head. -
7:18 - 7:23[ NARRATOR ] As word got out that the raid was underway, people began arriving from the rez.
-
7:23 - 7:26[ PROTESTER ] Can you drink money?
Can you drink money? -
7:26 - 7:29You must have a lot of money to drink?
-
7:29 - 7:33[ NARRATOR ] The elected chief of Elsipogtog,
Aaron Sock, and 8 of his coucil members -
7:33 - 7:38tried to cross the line of RCMP
to find out what was going on. -
7:38 - 7:41Roger Francis's sister
was one of those councilors. -
7:42 - 7:44[ ROGER FRANCIS, Elsipogtog First Nation ]
I warned them not to be physically grabbin' -
7:44 - 7:46our council members, our council;
-
7:46 - 7:51and I told him I'll use any force necessary
I have to use to stop you guys. -
7:51 - 7:55And when the RCMP grabbed my sister, yanked her,
I just lost it. -
7:59 - 8:04[ NARRATOR ] Francis was arrested
and charged with assaulting a police officer. -
8:05 - 8:09A great grandmother Doris Coupage
also joined the crowd at the police line. -
8:10 - 8:12[ INDISTINCT TALKING ]
-
8:12 - 8:16"... we are North American Indians...
whether you ... or not..." -
8:16 - 8:22On the sides, there were these dogs
and police with ammunition, -
8:22 - 8:27and the women here, have their feathers.
-
8:27 - 8:30I went there with my rosaries,
-
8:30 - 8:33and the other ladies were chanting and drumming.
-
8:34 - 8:36[ POLCHIES ] They're yelling "move back!
Move back!", -
8:36 - 8:41so we didn't move, we stayed there,
we linked arms and we stayed there, -
8:41 - 8:42and we were pushing against them,
-
8:42 - 8:46and then all of a sudden, like,
pepper spray comes out of nowhere, -
8:46 - 8:50and I looked back and I seen Doris,
she had gotten sprayed in the face, -
8:50 - 8:52and all she had was her rosary.
-
8:52 - 8:57It didn't hit you at first, but it did and then uh,
-
8:57 - 9:00there was young boys standing
who came over and grabbed me -
9:00 - 9:05cuz you would have been knocked down, like,
those cops when they push push push! -
9:06 - 9:09[ NARRATOR ] The picture of a great grandmother
pepper sprayed by police -
9:09 - 9:13had a profound effect on the people
of Elsipogtog, -
9:13 - 9:15but it wouldn't be the only lasting image
from that day. -
9:16 - 9:19[ POLCHIES ] I just had this feather,
I didn't know what to do, -
9:19 - 9:24and the first thought in my mind was:
pray. -
9:24 - 9:27So I kneeled down in the road
and I started praying. -
9:27 - 9:32I was praying for Doris, and I was praying
for the other women that had gotten sprayed, -
9:32 - 9:34and I was praying for my people,
-
9:34 - 9:39hoping that this will end peacefully,
nobody will get hurt, nobody would die. -
9:41 - 9:43[ NARRATOR ] A photo of that moment
-
9:43 - 9:47was taken by a reporter from Aboriginal
People's Television Network. -
9:47 - 9:49RCMP vehicles were set ablaze.
-
9:49 - 9:54While Amanda Polchies was being arrested,
the photo went viral. -
9:54 - 9:56Why do you think people connected with it so much?
-
9:56 - 9:59Because like, it's a struggle,
-
9:59 - 10:01you can see the struggle if you look at the picture,
-
10:01 - 10:06it's like, you have all of these RCMP officers,
-
10:06 - 10:08and they can do so much.
-
10:08 - 10:11And then there's a woman kneeling down
in the middle of the road with a feather. -
10:11 - 10:15[ COPS YELLING ] Move back! Move back! ...
-
10:19 - 10:25[ NARRATOR ] After the RCMP raid,
the conflict continued to smolder. -
10:25 - 10:29The premier of New Brunswick
refused to back down on shale gas. -
10:30 - 10:33[ PREMIER ALWARD ] We're not talking
moratorium, today; -
10:33 - 10:41what we're talking about very much is the um, the issues that took place yesterday.
-
10:41 - 10:44[ NARRATOR ] Chief Sock was blunt about
what he wanted. -
10:44 - 10:47[ CHIEF AARON SOCK ] Basically, y'know,
for the RCMP to back off, -
10:47 - 10:54SWN to back off, and to give us some time
to try to heal and reflect on what happened. -
10:56 - 10:59[ NARRATOR ] This is the Elsipogtog RCMP station.
-
10:59 - 11:03People have been telling me that there's been
attempts to burn this station down -
11:03 - 11:05the past few nights.
-
11:05 - 11:08Burn marks all along these rafters...
-
11:08 - 11:13right under the singe marks there's this beer bottle
which has been turned into a Molotov cocktail. -
11:13 - 11:17Shows that there's a lot of anger in the community
against the RCMP. -
11:17 - 11:19That anger was also turned on the media.
-
11:20 - 11:23[ REPORTER ] What began as a peaceful day
turned tense when... -
11:23 - 11:27[ NARRATOR ] when a few protesters forced a TV
crew to abandon their satellite truck -
11:27 - 11:29and seized a reporter's car and gear.
-
11:29 - 11:31[ REPORTER ] When I asked if I could get
my camera equipment, -
11:31 - 11:34they said it was theirs, that they were seizing it too.
-
11:34 - 11:38[ NEWSCASTER ] The group of protesters
has seized his vehicle and camera... -
11:38 - 11:41[ NARRATOR ] Isolated from a conversation
about colonialism, -
11:41 - 11:44news reports seemed to amplify
old stereotypes. -
11:44 - 11:47[ EZRA LEVANT ] "...but it was the eco-rioters
themselves who used true violence." -
11:47 - 11:51[ NARRATOR ] And some of the commentary
was just plain out of touch. -
11:51 - 11:54This op-ed in one of Canada's national newspapers
-
11:54 - 11:57calls the confrontation here between
the community and the RCMP -
11:57 - 12:01a "rude dismissal of canada's generosity"
[ quote from Rex Murphy ] -
12:01 - 12:04It's this type of media sentiment
which is common in canada -
12:04 - 12:07which makes indigenous people skeptical
that the rest of the country -
12:07 - 12:10is willing to take their arguments seriously.
-
12:12 -For more than a century, the Indian Act
has denied economic opportunity. -
Not SyncedThe nation to nation relationships
set out in many treaties has been ignored; -
Not Syncedand until 1996 the government-funded
residential school system -
Not Syncedset out to "kill the Indian in the child".
-
Not SyncedIn the past, Indigenous people in canada
-
Not Syncedhave not shared equally int he benefits
of resource development in their homelands. -
Not SyncedThe unemployment rate on the Elsipogtog
First Nation is estimated at 80%. -
Not SyncedNow, they fear the next phase of development
will damage the lifeblood of their culture: -
Not Syncedwater.
-
Not Synced[ SUSAN LEVI-PETERS ] So right now what's happening is... Idle No More,
First Nations people are sayin we've had enough. -
Not SyncedOur young generation are gettign educated,
-
Not Syncedso now we're starting to say hey, this is wrong,
-
Not Syncedhow you're treating us is wrong.
-
Not SyncedSo now when they want to take the water
and the land, we're saying no way, -
Not Syncedy'know, this is enough.
-
Not Synced[ NARRATOR ] As round dances and drum circles
swept canada last winter, a movement was born, -
Not Syncedtaking its name from a Twitter hashtag:
Idle No More. -
Not SyncedAnd it was catalyzed by opposition to a law that has removed Federal protection
-
Not Syncedfor amny of the country's waterways.
-
Not SyncedIt reawakened a lot of people,
-
Not Syncedand a lot of people were uprising,
-
Not Syncedand the most important thing that
brought everyone together was the water. -
Not SyncedThat was the one thing that, um,
reverberated all across the country, -
Not Syncedthat we needed to ensure the water's protection.
-
Not Synced[ NARRATOR ] It was a spirit of Idle No More,
and the social networks it created, -
Not Syncedthat emboldened Elsipogtog's resistance
to SWN's exploration work, -
Not Syncedand caused people to come out
to face down the RCMP. -
Not SyncedIt was scary that day.
-
Not SyncedYou have all those grandchildren, why wouldn't you just stay back, how come you decided to go to the front?
-
Not SyncedYou don't even think about that.
-
Not SyncedThe women are the protectors of the water,
aren't they? -
Not SyncedStuff like this happens with SWN resources,
a company based in the united states, -
Not Syncedcomin' down to make money in canada,
-
Not Syncednot consult First Nations in the first place,
-
Not Syncedy'know, it's just gone too far.
-
Not SyncedIt scared me, but I didn't wanna run away.
-
Not SyncedCause I don't want them here.
-
Not SyncedI don't want SWN here,
-
Not Syncedand I felt like making a stand was
the only thing that was left. -
Not SyncedCause nobody was listening.
-
Not Synced[ NARRATOR ] Why do you think it always
comes down to a confrontation like that -
Not Syncedbetween police and y'know Indigenous people?
-
Not SyncedLike I said it's like you're a second class citizen,
-
Not Syncedand things are not gonna change,
-
Not Syncedunless the government of canada recognizes
our First Nation rights and who we are, -
Not Syncedlike, we can't be just bullied over any more.
-
Not Synced[ NARRATOR ] Being bullied, not being listened to,
-
Not Syncedthere's a legal standard grounded in the canadian constitution that's supposed to avoid these issues.
-
Not SyncedWhen mining and energy companies want to
carry out activity -
Not Syncedthat stands to compromise an aboriginal or treaty right, like for example access to water or land,
-
Not Syncedthe Crown has a duty
to consult the First Nations affected -
Not Syncedin proportion and to the extent that they will be
impacted by the development. -
Not SyncedThis is the New Brunswick legislature,
-
Not Syncedwhere the premier and the members of
the legislative assembly sit. -
Not SyncedIn this part of canada, for practical purposes,
this is the Crown. -
Not SyncedThere was no consultation before the government awarded SWN licences to explore 3 years ago,
-
Not Syncedbut since the deal was done, they say they've
done more than required. -
Not Synced[ CRAIG LEONARD ] We've had ongoing dialogue
with chief council, -
Not Syncedand again it's... a lot of the consultation that has been taking place
-
Not Syncedis talking about that framework of...
-
Not Syncedif there is something there, where do we go,
uh, in terms of discussion -
Not Syncedon how to move forward... with it.
-
Not SyncedUh, very little actually gets discussed about
the actual seismic work, -
Not Syncedbecause everybody recognizes that, uh, there's...
no impact uh... to environment land use, -
Not Syncedor treaty rights from that.
-
Not Synced[ NARRATOR ] Do you feel that the province has fulfilled its duty to consult?
-
Not Synced[ CHIEF SOCK ] No.
-
Not SyncedI don't.
-
Not Synced[ NARRATOR ] But the duty to consult
is not explicitly defined in law. -
Not SyncedInstead, it has been shaped and tested
by court challenges, -
Not Syncedand it does not give First Nations
the right to veto projects. -
Not SyncedSo one of the contentious parts
of the duty to consult -
Not Syncedis what happens when some members
of a community like Elsipogtog say "no", -
Not Synced"at any price"?
-
Not Synced[ CRAIG LEONARD ] It's a challenge to
get to that next stage, -
Not Syncedwhere you really want to talk about what
the potential for economic benefits are, -
Not Syncedif you don't know what the resource actually is,
-
Not Syncedwhat the total pie looks like, and who's
going to get the different pieces of that pie. -
Not Synced[ NARRATOR ] In his first year as Chief,
Sock participated in the consultation process, -
Not Syncedas part of an umbrella group
of New Brunswick Chiefs -
Not Syncedthat organized information sessions
about SWN's work, -
Not Syncedand sought to negotiate a revenue-sharing
agreement with the government. -
Not SyncedBut after a summer of protests,
he and his council withdrew. -
Not Synced[ CHIEF SOCK ] Being a new Chief, I don't
quite understand yet how this came to be, -
Not Syncedbut what I do understand is my community doesn't
want it, and I stand with my community. -
Not SyncedI listened to them and if that's what
they want me to fight, that's what I'll fight. -
Not Synced[ NARRATOR ] As they pursue their struggle,
-
Not Syncedmany in Elsipogtog say the government doesn't
have the authority to allow SWN to work here -
Not Syncedwithout their consent.
-
Not SyncedAnd they're drawing on the treaties that
the Mi`kmaq signed with the British 3 centuries ago. -
Not SyncedTreaties that outlined a peaceful relationship
but did not cede land or water to the Crown. -
Not SyncedWe're protecting it not just for us.
We're protecting it for everybody. -
Not SyncedThe Anglophone, the Francophone,
the Irish, anybody, -
Not Syncedbecause it says in our treaties, the peace and friendship treaties,
-
Not Syncedeverybody is welcomed in Canada, provided you
dont ruin the land and water. -
Not Synced[ NARRATOR ] Two days after the raid
-
Not Syncedcommunity members and warriors marched from the former blockade site and took to the highway.
-
Not Synced"Turn it around! Turn it around!"
-
Not Synced"Go that way, that's not our problem.
Turn it around, go..." -
Not Synced[ NARRATOR ] We're here on Highway 11,
this is the main thoroughfare through this area. -
Not SyncedProtesters have just moved from the blockade
over here, and have shut down passage here. -
Not SyncedThey're allowing the remaining cars that were sort of
trapped int he middle of the protest to go through, -
Not Syncedbut they're stopping people in transit
through this area. -
Not SyncedAcross the country,
First Nations communities were on alert, -
Not Syncedwatching what would happen next.
-
Not SyncedThere were rumours that the army was on standby,
-
Not Syncedand that warriors from other nations
were coming to stand with the Mi`kmaq. -
Not Synced"*We're gonna have a meetin' with all of the people,
_and you guys are gonna say_ what you want done, -
Not Syncedwhat you guys want blocked, who you want protected.
-
Not Synced"The Warrior Society is going out there ___,
no more division, OK?" -
Not Synced[ NARRATOR ] Less than an hour after
the blockade started here, it's been taken down. -
Not SyncedThe only reason there's no traffic here is because
the RCMP is holding vehicles back. -
Not SyncedSo the group is heading back to the main camp now,
blockade on, blockade off. -
Not SyncedMost of all, there were rumours
that the RCMP was on the move. -
Not SyncedNow this is probably the 10th time we've heard
that the police are here, -
Not Syncedor are getting ready to move in.
-
Not SyncedPeople are really on edge,
-
Not Syncedand y'know, jump at the mention
of a police action. -
Not Synced[ VOICES IN BACKGROUND ] How many cops care do you think?
-
Not SyncedFive.
-
Not SyncedFive? Just five?
-
Not SyncedThat's nothing then...
-
Not SyncedThey've been there all day, five is how much
they usually have at either end of the road... -
Not Synced"No theres more than that..."
-
Not Synced"Listen, she's there, she's there,
so stop freaking out. -
Not Synced"You've caused a lot of panic today already,
no really. -
Not Synced"There's a cop, on the right, in the field,
I see it..." -
Not Synced"I'll go down there myself and I'll go by myself...
alright..." -
Not Synced"We need everyone staying in the middle though,
-
Not Synced"because they'll think we're rushing the line
if we go..." -
Not Synced"Everybody stay here, we don't need
everybody to go down and check this out." -
Not Synced[ NARRATOR ] Why do you think people
are jumpy like that? -
Not Synced[ SUZANNE PATLES ] They're jumpy
because of everything that happened the other day, -
Not Syncedand how they just came in and rushed us,
has everybody like on their toes, -
Not Syncedwhere they're scared, they're scared the police
are going to move in -
Not Syncedand come at us with excessive force
-
Not Syncedbecause they've been hearin' that the next time
they come in they're gonna come in harder. -
Not Synced[ DEREK NEPINAK, GRAND CHIEF OF MANITOBA ]
I think we came within hours -
Not Syncedof seeing very very significant
national incidences occurring. -
Not SyncedThere's enough people
on the ground across the country -
Not Syncedto create a great disruption in the peaceful existence of many who take for granted the lands they live on.
-
Not Synced[ NARRATOR ] Grand Chief Derek Nepinak
and his team had arrived from Manitoba -
Not Syncedto assess the situation on the ground.
-
Not Synced[ NEPINAK ] I think that there is almost
a conflict of interest -
Not Syncedwhen the province has a duty to consult
flowing from a constitutional standard, -
Not Syncedbut yet they also have financial interests in the end
in terms of the corporations -
Not Syncedability to convert resources into wealth.
-
Not Synced[ NARRATOR ] At the first gathering after the raid,
he found a community determined to heal, -
Not Syncedbut fearful for the future.
-
Not Synced[ NEPINAK ] ...and I am concerned about the degree
of collusion and collaboration -
Not Syncedbetween corporate interests, the state apparatus,
RCMP, and government. -
Not SyncedI am concerned about that.
-
Not Synced[ NARRATOR ] Just a few days after the raid,
SWN appeared ready to resume exploration again. -
Not SyncedSeismic testing equipment lay along the highway,
-
Not Syncedsensors and batteries that would
allow geophones to work. -
Not SyncedThese geophones can reveal what's beneath
the surface of the earth, -
Not Syncedbut in order to do that, they need to operate
in conjunction with so-called thumper trucks. -
Not SyncedThose trucks were captured behind the blockade
near Elsipogtog. -
Not SyncedHowever, during the RCMP raid,
SWN was able to drive them out. -
Not SyncedSWN Resources Canada declined to speak with us.
-
Not SyncedHey hows it going?
-
Not SyncedMy name's Wab, I'm with AlJazeera America.
-
Not Synced[ GUARD ] This is private property,
so media isnt allowed up here, -
Not Syncedso the RCMP's been contacted.
-
Not Synced[ NARRATOR ] Oh yeah? You called the cops?
-
Not Synced[ GUARD ] I didn't.
-
Not Synced[ NARRATOR ] Oh okay.
-
Not SyncedBut in a written statement,
they assured AlJazeera, -
Not Synced"SWN has been and will continue to work closely
with local authorities and community leaders -
Not Syncedto conduct our operations safely and responsibly,
-
Not Syncedand in full compliance with the laws
of the country and province." -
Not SyncedIn mid november the seismic testing trucks
returned to work. -
Not SyncedNew protest sites sprang up.
-
Not SyncedAnd backed by supporters from across
the province and the country, -
Not SyncedElsipogtog slowed them down.
-
Not SyncedSWN obtained another injunction
against the protesters. -
Not SyncedNo one knows if they will stop fracking
before it starts, -
Not Syncedbut the people of Elsipogtog have shown that whether or not a government and a corporation
-
Not Syncedfulfil their legal duty to consult,
-
Not Syncedthe resolve of grassroots people
-
Not Syncedstill has a power to throw a wrench
into resource development projects, -
Not Syncedand for development to move ahead,
-
Not Syncedit's their consent that's needed.
-
Not Synced[ SUZANNE PATLES ] I don't think anything
is gonna stop the grassroots people, -
Not Syncedit's in their hands, I think the power needs
to be handed back to the people -
Not Syncedbecause as an Indigenous person
-
Not Syncedthe route to self-determination
is always from the ground up approach -
Not Syncedbecause that's who we are as a people.
-
Not Synced[ NARRATOR ] The reality they've created
on the ground -
Not Syncedis enshrined in the United Nations Declaration
On The Rights of Indigenous People, -
Not Syncedas the principle of free, prior, and informed consent.
-
Not SyncedAnd it has helped breathe life into
a provincial anti-fracking movement -
Not Syncedled by First Nations people.
-
Not SyncedAnd while the government of New Brunswick
vows to push ahead with shale gas development, -
Not Syncedprovinces across canada are taking note.
-
Not SyncedIn november, the province of Newfoundland
declared a moratorium on fracking. -
Not SyncedMeanwhile, as rain turns to snow,
and water turns to ice, -
Not Syncedin Elsipogtog they're digging in for the winter,
-
Not Syncedand preparing for the next round.
-
Not Synced[ Captions by Radical Access Mapping Project,
Un-ceded Coast Salish Territories, 2013 ]
Radical Access Mapping Project edited English subtitles for Fault Lines - Elsipogtog: The Fire Over Water | ||
Radical Access Mapping Project edited English subtitles for Fault Lines - Elsipogtog: The Fire Over Water | ||
Radical Access Mapping Project edited English subtitles for Fault Lines - Elsipogtog: The Fire Over Water | ||
Radical Access Mapping Project edited English subtitles for Fault Lines - Elsipogtog: The Fire Over Water |