VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The Union of BC Indian Chiefs is calling for Prime Minster Justin Trudeau to meet Wet’suwet’en hereditary leaders.
Earlier Friday, Trudeau demanded anti-pipeline barricades come down, saying, after two weeks, it’s no longer acceptable to have rail lines blocked.
“The Union of BC Indian Chiefs recognizes the Canadian Pacific Railway’s (CPR) honourable conduct in relation to Secwepemcul’ecw Land Defenders who occupied part of the railway yesterday,” Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, UBCIC president, says a release.
UBCIC Supports Indigenous Land Defense and Acknowledges CPR Joining Call for Trudeau to meet Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Leadership READ MORE https://t.co/MVEy1vy6Cg pic.twitter.com/ubV7dwr4dn
— UBCIC (@UBCIC) February 21, 2020
“CPR chose direct and respectful engagement with Secwepemcul’ecw Land Defenders instead of calling for an injunction that would have resulted in arrests.”
Phillip added CP Rail supported the Wet’suwet’en in their request for dialogue with Trudeau and called upon the prime minster to immediately fulfill the request for a meeting.
“We hope Trudeau listens to this call and responds accordingly, instead of repeatedly calling for ‘the barricades to come down,’ when he knows full well that this could incite violence,” Phillip says.
Trudeau said he was not ordering police to take down barricades. However, he added, it is the police’s responsibility to enforce laws, and how and when is a part of their responsibility.
“We cannot continue to watch Canadians suffer shortages and layoffs,” Trudeau said.
