Demonstrators gather in Charlottetown in solidarity with Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs

About 100 people gathered in solidarity with Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs in Charlottetown on Saturday afternoon.

Demonstrators have been gathering across the country in support of the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs, who oppose the Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline on their territory in northern British Columbia.

RCMP enforced a B.C. Supreme Court injunction and made a number of arrests last week, sparking demonstrations across the country.

Representatives from 20 First Nations along the pipeline route —  including the elected chiefs of the Wet'suwet'en —  signed agreements with Coastal GasLink consenting to the project. However, the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs say those councils were established by the Indian Act and only have authority over reserve lands.

Members of the Mohawk First Nation in eastern Ontario were into their 10th day of protest Saturday in support of the hereditary chiefs. The blockade, near Belleville, prompted CN Rail to close its Eastern Canadian freight train network, and Via Rail has cancelled passenger trains nationwide because of demonstrations taking place along or on railway tracks.

The federal Indigenous Services Minister met with representatives of the Mohawk First Nation for hours on Saturday and emerged in the evening saying "modest progress" had been made, but there was no news on whether the protest was going to end.

"I think that it's amazing," said Katelyn Sock, one of activists at the demonstration in front of Province House in Charlottetown. "I think we need a lot more people to be aware of what's happening with the water defenders of Wet'suwet'en."

Some of the biggest, most important things that have happened our world have been caused by things that may have been seen as an inconvenience.— Jonathan Williams, ally

As part of the Mi'kmaq community on P.E.I., Sock said she's disappointed with the federal government's response to the demonstrations.

"Just meeting with the chiefs isn't going to do much if they're going to continue to push the pipeline," she said. "I feel like they should take a step back.

"We just want to protect Turtle Island and Mother Earth. I just hope that people do their due diligence and their research on what is happening in B.C., and I hope to see more ... protests. I hope to see more rallies. I hope to see more people speaking out and standing up for what they believe in."

While the demonstrations across the county may be perceived as disruptive, Jonathan Williams said they are crucial to progress. 

"It's upsetting but necessary," said Williams, one of the supporters at the event. "I think the notion that stuff like this is an inconvenience is something that I think we really need to deconstruct.

"Some of the biggest, most important things that have happened our world have been caused by things that may have been seen as an inconvenience at the time, but truly have gone to shape the world in ways that we celebrate." 

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