In a show of solidarity with members of a First Nations community in British Columbia that is protesting a court injunction allowing a pipeline company access to their land, people in Brantford have blocked off two main roads in the community.
Highway 18 and Cockshutt Rd., two main roads in Brantford, have been blocked off by about 50 supporters.
It’s one of many protests across Canada in support of the members of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation.
14 people were arrested at the site in B.C. where they had set up a camp to prevent the pipeline company from gaining access to the road.
On Thursday, an agreement was met with the Hereditary chiefs and the RCMP, allowing the company to do pre-construction work specified in the interim injunction order.
Sonny Maracle, part of the Brantford blockade, says he’s there to “support our brothers and sisters in the west.”
“This week we have seen out Wet’suwet’en brothers and sister to the West invaded and thrown into jail for asserting their inherent sovereign right to occupy their unceeded traditional lands,” Maracle said in a press release from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory.
“As within our own community of Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, we have seen our own elected council step outside of their jurisdiction in making land agreements with Hydro One on the Niagara Reinforcement line, and with the City of Brantford.”
Maracle says they have plans for the blockade to be up until 6 p.m., and if police aren’t letting their people join them the blockade will stay up longer.
Maracle says there is another blockade planned in Caledonia happening at noon.