People protested outside a mining convention venue in Toronto on Sunday, denouncing the effects of resource extraction on indigenous lands.
Protesters tried to enter the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, where the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention was taking place but were stopped by police.
“People are dying on their lands, they are being removed from their lands. The case with the Wet’suwet’en, they have title to their land. There is a Delgamuukw Case of 1997, and yet they are still being taken off their lands,” said indigenous rights activist, Crystal Sinclair. “We must recognise that these extractive companies are criminals. They are not respecting indigenous sovereignty, indigenous rights,” she added.
The Indigenous Wet’suwet’en Nation is taking action to halt the construction of a pipeline on its traditional territories in northern British Columbia (BC). The Wet’suwet’en chiefs who claim their authority over the land were reported to oppose the 670-kilometre (416-mile) Coastal GasLink pipeline, that would transfer natural gas from northern BC to the coast, being concerned about its potential effect on the environment and their community.
According to media reports, a Wet’suwet’en chief and government representatives found common ground on Sunday, though the agreement will only be disclosed after being discussed by Wet’suwet’en people.
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