{"id":201723,"date":"2020-01-05T20:15:46","date_gmt":"2020-01-05T20:15:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usa.timesofnews.com\/first-nation-issues-eviction-notice-to-coastal-gaslink-contractors.html"},"modified":"2020-01-05T20:15:46","modified_gmt":"2020-01-05T20:15:46","slug":"first-nation-issues-eviction-notice-to-coastal-gaslink-contractors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usa.timesofnews.com\/breaking-news\/political\/first-nation-issues-eviction-notice-to-coastal-gaslink-contractors.html","title":{"rendered":"First Nation issues eviction notice to Coastal GasLink contractors"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

A hereditary chief\u00a0with the\u00a0Wet’suwet’en\u00a0Nation said a work site for the Coastal GasLink pipeline near Houston, B.C., has been vacated following the issuing of an eviction notice.<\/p>\n

“We’ve tried the avenues available,” said\u00a0Na’Moks, who also goes by John Ridsdale.\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/section>\n

On Dec. 31, a B.C. Supreme Court judge granted<\/a> Coastal GasLink\u00a0an injunction against protestors who had blocked access to the project inside their territory.<\/p>\n

In a letter issued to Coastal GasLink representatives, hereditary chiefs with the First Nation wrote\u00a0all staff and contractors must leave the territory immediately.<\/p>\n

“Coastal GasLink\u00a0is in violation of\u00a0Wet’suwet’en\u00a0law, and it is our responsibility now to uphold\u00a0Wet’suwet’en\u00a0law to maintain the integrity of our territories for future generations,” the letter reads.\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

All CGL workers have now been peacefully evicted from Unist’ot’en amp; Gidimt’en territories.brbrUnder the authority of Wet’suwet’en law and of the hereditary chiefs of all five clans, we are standing up for the last of our lands and we need you to stand with us. a href=”https:\/\/t.co\/EFoR8RYNDw”pic.twitter.com\/EFoR8RYNDw\/a<\/p>\n

mdash;@UnistotenCamp<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/span> <\/p>\n

Upon receiving the eviction notice, Na’Moks said employees of Coastal GasLink initially reacted with “arrogance and entitlement.”<\/p>\n

“But it was explained to them that we are peacefully there,” he said. “We witnessed them leaving, because we were staying there until they did. Then they left, and it was peaceful.<\/p>\n

“We sang our songs and drummed and wished them well. These are employees, but we needed to let the decision-makers know that we do not agree with them\u00a0\u2014 we follow our law.”<\/p>\n

The site has remained vacant since the notice was served, and Na’Moks said no word has yet been received from RCMP or Coastal GasLink representatives regarding whether or not the eviction will be respected.<\/p>\n

We needed to let the decision-makers know that we do not agree with them\u00a0\u2014 we follow our law.<\/span>– Na’Moks,\u00a0Wet’suwet’en hereditary chief<\/cite><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“We do expect them to meet and discuss things. They’re working hand-in-hand,” he said. “We’re open to meeting with them.”<\/p>\n

CBC News requested comment from British Columbia RCMP and representatives from Coastal GasLink but did not receive a response Sunday.<\/p>\n

Construction on the $6.6-billion Coastal GasLink project started in January 2019.<\/p>\n

The pipeline is owned by Calgary-based TC Energy, which agreed to sell a 65 per cent stake in the project to private investment firm KKR and the Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo) last month. The sale is expected to close later this year.<\/p>\n

Expecting further police action<\/h2>\n

The Dec. 31 injunction effectively restrained protestors from barring workers from getting through checkpoints and allowed RCMP to enforce that ruling.<\/p>\n