Elsipogtog

via twitter @CreeClayton

Elsipogtog Mi'kmag First Nations and friends 

block gas company project on route 134 in New Brunswick

Protests have erupted across Canada following confrontations between Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and members of the Elsipogtog Mi’kmaq First Nations with Rexton, New Brunswick residents blockading a shale gas exploration project on route 134.

Peaceful marching on route 134 is shown in a video at this blog post with coverage of the October 7th Idle No More global day of actions.

Demonstrators report RCMP moved in on the basis of a court injunction (against the protest encampment, the injunction on behalf of SWN Resources Canada, a subsidiary of Texas based gas company SWN) with 60 drawn guns, dogs, and assault rifles, and in an operation that Head of the Assembly of First Nations Chief Shawn Atleo is blasting for "extreme use of state force and control," saying that the peaceful protest on Elsipogtog First Nation was "disrupted through police and military intervention."

After peaceful protesters were arrested, including Elsipogtog Chief Aaaron Sock (shown in photo below) and council members, skirmishes broke out, with police using pepper spray and rubber bullets, and eventually, 6 police cars were set on fire.  A total of 40 protesters were reported arrested.  Numerous photos of events circulated rapidly on twitter including pictures of solidarity actions taking place across Canada and in the United States.  Some of them below, and more here:

 via twitter

Elsipogtog Chief Aaron Sock and others arrested

via twitter @Osmich

As this powerful photo circulated the internet, some commentators observed that First Nations communities are unable to obtain this much police action on the disappearances of hundreds of indigenous women, and yet, this militia was fully poised to take action on behalf of oil and gas against this First Nations woman with a feather.

I stand with the #Elsipogtog First Nation as they defend their water and land from Fracking http://t.co/tTIUD6G2Qi
— Susan Sarandon (@SusanSarandon) October 18, 2013

Video of the snipers & military force being used in #Elsipogtog against the Indigenous Peoples protecting the land. http://t.co/8o77vr0FGN
— Ryan McMahon Comedy (@RMComedy) October 17, 2013

Happening right now in #Elsipogtog !!!! Is this what harper meant by reconciliation? Is he trying to start a war? pic.twitter.com/qjFZm45CS5
— Jonah Mitchell (@jonahjmitchell) October 17, 2013

Dozens & dozens of supporters of #Elsipogtog out today at the BC Legislature in Victoria! #IdleNoMore pic.twitter.com/txHYhOlh0b
— MichelleZakrison (@AdvocateMZee) October 18, 2013

 
Some more footage of the events which unfolded along with commentary and coverage from a highway 6 protest in solidarity with Elsipogtog:




October 17, 2013 - Six Nations shut down highway 6 in solidarity with Elsipogtog from TwoRowTimes on Vimeo.


Some coverage here around the controversy concerning shale gas and fracking.  A youtube below of drinking water shown to be contaminated with methane by gas drilling: