The path of the Coastal GasLink pipeline meets the Wedzin Kwa River. Photo by Amber Bracken.

On February 6, the Terrace Standard reported: “Coastal GasLink has resumed preparations to tunnel under the Morice River south of Houston as construction of its natural gas pipeline from northeastern B.C. to the LNG Canada liquefied natural gas facility now underway at Kitimat continues.”

A CGL spokesperson says: “There were limited activities over the holiday period, but preparation work has resumed over this past month. We expect that the micro-drilling will take place starting this spring.”

The article concludes: “In preparation, a drilling company is getting ready to install a starting shaft which is a deep circulation excavation acting as an entry point on the east side of the Morice. The active tunneling work is expected to take two and half to three months.”

Wet’suwet’en water protector Sleydo’ has previously stated: “It’s our sacred headwaters, our clean drinking water, and our salmon spawning river.”

She adds: “Our way of life is at risk. Wedzin Kwa is the river that feeds all of Wet’suwet’en territory and gives life to our nation.”

Journalist Brandi Morin has also written the pipeline underneath Wedzin Kwa could “potentially interrupting the salmon migration routes relied upon by the Wet’suwet’en and threatening the purity of the river’s drinking water.”

She has also noted: “For countless generations, Wet’suwet’en families have gathered at designated fishing grounds according to their clans at the start of the first run of salmon — the chinook — in mid-June.”

That occasion could coincide with CGL’s drilling schedule.

Coastal GasLink intends to use a method called “micro-tunneling” to lay the 48-inch (4-foot) diameter pipe 11 metres below the lowest point of the riverbed. CGL has further stated the length of the crossing will be 888 metres (.89 kilometres).

The image below includes a “mud management” structure.

It’s not clear if Coastal GasLink will be using bentonite, a clay-based drilling mud commonly used as a lubricant during trenchless drilling. Bentonite can also reduce oxygen in the water potentially threatening fish and other aquatic species.

If used, it’s not clear how many tons of bentonite would be needed, nor how many truckloads would be required to transport the bentonite to the site.

It’s also not clear what CGL’s contingency plans are if there is an inadvertent release into the river, the potential for a mechanical failure during the drilling, or if studies have been conducted on the impact the turbidity an accidental release of drilling mud would have at this crossing on salmon and other aquatic life.

While Coastal GasLink says micro-tunneling “minimizes risk and disposal volume” and results in “limited environmental disturbances”, Wet’suwet’en water protectors continue to defend their sacred river and to assert that the pipeline is a violation of their sovereignty and lacks their free, prior and informed consent.

PBI-Canada visited Wet’suwet’en territory this past November and continues to follow this situation closely.

Photo: A reporter is harassed by “Freedom Convoy” participants in Ottawa.

“Freedom Convoy” trucks began arriving in the city of Ottawa, unceded Algonquin territory, on Friday January 28.

CBC News reports: “Crowds [at the convoy protest] swelled to between 5,000 to 18,000 people on Saturday [January 29], according to police, with the city estimating another 3,000 came to the Hill on Sunday [January 30]. Police said Tuesday [February 1] night that 250 people remained, without offering a vehicle count.”

It is expected that this coming weekend there will be another large protest.

Journalist Brandi Morin receives threatening emails

Brandi Morin reporting on the land defence struggle of the Wet’suwet’en peoples against the CGL fracked gas pipeline, January 7, 2022.

On January 31, the Toronto Star, this country’s largest circulation newspaper, published ‘Freedom’ protests are white supremacy in all its glory by Brandi Morin.

Morin commented: “This country is rich from the innumerable resources of stolen Indian lands. And yet these protesters have been sitting in their comfortable lives for all these years, knowing the oppression of segregation via the reserve system and discrimination is a reality — but so far removed that it’s become acceptable.”

By February 2, she tweeted: “So many journalists are at the receiving end of violence lately. Literally I woke up to dozens more emails. I live w it though, people are reading my work I guess. Violence is never OK though, but I’m willing to take the hit for truth/justice.”

The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ), a global organization of support for women journalists, has posted this statement: “CFWIJ was informed that she has received over 60 hateful and threatening emails in the past 24 hours. Not only is Brandi Morin uniquely positioned as an indigenous voice in the press fraternity, thus making her vulnerable to attacks from far-right groups, women journalists in the country have collectively experienced a spike in digital hostilities in the past few months.”

Journalists harassed, threatened

As Morin notes, there are other reports of journalists being harassed and receiving death threats.

On January 28, Vice reported: “Journalists who have reported on the convoy, particularly women, have received a deluge of hate and death threats. Global reporters Mercedes Stevenson and Rachel Gilmore have been inundated with vile and violent messages in recent days for doing their jobs and reporting on the movement.”

That same day, the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) encouraged “newsroom leaders to take preemptive action to ensure that the safety of journalists is protected in the wake of increasing threats made against reporters covering the ongoing trucker’s convoy.”

The CAJ further noted: “Journalists have received death threats littered with racist epithets. Others have been spat on and verbally and physically harassed. In another case, the windows of a CBC/Radio-Canada news cruiser were broken.”

We express our profound concern about this ongoing situation and draw the parallels between the communities, defenders and journalists who PBI accompanies around the world (including in Mexico where four journalists have been killed so far this year).

“Freedom Convoy” trucks began arriving in the city of Ottawa, unceded Algonquin territory, on Friday January 28.

CBC News reports: “Crowds [at the convoy protest] swelled to between 5,000 to 18,000 people on Saturday [January 29], according to police, with the city estimating another 3,000 came to the Hill on Sunday [January 30]. Police said Tuesday [February 1] night that 250 people remained, without offering a vehicle count.”

The convoy has also raised more than $10.1 million and there are indications that this will be an ongoing “occupation” with more trucks coming this weekend.

The CBC article adds: “The protest has seen [large tractor trailer] vehicles parked and honking on roads leading to Parliament Hill since Friday [January 28], with widespread reports of threats and harassment in the area.”

Those incidents include the assault of an unhoused person and a security guard at a homeless shelter, and a couple yelled at because of a Pride flag in their window. CBC has also reported: “The Cornerstone Housing for Women shelter in downtown Ottawa says the ongoing protest has re-triggered clients who have already experienced trauma — to the point that one woman has sought refuge at a hospital.”

One of the incidents is also told in this Twitter video.

More incidents are being posted here with names redacted for safety reasons.

While “F*ck Trudeau” and Canadian flags are most commonly seen, Nazi symbols and a Confederate flag have also been seen in the downtown area.

To date, three people have been arrested.

CBC reports: “On Sunday [January 30], police charged [a 37-year-old man from] Ottawa with carrying a weapon [a collapsible baton and non-folding six-inch knife] to a public meeting.” CTV has also reported: “A 48-year-old Quebec man for making threats and comments on social media while he was in Ottawa.”

Residents at risk

Ottawa City Councillor Catherine McKenney has tweeted: “I’ve heard from 100s of residents who are tired & frightened at what they are experiencing in their neighbourhoods.”

McKenney has also stated: “We have people who are exhibiting very dangerous behaviours — harassing people, threatening violence, driving erratically, driving on sidewalks.”

The Ottawa Citizen newspaper reports: “McKenney said they continue to talk to Centretown residents, some of whom are scared to leave their apartments — including a senior whose cat is hungry because she is afraid to leave to buy cat food.”

That article adds: “Others talk about being harassed because they wear masks and some women have reported being followed down Bank Street.”

Safe walks/rides being organized

Notably, Ottawa Convoy Report is also organizing a form of informal accompaniment for those who could be targeted by the convoy.

Their Instagram page notes: “If you need a safe walk/ride out of downtown Ottawa, DM [direct message] us to connect with a volunteer. All helpers have been vetted, provided photo ID, references, and are prominent figures in the community. If you are trapped and require food/groceries, we can connect you.”

City councillor Shawn Menard has also highlighted the creation of a Volunteer Urban Foot Patrol and this online form for  people “willing to help accompany someone during transit, or if you’d like someone to accompany you.”

We continue to follow this situation with concern.