A group of artists blockaded the gates of Kinder Morgan’s Burnaby Mountain tank farm Thursday as part of ongoing Indigenous-led resistance to the tar sands project.
“Let’s not forget in all the provincial and federal squabbling that the company still doesn’t have Indigenous consent and never will,” said Will George, Watch House project leader and Tsleil Waututh member. “We will continue to delay the pipeline here at the construction site and in the courts until Kinder Morgan relents.”
Indigenous leaders have vowed that the pipeline will never be built.
The protest brought together artists from nearby universities, as well as grassroots communities, who created an art installation as part of their blockade at the Kinder Morgan gates.
“I am here because I feel a great responsibility to protect our coast and stand with Indigenous leaders opposed to this pipeline,” said Pia Massie, Artist-In-Residence at Emily Carr University Faculty of Culture and Community. “Artists have always helped define key moments in history and this is one of them.”
Violet Williams, an 18 year old student at the University of Victoria from K’ómoks Nation said, “I am here for future generations so that they can have grandchildren on this earth.”
“I think we’re being called at this time in the world to stand up for future generations and protect our children.” said Susan Smyth, a 70 year old artist who answered the call from Indigenous leaders to Protect The Inlet from Kinder Morgan.
Three people have been arrested yesterday for blocking the gates to Kinder Morgan’s construction site. About 200 people have been arrested in the past month for protesting the pipeline.
(Protect the Inlet)
