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Due to threats of
violence and threats to the security of the blockade the Tahltan protestors, on
the advice of the Tahltan Elders decided to up their security at the junction
of hwy 37 and the road into the Mount Klappan Coalfields.
Since July 16,
2005 the road leading to the Mount
Klappan coal-fields in Northern British Columbia has been blocked by members of
the Tahltan nations who for thousands of years utilized the Klappan and to date
continue to carry on this tradition.
As of August 6,
2005 only personal vehicles are being allowed passage through the Eyāłue Lake Road. Rescan Tahltan Environmental Consultants
(RTEC) and Rescan employees will no longer be granted passage because of the
threat to security.
On more then one
occasion employees of TNDC have threatened the security of the blockade. The
main threat is that TNDC will be moving heavy equipment into the Klappan
Coalfields in mid August to honour their obligation to a contract with Shell
Canada.
According to the
informants “TNDC will be moving two Rock Trucks into the Sacred Headwaters of
the Skeena, Stikine
and Nass rivers shortly and under no circumstances will the blockade prevent
their passage.”
On August 2nd
2005 Pardner Payne, an employee of TNDC, attended the roadblock to negotiate an
agreement. His first question was;” If we got rid of Jerry (Asp) would we be
allowed though the blockade?” He was informed the blockade had nothing to do
with Jerry Asp’s resignation. Rather, the issue was the protection of the traditional
Territory, Heritage Sites and lifestyle from the destruction of non renewable
resource extraction.
He then went on to
complain about the lack of leadership in the Iskut First Nation Band Council.
He mentioned “how he had being trying to get the Band Council together for days
to formalize some kind of a discussion surrounding the blockade, but could not
due to lack of leadership incentives on the part of the councillors”.
Pardner then went
on to suggest that “Shell Canada be granted passage into the Tl’abāne Sacred
Head Waters (Klappan) in August 2005 to give TNDC two months of employment and
next year (2006), as a nation, we will blockade their passage into the Tl’abāne
Sacred Headwaters. He was informed that his suggestion was absurd and under no
circumstance will Shell Canada be granted access into the scared watershed of
the Skeena, Stikine
and Nass rivers because of the destructive nature of Coal Bed Methane
extraction procedures and ecological sensitivity of this particular environment.
He left very discouraged and promised to return the following day but he did
not.
On August 5, 2005
three TNDC employees showed up at the blockade to remove the gate that,
according to one of the workers (Alvin Tashoots - Shop Foreman), belonged to
Shell Canada. The blockaders began taking pictures and videoing the process and
they were met with more threats. One of the workers (Joe Dennis) told those
operating the cameras “Shut off that F@#%&g camera now and I mean it.” He the
then gave the cameras the middle finger sign and packed up and left vowing to
return the next day with heavy equipment to remove the gate. He has not returned.
Considering the
threats, currently the spirits are strong and the blockade is attended daily by
supporters from the communities of Telegraph, Dease and Iskut. Children play
and the adults eat and socialize in celebration of the solidarity of finally
standing together in opposition to the destruction of industrialization on
un-treatied First Nation traditional lands. Only registered users can write comments.
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