Throughout modern history we have seen examples of non-violent civil disobedience in the form of staged sit-ins, marches, blockades, hunger strikes and other tactics used to raise awareness about issues that are taking place in society. Among the best known examples are the movements led by people such as India’s Mahatma Gandhi, South Africa’s anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela and of course Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. One of the main principles of civil disobedience is to maintain respect for the rule of law even while disobeying a specific law considered to be unjust. In addition, those demonstrating peaceful civil disobedience were willing to go to jail without resisting arrest by the authorities.
In the last two weeks in Canada, one has seen protests by certain indigenous groups in support of members of the Wet’suwet’en nation opposed to the construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline being built through their territory in British Columbia. Protesters attempted to illegally block the construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline, forcing the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to enforce a court injunction against the blockade. However, within the
Wet’suwet’en nation there are major divisions between elected Band leaders who support the project in terms of its economic benefits and some hereditary chiefs who oppose the project on the basis of protecting traditional lands.
The hereditary chiefs wanted the RCMP to leave their lands, which they are prepared to do. In support of the hereditary chiefs, protesters from various native groups blocked rail lines across the country, bringing passenger rail service and rail freight traffic to a halt during the past two weeks of blockades. Freight rail service is said to have fallen by 18%, and hundreds of rail employees have been temporarily laid off. Court injunctions were obtained against the blockades, but the authorities had as yet to move in to dismantle the barricades. What is also interesting is that non-native anti-pipeline groups have taken the opportunity to join in these civil disobedience activities to promote their own causes.
Now that the federal government has exhausted consultations with those representing the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs, there is a clear indication that the economy is being hurt by the rail shutdown. The time has come for the authorities to move in and dismantle the illegal blockades, hopefully in a non-violent manner. Since part of civil disobedience is the real possibility of being arrested and jailed, the protesters — both native and non-native — have to be willing to end up in jail. Violent resistance is not among the principles governing the use of civil disobedience. It is now up to the protesters to confirm their adherence to those principles and either dismantle the blockades or be arrested. Not doing so will only hurt their stated causes and loose any public support and possibly even the support of many native peoples. The federal government has made it clear that it remains willing to continue its reconciliation policies and initiatives with indigenous peoples. The protesters, whether you choose to agree or disagree, have made their point. Further hurting people across the country is not the way to go!
FROLITICKS 
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