I contacted the National NDP and urged them to immediately respond to the current situation and this is the letter I received in response.
Dear Jayson,
Thank you for reaching out regarding the RCMP’s assault on Coyote Camp on Wet’suwet’en territory and the arrest of land defenders and journalists documenting the events. I am outraged by the militaristic actions of the RCMP which include marching through the community with assault rifles in a clear attempt to intimidate members of the community and arresting journalists.
I and my fellow New Democrats have called repeatedly for the Prime Minister to negotiate directly with the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs and in 2020 the Office of the Wet’suwet’en and the Governments of Canada and British Columbia signed a Memorandum of Understanding recognizing the rights and title of the Wet’suwet’en throughout the Yintah. The actions of the RCMP are in direct violation of this agreement and the arrest of journalists anywhere in Canada in any situation cannot be tolerated.
On Monday, I issued a Statement on the RCMP’s actions and co-signed a letter to Minister Mendocino urging him to take action now to ensure that freedom of the press is upheld and fully respected by law enforcement and to stop the unreasonable use of force and militarized police response on Wet’suwet’en and Gitxsan territory.
The RCMP must stand down now.
Read my statement: https://heathermcpherson.ndp.ca/news/statement-rcmp-wetsuweten-territory
The Federal NDP will continue to work with the Hereditary Chiefs and the communities impacted and for real reconciliation and de-colonization built on a true nation-to-nation relationship with Canada.
Yours, Heather
