Kelowna joins Canadian protests for Wet'suwet'en nation | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Kelowna joins Canadian protests for Wet'suwet'en nation

Protesters march in Kelowna Sunday to show support for the Wet'suwet'en in northern B.C

Supporters of the Wet'suwet'en First Nation joined other protesters across the country today by echoing their rallying cries in Kelowna.

Roughly 100 people gathered outside of the Kelowna Law Courts Feb. 9, before making their way to the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society on Leon Avenue in a peaceful march to show support for the Wet'suwet'en during an escalating situation in northern B.C. between protesters and the RCMP.

Dixon Terbasket, who drove from Cawston to be a part of the Kelowna protest, said because of the tensions in northern B.C., he feels there has been an escalation in the racism he’s experienced.

Waving signs such as “protectors not protesters,” demonstrators listened to Terbasket as he thanked supporters for showing up and said supporters need to be prepared if the northern B.C. protest turns nasty.

Dixon Terbasket addresses a crowd of roughly 100 people who gathered at the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society Sunday to show support for the Wet'suwet'en.
Dixon Terbasket addresses a crowd of roughly 100 people who gathered at the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society Sunday to show support for the Wet'suwet'en.

Another protester, Sky Aka, said Okanagan residents need to learn the history and culture of Indigenous peoples.

Okanagan residents aren’t able to even say hello in nsyilxcen, he said, adding that in Hawaii, people say "Aloha."

The Wet’suwet’en have been protesting the construction of the TransCanada Coastal GasLink pipeline in Northern B.C. that, once constructed, will run from Dawson Creek to Kitimat. Multiple people have been arrested after they refused to leave an exclusion zone, one climbed a tree while others secured themselves inside a bus and on a tower.

Terbasket said change comes with the younger generation.

“It’s good to see people coming here from different backgrounds,” he said.

Across Canada, protesters are rallying to show support for the Wet'suwet'en. Yesterday, a ceremonial fire was lit at the B.C. legislature.

- With files from The Canadian Press

 


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