Wet'suwet'en members prepare for winter, plan to stay until Coastal GasLink work halted permanently

It's been more than 40 days since Wet'suwet'en members and supporters occupied a Coastal GasLink work site near the Wedzin Kwa (Morice River) and despitemultiplearrests, theysay they're determined to stay put until Coastal GasLinkpermanentlyhalts work on their territory.

"It's our sacred headwaters, our clean drinking water, and our salmon spawning river,"saidSleydo', referring to the Wedzin Kwa. Sleydo',whose English name is Molly Wickham, is the spokesperson for the Gidimt'en Checkpoint,which controls access to the partof the Wet'suwet'en territory on which the drill site is located.

The occupation, whichstarted onSept. 25, haltedefforts by Coastal GasLinkto build an essential part of the 670-kilometre pipeline that would transport natural gas from Dawson Creek in northeastern B.C.to Kitimat in the province's North Coast region.

Aroundthat time,Coastal GasLinksaid they had completed the final stages of "clearing work" in Wet'suwet'en territory, which involved levelling the ground andremoving trees and top soil so construction equipment can move in.

But work was stopped short of the next stage drilling under the river using a method called 'micro-tunneling,' which Coastal GasLink describes asthe "safest and most environmentally responsible method."

NowSleydo'says they're preparing to stay for the long haul.

"We're settling in for the winter. There's lots of winterizing happening," she said.

On Oct. 3, Wet'suwet'en members and supporters built a cabin on top of Coastal GasLink'sdrill pad site,whichChief Din ze' Woos of the Gidimt'en ClannamedCamp Coyote in a ceremonial opening.

Sleydo' says they are bolstering infrastructure at Camp Coyote to ensure they have a place to stay when temperatures drop.

In late October, theneighbouring Likhts'amisyu Clanalso took action against Coastal GasLinkwork in their territory.

Hereditary chiefsDsta'hyl and Tse'besatold the companyall equipment that was not removed from the territory would be decommissioned and seized "in accordance with [their]laws."

On Oct. 27, Chief Dsta'hyland Gitxan activistKolin Sutherland-Wilsonwere both arrested on charges of theft, mischief and being found in possession of stolen items after Dsta'hylseized components from10 of Coastal GasLink's heavy machinery. Both have since been released.

In a writtenstatement issuedon Oct. 28 in response to what the company called "an escalation in unlawful and dangerous activities by opponents,"Coastal GasLinksaid they are"increasingly concerned about the safety of our workforce and the public."

They also said"every reasonable effort is being made by our teams to de-escalate this situation."

Asked about the ongoing blockades and occupation of their work site, Coastal GasLinkdeclined to comment.

Meanwhile, spirits are high at Camp Coyote, says Sleydo'.

She also says response to calls for solidarity actions on social media have been enthusiastic, and reflectshifting public opinion around Indigenous sovereignty.

"Society is not willing to stand around and watch while Indigenous peoples' rights are violated anymore," she said.

"It's also a broader issue of the climate crisis that's happening and Indigenous sovereignty."