Land defenders, climate activists rally against RBC in downtown Saskatoon - Action News
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Saskatoon

Land defenders, climate activists rally against RBC in downtown Saskatoon

A few blocks in downtown Saskatoon were closed Wednesday while protesters called on RBC to stop bankrolling fossil fuel projects. The protest coincided with RBC'sannual shareholders meeting at the Delta Bessborough Hotel.

Protesters call on RBC to stop investing in fossil fuels

Drummers stand in a circle on a street, with other protesters in a circle around them.
Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chief Gisdaywa, centre, stands with drummers during a protest against the Royal Bank of Canadas Annual General Meeting at the Delta Bessborough hotel in Saskatoon on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. (Liam Richards/The Canadian Press)

A few blocks in downtown Saskatoon were closed Wednesday while protesters called on the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) to stop bankrolling fossil fuel projects.

The protest coincided with RBC'sannual shareholders meeting, held this yearin Saskatoon at the Delta Bessborough Hotel.

Holding up signs with slogans like "Royal Bank of Contaminators" and "Stop banking on pipelines," protesters chanted, "How do you spell racist? RBC," and "What do we want? Climate justice."

A person with a megaphone leads marchers with signs, including
Marchers during a protest against the Royal Bank of Canadas annual general meeting in Saskatoon on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. (Liam Richards/The Canadian Press)

The streets were closed with concrete barriers and police monitored the peaceful protest.

About 70 people first gathered down the street from the Bessborough, at Kiwanis Memorial Park, then marched to the hotel where they had a drumming circle, participated in round dances and listened to speakers. There, the crowd grew to around 150 people.

A person in a beige toque and a green coat speaks outside, holding a microphone.
Cedar George, member of the Tulalip and Tsleil Waututh Tribes, speaks during a protest against the Royal Bank of Canada at its annual general meeting at the Delta Bessborough hotel in Saskatoon on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. (Liam Richards/The Canadian Press)

Cedar George-Parker, a member of the Tulalip and Tsleil Waututh Tribes, travelled from B.C. for the rally. He said Indigenous people have always wanted to protect the lands and water.

"That's why we're fighting and standing up the oppression of RBC, because we're rich with culture and we're willing to fight for what we believe in," he said.

An Indigenous delegationalso attended the shareholders' AGM, but said some were barred from entering the main room despite holding the proper proxies to attend. Instead, they had to participate from a second room.

Shareholders voted on resolutions regarding climate change and Indigenous rights, but all the resolutions failed.

A Wet'suwet'en chief in traditional regalia speaks at a microphone.
Chief NaMoks, Hereditary Chief of Wetsuweten, speaks following the Royal Bank of Canadas annual general meeting at the Delta Bessborough hotel in Saskatoon on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. (Liam Richards/The Canadian Press)

"We didn't even make it inside," said Chief Na'Moks, Hereditary Chief of Wet'suwet'en, in a news conference afterwards.

"Today we came here to address the RBC AGM, tell them to quit funding projects such as Coastal GasLink, the destruction that comes with it, the violence that comes with it, the danger to our women, the danger to our waters, the future of our children."

The Coastal GasLink pipeline,under construction in B.C.,is opposed by the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs.RBC is one of the financiers of the project.

The rally in Saskatoon on Wednesday followed a series of protests held on the weekend across Canada to mark "Fossil Fools Day."

RBC has defended its funding of the Coastal GasLink pipeline, noting the project has been extensively reviewed and approved by regulators, and has the support of the 20 elected First Nations along the route.

In an email to CBC earlier this week, RBC said it is"committed to achieving net-zero in its lending by 2050" and has established interim emissions reduction targets "that will help us drive action and measure progress."

A person holds a sign that says
Marchers with signs during a protest outside the Royal Bank of Canadas annual general meeting at the Delta Bessborough hotel in Saskatoon on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. (Liam Richards/The Canadian Press)
A person wrapped in a red and black blanket speaks into a microphone.
Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chief Gisdaywa speaks during a protest against the Royal Bank of Canadas at its annual general meeting at the Delta Bessborough hotel in Saskatoon on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. (Liam Richards/The Canadian Press)