A group of protesters and counter protesters clashed in Saskatoon on Feb. 22, 2020 over a natural gas pipeline construction in Wet'suwet'en Nations. (Keenan Sorokan/650 CKOM)

By Keenan Sorokan

Tensions rise as Wet’suwet’en protesters, counter-protesters clash in Saskatoon

Feb 23, 2020 | 10:03 AM

A tense situation unfolded at a set of Saskatoon railroad tracks on Saturday as demonstrators and counter protesters clashed following Wet’suwet’en Nations hereditary chiefs opposition to a natural gas pipeline in northern B.C.

The blockade demonstration at the railroad tracks in Pleasant Hill between 20th Street West and 21st Street West on Avenue I began around noon.

The peaceful demonstration took a turn when counter protesters in support of the pipeline — originally gathered in front of City Hall — arrived and demanded an end to the blockade.

“We’re wondering what you’re protesting. Do you know what you’re protesting?” one man shouted as he moved towards the track.

A group of roughly 20 people carrying Canadian flags, with signs in support of the oil and gas industry, in addition to signs criticizing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gathered along the tracks opposite the Wet’suwet’en supporters and began shouting and screaming while asking to open a dialogue.

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“I don’t even think they know what they’re here for,” Arley Laroque said of the blockade demonstration. “Why are they here? That’s all I can say. What Canada do they want to see?”

The blockade organized by the Indigenous Joint Action Coalition (IJAC) described the activism as a “peaceful ceremonial action” in a news release on Saturday.

Erica Violet Lee was one of the demonstrators hoping the show of solidarity with Wet’suwet’en people could strengthen Indigenous land claims in the future.

As far as the screaming and shouting from boisterous counter protesters, Lee said those actions don’t hurt her resolve — they strengthen it.

“I don’t think counter protesters will stop anything we’ve planned already,” she said. “It’s just a peaceful demonstration.”

“We’ll just stay as long as we can and won’t let them deter us.”

Mark Friesen, a former People’s Party of Canada candidate in the recent federal election, organized and spoke at the counter group’s rally in downtown before relocating to the tracks in Pleasant Hill.

“Canadians are frustrated, they’re really angry at essentially the shutting down of our economy,” Friesen said before sharing his thoughts on the pipeline in northern B.C.

“Twenty Indian bands were consulted and approved this project. This project should be going forward.”

In the middle of the two groups were more than a dozen Saskatoon police officers attempting to calm the crowd and keep the demonstration peaceful.

Lee said she knew a “threat” would arise when she heard that counter protesters were en route, but never felt actions would turn violent.

“The amount of vitriol we’re facing right now is really hard to take,” she said. “I think that we’re always afraid for our safety as Indigenous peoples here in Saskatchewan.”

Blockades began appearing on railways across the country in response to RCMP action to move people who were blocking a worksite on the Wet’suwet’en traditional territory for Coastal GasLink to build a natural gas pipeline.

Many of the demonstrators in Saskatoon remained silent, not wanting to engage with counter protesters.

At one point, one of the counter protesters moved across the tracks to defend his argument with police surrounding him.

After roughly two hours of back and forth, chanting and shouting from both sides, police officers and a Canadian Pacific Railway employee warned people to move away from the tracks so an incoming train could move through.

That decision seemed to diffuse the situation with some of the counter protesters thanking their counterparts for allowing the train to pass through before leaving the area.

Protesters said they plan to remain at the site for multiple days.