(singing and drumming)
Mi'kmaq territories in so-called Rexton, New Brunswick, October 2013
For over 2 weeks now, a coalition of people including local Mi'kmaq residents,
and anglophone and Acadian settlers, have blockaded the road leading to
an equipment compound leased to Southwestern Energy, or SWN.
SWN is a Texas-based energy company that has been attempting to conduct
natural gas exploration in the area's shale formations.
It is believed that if significant deposits of gas are found,
SWN would then employ the controversial extraction method of
hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking".
But since this past summer, protests, direct actions, and sabotage
have thwarted their work, and have turned public opinion on the side of protesters.
(Pamela) Fracking is dangerous, it's not worth risking our water. Even if they
drill five wells and nothing happens, if they drill the sixth well it could
be a disaster and it's just, our water is not worth it.
Our land is not worth it, and the future generations deserve better.
(Narrator) Throughout the summer, police arrested dozens of people
conducting nonviolent civil disobedience, but since the arrival of members of
the Mi'kmaq Warrior Society, the police have not been as keen
to come near protesters.
(Jason) Last thursday, we had the highest red-alert in New Brunswick,
that was involving 500 RCMP members, on both sides of the highway,
and we did a stand-off with them for a few hours, and stuff then was resolved
a little bit, peace was resolved, and they were on their side,
and we were on our side, and we're still remaining peaceful,
and they're still remaining peaceful.
(Narrator) the blockade is preventing SWN from operating "thumper trucks",
massive vehicles that gather seismic data to determine the location of natural gas.
(Suzanne) This barricade that has been happening here at SWN resource compound,
has been costing the company upwards of $60,000 per day,
which is what they have stated in their court proceedings.
They have also stated that they're really upset and angry with the provisions
that we have available to us.
(Narrator) During my short stay here, I witnessed the cooperation
between natives and settlers, a partnership that has kept
this blockade fully stocked and operational.
Food, wood, hot coffee, tents, and other supplies keep streaming in.
All the while, SWN berates the police and the media
for not arresting the protesters.
(Stefanie) We are here for fight, for the same reason.
So, it's important to everybody to stay together.
I'm fighting for the heart, the planet, the water, the animal.
I'm fight for my children.
It's important for us to keep what we've got now.
(Jason) We have Mi'kmaq, we have Acadians, we have English.
So we all came together. That's why we became a unity camp.
Before, we were like this. We weren't getting along.
Til the one, they started messing our water. Then we became this.
This became stonger. Now, the government knows that we are strong,
and that we are helping each other, we are talking with each other.
We are becoming as one. And when we become as one,
that is the most biggest voice we can ever bring, saying
"NO to shale gas!"
(singing and drumming)