https:/.../Bloackde_Report_1_SD.mp4

(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)