News
Nov 25, 2011
Members of First Nation set up teepee at legislature
TARA CHISLETT, Canadaeast News Service
Members of St. Mary’s First Nation who set up their community teepee on the front lawn of the provincial legislature Saturday morning as part of an anti hydro-fracking rally say they plan to remain there until the legislature opens on Wednesday.
Angee Acquin, a member of the community said the group kept plans to erect the teepee under wraps until Saturday morning intentionally.
“We’ve had all the media coming and saying we didn’t know this was happening. That’s the way we wanted it,” she said.
“During the rally our elder was called out by the legislature people because they wanted to know our intention.”
Acquin said other than that exchange, no representatives from the legislature have come out to address those staying in the teepee and police and fire officials have given the group the OK to demonstrate.
Acquin said the demonstration is meant to send a message to the provincial government.
“When they weren’t coming to us, we went to them to say we’re here, we need to be consulted and no means no,” she said.
“It’s our job to protect the blood that runs through our mother … We’re saying we’re here. We’ve come to you.”
The demonstration comes on the heels of a Saturday morning rally, which saw hundreds of protestors from 28 different community groups gather on the legislature lawn for the first of two planned protests on the issue of shale gas development in New Brunswick.
The second protest is scheduled to begin at the legislature Wednesday at noon.