Protesters refuse to dismantle Camp Cloud
Anti-pipeline activists won’t douse sacred fire; prepare to tie themselves to structures
Occupants of Camp Cloud, the longtime anti-pipeline protest encampment in Burnaby, say they will continue to ignore a court-ordered injunction to dismantle the site and douse the flames of their sacred fire.
Camp spokesperson Kwitsel Tatel said about a dozen protesters have not complied with a B.C. Supreme Court ruling that structures, shelters and vehicles had to be dismantled and the fire put out by Sunday night.
Tatel said she has advised the remaining protesters to do whatever they consider as their safest option and that some of the protesters have offered to tie themselves to structures in anticipation of police intervention.
“There have been exercises that Camp Cloud has applied in order to reject police brutality by tying ourselves down to the sacred fire and some of our structures,” she said in a phone interview. “Bodies have been offered up to protect the sacred fire as of (Sunday.)”
The City of Burnaby is looking to the RCMP to enforce the eviction order.
“The timing of this is at the discretion of the RCMP,” said Dipak Dattani, the city’s director of corporate services. “Once enforced, they would be securing the site for city staff, and indicating if it’s safe for us to enter, and that will allow for us to go and dismantle the site.”
Burnaby RCMP did not respond for comment.
“They’ll have to pack me out of here,” said Tsastilqualus Umbas, who has visited the camp three times. “There’s no fear, we aren’t afraid.”
While some people stopped by to show their support on Monday, one man yelled profanities at the group while driving by in his car.
The atmosphere seemed calm at Camp Cloud, and no police officers were present in the immediate area.
The camp has grown in the past few months, and includes a newly built two-storey “carver’s cabin.”
Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs vice-president Bob Chamberlin said that they have always advocated for lawful objection to activities like the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project. “To me, this is simply an example of how far people are willing to go to make sure their objection to the pipeline is heard and understood,” he said.
The ceremonial sacred fire near the camp has been ordered doused because it is in violation of a fire services bylaw due to dry conditions.
On Sunday night, occupants did move away some trailers from the corner of the encampment, which had been the subject of complaints from the public due to visibility for drivers.
Legal experts said a challenge to the Supreme Court injunction may be on the table. “These are situations that are well known to the law, there are numerous examples,” said Josh Paterson, executive director of B.C. Civil Liberties Association.