The blockade of Hwy 63 to the tar sands. Photo by Melina Laboucan-Massimo
APTN reports, “About 100 people blocked Hwy. 63 north of Fort McMurray, Alta., this afternoon, the main artery that leads to the tarsands. The chief of Athabasca Fort Chipewyan First Nation says people from more than five First Nations in and around the area took part in bringing traffic to a crawl for over two hours. …The protesters used their bodies to block the road, standing in both lanes with signs bearing the Idle No More banner, and shouting their support for Chief Theresa Spence.”
The National Post notes, “Chief Alan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation joined the blockade Thursday, saying the federal government is clearing the way for development on traditional land. Ottawa’s omnibus budget legislation weakens environmental protection in Canada, Adam says. He says oil sands projects have already sullied rivers and lakes in the area and the budget bill ‘gives the green light to destroy the rest’.”
We at TSB are incredibly inspired by recent actions undertaken under the banner Idle No More and especially this highway blockade near the source of dirty tar sands extraction.
Tar Sands Blockade continues to stand in solidarity with the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation in the battle against tar sands extraction and declares our explicit support of the Idle No More movement. For First Nations sovereignty! Against all resource extraction!
