THUNDER BAY -- Danielle Gregory says she faced down rubber bullets and military helicopters protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline with the Standing Rock Sioux in North Dakota.
Stopping traffic for 90 minutes at one of Thunder Bay’s busiest intersections was a walk in the park.
Gregory was among 110 people who on Monday morning formed a ring around the intersection of Memorial Avenue and the Harbour Expressway, standing up for water rights and condemning Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for last week giving the go-ahead to Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline and Enbridge’s replacement of Line 3.
“It’s about the water because water is life and I’m not being corny when I say that. It’s the truth, you can’t live without it. You can’t be without it. Nothing can live without it. It’s not only just humans, but life as we know it needs water,” Gregory said.
Monday’s demonstration, which saw participants string a symbolic strand of purple yarn around the circumference of the intersection – with police providing sturdier barricades in every direction for their protection – came in the aftermath of news that emerged on Sunday that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would not permit the $3.8-billion pipeline to be built under Lake Oahe, near the Standing Rock Reservation.
The move effectively halted construction on the 1,885-kilometre pipeline as Texas-based owner Energy Transfer Partners LP seeks out alternative routes.
“That’s good feedback and it’s nice to catch your breath and relax for a bit instead of being told to go ‘F’ yourself to your face,” said Gregory, who was planning to return to Standing Rock, but paused to take part in Monday’s peaceful demonstration in her hometown.
But it’s only a temporary delay, she feared.
“They’ve already stated they are going to continue drilling with our without the easement and they’ve shown they are a lawless company,” Gregory said, adding that when U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office, all environmental bets are off.
Khanena Nowegejick said she was standing up for and setting an example for her young son and her future descendents, who have a right to clean water.
It’s also a chance to raise awareness of the issue in Thunder Bay, she said.
“I’m really concerned, being a mother wondering what my son and my grandchildren and future generations are going to have for drinking water,” she said. “It’s just a really big fear.”
Monday’s rally came at the request of Autumn Pelletier, a 12-year-old Ontario girl who put out a YouTube request to the world to on Dec. 5 stand in support of water protection efforts around the world.
Cheryl Suggashie helped organize the rally, calling it the duty of Aboriginal women to answer the call of Indigenous youth.
“It’s just really sad that it has to come to this,” she said. “Pretty soon we’re going to have to pay $2 for a bottle of clean air. We’re doing that already with water.”
While most drivers moved around the detour peacefully, many honking in support, the traffic stoppage did anger at least one passing motorist.
“Get a life,” the man yelled.
A police spokesman encouraged the protestors to pick a less busy location to demonstrate and will be looking into its legality and whether or not charges are warranted with the Crown Attorney.
