There’s an old shopworn joke that describes the circumstances that pipeline blockades have created.
The body organs were arguing over which was the most important.
The brain declared it was number one, since it was the body’s nerve centre transmitting messages to the other parts.
The heart, seeing itself as the body’s engine, claimed most importance while the lungs, which refresh the body with crucial oxygen, claimed importance.
The stomach and intestines claimed importance as they digest nutrients and make them available.
The liver and kidneys claimed importance for their role in body waste disposal.
The anus made no claim, just closed the sphincter valve and waited two days. By then the body was writhing in discomfort. All major organs were unable to function properly. Total shutdown was imminent.
That is not to say the current pipeline blockade protests are anal but some of the protesters are anal about the matter. The protesters have made a point: they can shut down the country’s economy. Now what?
The Wet'suwet'en have a legitimate claim. They have never ceded their territory to Canada by treaty. The land is theirs.
Until moves by B.C. a year ago, their situations has been ignored simply because the First Nations have much bargaining power
Further complicating matters: Fifty per cent of B.C. territory has never been ceded by First Nations, but the overlapping claims by different bands amount to 110 per cent of B.C. lands.
But what are the consequences of prolonged protest?
During the last 10 years most Canadians have altered their perception of First Nations peoples from the stereotypes of lazy, drunken heathens.
The stereotypes have been overcome by education. The federal Truth and Reconciliation Commission played a significant role in that education.
Commission hearings and subsequent media coverage revealed to non-First Nations Canadians the broad extent of the horrible mistreatment of First Nations children by the residential school system, a system planned to destroy First Nations culture and language, to turn these young people into “white” people.
Sympathy and concern for the First Nations peoples and their culture has been on the rise in recent years.
By and large Canadians are tolerant and fair-minded about protests by people not wanting certain decisions affecting their lives, as long as the protests are peaceful and don’t disturb day-to-day life.
The blockades shutting down two railways, preventing people from getting to work, preventing movement of goods to market and preventing production are disturbing day-to-day life.
Prolonged protests risk unravelling much of the good will toward First Nations’ causes that has developed over recent years.
Protesters should cast aside their euphoria at stopping the economy and consider the long term implications of their actions.
Reconciliation does not give the few a right to veto the majority.
Both federal and provincial governments have been slow to react, passing the buck to each other.
The call for immediate action to stop the blockades is fraught with consequences from breeching our cherished freedoms to creating a more dangerous situation.
Sudden action or martial law is not the solution and could lead to guerrilla actions that make terrorism look like a Sunday school picnic.
The protests appear well-organized. Evidence exists that protesters are being encouraged by anti-capitalist anarchist groups south of the Border.
A decision by First Nations on who speaks for them — elected or hereditary chiefs — would do much to resolve the situation.
Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
