Vancouver police officer standing in front of David Eby's MLA office in Kitsilano.
File Diego Lozano
In the past few weeks, UBC students have held sit-ins, blocked traffic and set up public art as part a national movement in solidarity with Wet’suwet’en.
These demonstrations came amidst a breakdown in talks between the BC government and Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs — who have not consented to the Coastal Gaslink natural gas pipeline’s route — in January and a series of arrests in early February by the RCMP of Wet’suwet’en land defenders.
Here are some of the student demonstrations, in photos:
January 20: UBCC350 open letter calls on campus community to support Wet’suwet’en
File Diego Lozano
January 28: Students protest MLA office in solidarity with Wet'suwet'en, three arrested
File Sophie Galloway
File Elizabeth Wang
February 12: Students set up art installation in front of Reconciliation Pole in support of Wet’suwet’en land defenders
File Salomon Micko Benrimoh
File Salomon Micko Benrimoh
February 13: Wet’suwet’en demonstrators block Wesbrook Mall and University Boulevard intersection
File Sarah Zhao
File Sarah Zhao
File Sarah Zhao
February 13: Students once again occupy MLA office to raise demands in solidarity with Wet’suwet’en
File Diego Lozano
File Diego Lozano
File Alex Nguyen
But this is not the first year UBC students have demonstrated and organized in support of Wet’suwet’en land defenders.
January 8, 2019: Hundreds march in support of Wet’suwet’en anti-pipeline camp
File Elizabeth Wang
File Elizabeth Wang
February 12, 2019: Indigenous-led art event raises $750 for Wet’suwet’en legal defence fund
File Zubair Hirji