Wednesday, February 26, 2020
Serving the Hub of the North since 1960
Volume 60 • Issue 9
Thompson protesters demonstrate solidarity with Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs opposing B.C. pipeline BY JAMES SNELL
JAMES@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
2018 MANITOBA GAMES DONATIONS NEWS, PAGE 3 SPORTS, PAGE 7
BASKETBALL TEAM RAISES MONEY FOR FIRE VICTIMS NEWS PAGE 6
WARM WINTERFEST WENT WELL NEWS PAGE 12
non-Indigenous activists, argue that the project falls short on Indigenous consultation and will create environmental devastation including increased global carbon dioxide emissions. They argue that the hereditary chiefs, not elected band councils, should have the final say over the pipeline where it crosses areas outside the elected officials’ jurisdiction. Opponents also argue that having RCMP
members on Wet’suwet’en territory over the last several weeks was an occupation. Protesters were blocking sections of Canada’s rail system as the federal government and First Nation leaders searched for a solution. Thompson protest organizer Khrystyna Massan was there to support the Wet’suwet’en, and also bring awareness about a currently hypothetical pipeline
to Churchill on the shore of Hudson Bay. “We are here to protect the land and the water,” she explained. Hiliary Wood was protesting on behalf of Indigenous youth in the area who are supporting the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs. “We found people who want to work with us and that we can stand together and show our support for our fellow brothers and sisters
across Turtle Island,” she said. “And this is not just about the pipeline, this is about the ongoing genocide that’s going on in Canada … the ongoing colonialism that’s going on. It’s not just about the pipeline. It’s about how Indigenous people are being treated and we want to show that we stand together as a nation.” The protest concluded with a prayer from Indigenous elder Jack Robinson.
Indigenous journalism fellowship recipient has Northern Manitoba roots BY IAN GRAHAM
EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
Damian Frazee first got interested in making videos as a teenager who was into photography, skateboarding and music. Now as the recipient of the fourth-annual Canadian Association of Journalists/ APTN Indigenous Investigative Journalism Fellowship, he is taking his selftaught skills and applying them to TV documentary production. A member of York Factory First Nation, Frazee has spent the last few years working as a locations pro-
duction assistant and camera assistant trainee on various productions in Winnipeg after taking parts in CBC’s Indigenous New Voices program. But as someone who was a fan of documentaries and stories based on real life since he was young, Frazee is excited to have the opportunity to learn about broadcast journalism. “I want to get out of this world and do the other world, the media and finding stories and telling truth and telling real stories,” he said. Frazee pitched an investigation about the lack of funding for youth programs
and facilities in Winnipeg and in other Manitoba communities. He will work on the story during a 12-week paid fellowship with APTN Investigates in Winnipeg, the first Indigenous investigative news program in Canada. At the end, he’ll have an investigative documentary that will be showcased at the CAJ national conference in Montreal May 29-31. APTN executive director of news and current affairs Cheryl McKenzie says the fellowship can be an incredible opportunity. Continued on Page 10
Thompson Citizen photo courtesy of Jesse Adnrushko, APTN York Factory First Nation member Damian Frazee is the fourth recipient of the Canadian Association of Journalists/ APTN Indigenous Investigative Journalism Fellowship.
CALLING ALL LEAP-DAY BABIES! If you were born on February 29, visit us with your birth certificate and government-issued ID, and get a
40% DISCOUNT
on any size cake purchased for your birthday!
2 LOCATIONS! 50 SELKIRK (
) & THOMPSON AIRPORT
BY THE PLAZA
donutsrobin@gmail.com
Cake O’Clock NY
A
LEAPLINGS, LEAPERS, LEAP-YEAR BABIES: When do you celebrate your birthday in non-leap years? February 28? March 1? Not at all?
Thompson Citizen photo by James Snell Protesters walked down Mystery Lake Road to Thompson City Hall Feb. 21 in support of the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs in B.C. taking a stand against the Coastal GasLink pipeline.
TIM
M TI E IS CAKE
E
THREE BREAK-INS IN THREE-DAY SPAN NEWS PAGE 2
A group of approximately 15 protesters marched to Thompson City Hall Feb. 21 to show support for hereditary chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation in northwestern British Columbia, who are inspiring nationwide blockades with their stand against the Coastal GasLink (CGL) pipeline crossing their territory. The CGL is approximately 670 kilometres in length and, if completed, will deliver natural gas from the Dawson Creek area of B.C. to a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility near Kitimat on the Canada’s West Coast. Supporters of the pipeline argue that the development will put money into government coffers and provide economic development and employment for generations. They say the LNG, which will be shipped to Asia, will displace coalfired power generation and contribute to lower carbon dioxide emissions. Postmedia reported that all 20 First Nations along the pipeline route support the development, which has the approval of B.C.’s governing NDP party. Project opponents, including some Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs, Wet’suwet’en First Nation members and Indigenous and