Ten years since RCMP raided anti-fracking camp near Elsipogtog

Ten years ago, on October 17, 2013, a heavily militarized intervention took place near Elpsipogtog, where peaceful land defenders were trying to block shale gas exploration on their territories by a company called SWN Resources.

This early-morning raid led to the arrest of 40 people, with 20 making complaints of excessive force being used in the arrests.

Elders were pepper-sprayed. The image of Amanda Polchies, kneeling before the government forces while holding up a feather, made it around the world.

Despite the years that have passed, there is still a long way to go to repair relations between the RCMP and the Indigenous communities — if that is possible.

And, in the province, other peaceful occupations remain in place despite threats of removal, like at the site of the Sisson Mine.

In 2018, Neqotkuk native Jeremy Dutcher released a music video for The Honour Song that prominently features the 2013 resistance to shale gas exploration of the Mi’kmaq.

We’re sharing it again today to acknowledge Indigenous-led resistance that has so far prevented large scale fracking in New Brunswick.