New Brunswick Fracking Protests

                                                   

Who/What: This photograph was taken by Ossie Michelin of a woman protesting a potential shale gas site. There has been an ongoing issue in resource development battles in Canada because there is a duty to include and accommodate aboriginal people in these types of processes that take place on their traditional land, as ordered by the Supreme Court of Canada. This woman was a either member or supporter of the Elsipogtog First Nation and the protest this photograph was taken at became a violent one, with the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) coming to enforce a court order against the blockade of the protestors. Even before this protest, First Nation leaders had been discussing the fact that the government and the fracking industry were not meeting with them before they began their work, which is against the law in Canada. The protesting Canadians felt the need to protect the land, especially since fracking causes a great deal of land damage and can contaminate drinking water.

Where: This protest occurred in New Brunswick, Canada, but the protests against the fracking industry were occurring across Canada.

When: This photograph was taken on October 17^th, 2013 and protests at this potential shale gas sight in New Brunswick had been occurring all month. Additionally, these aboriginal groups had been involved in lawsuits about resource development since the mid-1980s.

Why (is it interesting/relevant): This is a stark image of a woman pleading with the RCMP to not infringe on the land that is of such importance to her culture. Additionally, this image shows body protest, since the woman is physically sitting in the street doing her best to blockade the RCMP from disregarding her people and taking over the land.

The identities that are articulated through this image are the Elsipogtog First Nation members. These are the aboriginal people that were being abused by the government and fracking industry, who were in it for the money. These people have the right to be consulted and accommodated when it comes to developing or fracking their land, as this is not only basic human rights, but also following the law.

Works Cited:

Schwartz, Daniel, and Mark Gollom. “N.B. Fracking Protests and the Fight for Aboriginal Rights.” CBC News Canada. CBC/Radio-Canada, 19 Oct. 2013. Web. 1 Sept. 2016.