From CBC.ca

First Nations chief issues eviction notice to SWN Resources

Elsipogtog Chief Arren Sock says council is reclaiming unoccupied reserve lands

Oct 01, 2013

Anti-shale gas protesters marched on Route 134 in Rexton on Tuesday. (Jennifer Choi/CBC)

Related Stories

• Rexton road blocked by shale gas protesters
• RCMP arrest 12 anti-shale gas protesters in New Brunswick
• SWN Resources cancels Kent meeting over safety concerns

External Links

• SWN Resources Canada

The Chief of the Elsipogtog First Nation delivered an eviction notice to SWN Resources Canada Tuesday, as dozens of protesters continue to block Route 134 in Rexton to prevent the oil and gas company from moving its exploration equipment.

"We have been compelled to act to save our water, land and animals from ruin," said Chief Arren Sock to cheers from the crowd.

"Be it therefore resolved, at a duly convened council meeting in Elsipogtog, let it be known to all that we, as a chief and council of Elsipogtog are reclaiming all unoccupied reserve lands, and put it back in the trust of our people," he said.

A Department of Energy and Mines spokesperson told CBC News exploration will continue.

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From HalifaxMediaCoop.com

Cop Block turns to Road Block

Mi'gmaw Warriors Society fells trees, lights fire, creating inner road block on highway 134, New Brunswick

Posted by Miles Howe on September 30, 2013

Now that's a fracking road block! [Photo: M.Howe]
Young Mi'gmaw Warrior raises Mi'gmaw flag [Photo: M. Howe]
Fires are starting to be lit. [Photo: M. Howe]

Rexton, New Brunswick - Anti-fracking activists in Kent County, New Brunswick have responded to last night's RCMP-imposed block of both sides of highway 134, near the off ramp of highway 11, by creating an inner road block of their own.

Members of the Mi'gmaw Warriors Society, an independently-run group that self-describe themselves as a 'Homeland Security' force, have felled several pine trees and are in the process of lighting fires along the highway. One van and numerous pine trees now also block access to the Irving-owned, gated compound that currently houses five of SWN Resources Canada's seismic testing trucks, or 'thumpers'. The thumpers are perceived by the activists to be a key piece of SWN's equipment, without which the Texas-based gas giant will be unable to continue seismic testing in New Brunswick.

Jim Pictou of the Mi'gmaw Warriors Society notes that this action is a direct response to the RCMP moving their line of police cruisers closer to the make-shift encampment earlier this morning.

"The RCMP acted aggressively, so we've responded with an aggressively action," says Pictou of the road bock. "This doesn't mean that negotiations are over."

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Two Arrests at ongoing New Brunswick Anti-Frack Stand-off

RCMP block auto access to highway 134, stand-off continues into night

Posted by Miles Howe on September 29, 2013

Greg Cook gets roughed up by RCMP. [Photo: Miles Howe]
This young man was arrested for leaning on an RCMP cruiser. [Photo: Miles Howe]
Tempers flared after Clair was struck by a police cruiser. [Photo: Miles Howe]
Lorraine Clair receives medical attention after being struck by RCMP cruiser. [Photo: Miles Howe]

Rexton, New Brunswick - RCMP have currently closed off automobile access to the Irving-owned compound that houses five of SWN Resource Canada's seismic testing trucks, or 'thumpers'. The police have closed off both north and south exits to highway 134 off the highway 11, as well as the 134 itself in both directions. Walk-in access to the compound is currently the only way in and out.

At about 3pm, the call went out through social media that the RCMP had blocked off access to the compound, which, in effect, acted as a rallying cry to local community members opposed to SWN's attempts to seismic test in Kenty County. Seismic testing is the precursor to hydraulic fracturing, the highly-polluting and water-intensive technique meant to extract natural gas from shale rock. Hydraulic fracturing, or 'fracking', has already caused extensive environmental problems in Pennsylvania, Wyoming, Texas, Colorado and other states.

By 4pm, about 100 anti-shale activists had gathered at the gated entrance to the compound. Twenty minutes later, tensions momentarily flared when a police cruiser, driven by Sergeant Lemire, struck Elsipogtog local resident Lorraine Clair in the leg. Clair had been standing in front of the cruiser when Lemire put the car into drive and rolled into her. Members of the Mi'gmaw Warriors Society demanded that Lemire be escorted away from the scene, as his presence had become potentially incendiary to the peacefully gathered crowd.

At about 6pm, with both north and south access routes to the compound being blocked, Greg Cook, moderator of the popular Facebook site 'Shale Gas Alerts New Brunswick', attempted to bring water to the compound by driving his car around the RCMP road block. Cook navigated around a first line of cruisers, but was blocked, stopped and arrested by a second line of RCMP. He was dragged from his automobile and was bleeding from a laceration above his left eye, suffered when the police put his head to the pavement.

Another Mi'gmaw youth was subsequently arrested for simply leaning on a police cruiser.

By 9pm, an attempt at negotiations between representatives of the various community groups present and the RCMP had begun. Demands from the representatives varied from an outright call to end hydraulic fracturing in New Brunswick, to removing the K9 unit that is currently stationed at the northerly end of the police blockade.

As night falls, the stand-off continues.