First Nation demands apology from activists over protest at B.C. premier’s home

A Vancouver Island First Nation has called out an environmental activist group after its members staged a protest outside the home of B.C. Premier John Horgan.

Leaders of the Beecher Bay First Nation, located near Sooke, are asking for a formal apology from the group Extinction Rebellion Vancouver Island. In a letter signed by Chief Russ Chipps and two band councillors, the Beecher Bay leaders say 12 Extinction Rebellion Vancouver Island members entered the band’s traditional territory without permission to protest outside Horgan’s home on Feb. 18.

“We find it disturbing that you would ignore our rights and titles over our traditional territory and not follow protocol and ask permission to enter,” the band letter reads, “You’ve come into our territory without permission, putting yourselves above our traditional protocols and have insulted our community and terrorized a private citizen in our neighbouring community.”

The band leaders said that  the protesters’ actions require “a traditional apology to our community, chief and council, along with [Premier Horgan’s wife] Mrs. Ellie Horgan.”

The Beecher Bay First Nation leaders said that the letter was not a political statement against the Wet’suwet’en or Tyendinaga nations that are opposed to the Coastal GasLink pipeline that the 12 protesters were demonstrating against.