Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

NATIONAL PROTESTS

Kamloops RCMP engage with post-secondary students on the subject of pipeline protests

Feb 26, 2020 | 9:21 AM

KAMLOOPS — It’s a complicated issue, with no clear solution. The conflict between the Wet’suwet’en and Coastal GasLink has now spilled far beyond the path of the pipeline, grinding rail traffic to a halt and exposing some severe gaps between how politicians speak about Indigenous reconciliation and how they practice it.

Tuesday (Feb. 26) at TRU, Kamloops RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jodi Shelkie visited a political science class. She undertook the difficult task of explaining and answering questions about the role of the RCMP when dealing with protests, like the many currently taking place across Canada.

“The order that [RCMP] put our priorities down are that we are impartial, we’re there to protect the rights of people — either protesters or the people or companies to go to work — then thirdly, we will enforce the laws of Canada,” Shelkie told students.

Shelkie’s visit was as a guest of TRU Political Science instructor Derek Cook, who believes the RCMP are in a difficult situation that isn’t of their making.

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“There’s no obvious solution to the conflicting demands of the protester and the government,” Cook explained. “So the RCMP, with an obligation to uphold the law, is caught in the middle.”

The students had many questions for Shelkie, who did her best to answer them. Whether they agreed with what she said, it seemed the students were grateful she shared her time.

“I don’t know if I really came out with the answers I wanted,” student Adam Burris told CFJC Today. “When it came to truth and reconciliation, I’m not sure how well those questions were answered, but I appreciate her time a lot. I think that means a lot.”

“One of my biggest takeaways was that the RCMP attempts to act more independently and impartial than I previously realized,” Julye-Anne McKenny said. “‘[That] was really interesting and reassuring, especially because of how you see them portrayed in the media. They can come off as a negative presence.”

Cook believes the conflict behind these blockades and protests is still far from being resolved. He also says both the provincial and federal governments bear significant responsibility for the current state of affairs, thanks to their approach to truth and reconciliation.

“They’ve raised the expectations of First Nations, who have legitimate concerns,” Cook said. “I’m hoping that whatever the solutions, they remain non-violent.”