The Klabona Keepers say they are accepting their imminent arrests if a court application is granted for an injunction to order the group to take down its blockade at the access road to the Red Chris mine up north.
In a message sent from the Tahltan blockade of the Red Chris mine access road from Tamo Campos – a representative of the activist group Beyond Boarding working with the Klabona Keepers, a faction of the Tahltan Nation – supporters were informed about the court injunction and what they could do before it takes place.
“Currently, we are waiting to find out today or within the next week if/when the court injunction will be served,” said the message late last week.
“From then, we should have 24 hours before arrests will be made.”
The message encourages supporters to urge the media to cover the issue, which protestors don't think has been covered enough.
“We want this story heard that elders protecting their territory for future generations are being arrested to protect a company that has already devastated so much,” continued the release.
The notice of the mining company's application for the injunction was served to the Klabona Keepers the evening of Oct. 5, according to their own Facebook page.
That document, which was filed with Vancouver Supreme Court Oct. 3., says that Red Chris Development Company Ltd., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Imperial Metals Corp., will make the application in Vancouver supreme court at 10 a.m. Oct. 8.
“Red Chris seeks an interlocutory injunction including enforcement provisions until the trial of this matter...
“In the alternative, Red Chris seeks an interim injunction until an interlocutory injunction can be heard...,” reads the application.
The order will restrain “the defendants and any other person with knowledge of this order from blocking, physically impeding or delaying access to the Red Chris Mine Project site.
“The defendants, through their physical blockade and their conduct, are interfering with Red Chris's use and enjoyment of property....'
Specific people named as defendants include Rhoda Quock, contact person for the Klabona Keepers, who has been at past blockades that were served injunctions, says the application.
“Ms. Quock has been enjoined (prohibited) from obstructing natural resource development in this area on two prior occasions...,” reads the application.
It refers to a 2006 case of Red Chris against her and others and Shell Canada's case against her in 2008.
For this blockade, the Klabona Keepers were joined by members of the Secwepemc Nation on whose traditional land Imperial’s Mount Polley copper mine in the Cariboo area is located.
Criticism of the company following the collapse of the Mount Polley tailings pond Aug. 4 was transferred to the tailings pond at its Red Chris operation which is due to open this fall.
Back in August of this year, the Klabona Keepers put up an initial blockade, which was then taken down after Imperial agreed to finance an independent review of Red Chris tailings pond by a company chosen by the Tahltan Central Council (TCC), the overall governing body of the Tahltan Nation.
The protestors are planning a rally at Vancouver supreme court Wednesday.
Below, the environmental group Beyond Boarding posted this video of couriers delivering the notice to the blockade Oct. 5.