Tensions have risen sharply on Burnaby Mountain in recent weeks.
Camp Cloud protesters have defied an eviction notice. Area residents have made repeated demands for the encampment to be removed. And an episode last week left a pro-pipeline advocate alleging assault at the hands of a camp member, while protesters claim they were disrespected.
A local group opposed to the expansion of Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain expansion project is hoping to step in and help cooler heads prevail.
Gene McGuckin, a member of Burnaby Residents Opposing Kinder Morgan Expansion (BROKE), said he had concerns about “some of the provocative stuff that we’ve started to see happening.”
A member of pro-pipeline group Suits and Boots claims he was assaulted by Camp Cloud residents after he took pictures of their encampment on June 23. Police are investigating one protester for assault, but no arrests have been made.
“I guess what we’re doing is counselling, or offering advice that perhaps there are better ways of reacting in an unrestrained way to provocations from the right wing,” McGuckin said.
He said he understands that many Camp Cloud members are Indigenous and carry the weight of Canada’s colonial history of resource extraction without consent. That weight, he said, can lead some to respond more forcefully than needed.
McGuckin said he hopes more dialogue between campers, residents and the city will lead to compromise and less tension.
“We think that there is possibly a better way to build a movement than reacting strongly, but we are not dictating to anybody; we are offering our point of view,” he said.
The City of Burnaby expects to be in court Aug. 10, seeking a court order to enforce its eviction notice given of July 18.
McGuckin said he hopes the two sides can find compromise there, as well.
If Camp Cloud comes into compliance with bylaws restricting structures and fires, perhaps it could stay, he said.
Asked if he was confident that would happen, McGuckin said: “I wouldn’t say confident. I’m hopeful.”
But that wish seems unlikely to come true.
“I don’t think anything has changed for us,” said Elauna Boutwell, a Camp Cloud member. “It’s still unceded Coast Salish territory, and we’re asserting that power and right.”
She said the camp is willing to compromise with the city on some issues but wouldn’t specify which ones. She did say the demand to snuff out a ceremonial fire won’t happen.
Burnaby city manager Lambert Chu said the city doesn’t expect any compromise to be reached and it intends to pursue full removal of Camp Cloud. He said the city and protesters had previously agreed to meet and discuss the bylaw compliance issues, but those talks have since fallen through.
