A Wet'suwet'en hereditary chief is raising concerns about police intimidation after RCMP officers armed with assault rifles were pictured outside his smokehouse in mid-June. Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chief Woos said the smokehouse was built in early spring and he was shocked to see photographs of RCMP officers at the site. He said the heavily armed RCMP officers are causing concern among Wet'suwet'en families, who want them to stand down. The dispute was over part of the pipeline route, which runs through traditional territory claimed by several Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs. The Wet'suwet'en are governed by both a traditional hereditary chief system and elected band councils.

Source: CBC News July 01, 2020 20:03 UTC