Wet’suwet’en

Way up north, on unceded land
Lives a people called the Wet’suwet’en Band
They’ve been there forever, no plans to go elsewhere
After years in the courts, the courts said the land was theirs
But when billions of dollars of toxic gas
Has to get to the coast with a pipeline to pass
Through Wet’suwet’en land, then the wheels have been greased
Court rulings don’t matter – just send in armed police

But this morning I heard the newscaster say
There are no trains running across Canada today

The RCMP invaded, made dozens of arrests
On Wet’suwet’en land way out west
The call went out for solidarity
It was heard from Victoria all the way to Akwesasne
To Tyendinaga, where there’s a dump truck on the tracks
Along with a whole bunch of people with no plans to turn back
Now thousands of travelers and billions worth of freight
Are sitting on the rails with nothing to do but wait

Chorus

Prime Minister Trudeau and the Premier of BC
Can’t work in their offices, because they are temporarily
Occupied by people who say they have just cause
Since the government of Canada is breaking their own laws
Not to mention those of the water and the soil
Which must stay on top of all that Tar Sands oil
If our species has a chance, then by whatever means
Sometimes all that’s left is to shut down the machines

Chorus

Way up north, on unceded land
Lives a people called the Wet’suwet’en Band
They’ve been there forever, no plans to go elsewhere
After years in the courts, the courts said the land was theirs