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Summary

In 2013, Mi’kmaq indigenous people and allies in Elsipogtog, New Brunswick, Canada, campaigned to prevent natural gas exploration by South Western Energy Resources Canada and Irving Oil on their traditional territory. Through road blockades, equipment seizures, and solidarity actions across Canada, they forced the company to suspend operations. The campaign succeeded in halting exploration, though the company maintained the possibility of returning in 2015.

Tactics used

Tactics used

Background

The Mi’kmaq first nations people are indigenous to what is now New Brunswick, Canada, where the provincial government holds all mineral rights, including on indigenous land. In 2013, South Western Energy Resources Canada and Irving Oil proposed natural gas exploration in traditional Mi’kma’ki territory called Signigtog, which the Mi’kmaq said was never ceded to Canada. The native communities feared negative environmental impacts on local waterways and opposed the extraction.

What happened

On 5 June 2013, South Western Energy Resources Canada began seismic testing in Elsipogtog, with police escort. [source: nv-database] Mi’kmaq people and supporters obstructed highway 126, leading to arrests on 5 and 9 June. [source: nv-database] The campaign expanded to occupy multiple highways (126, 11, 134) with blockades, community encampments, human chains, and burning tires. [source: nv-database] After negotiations, Mi’kmaq agreed to allow summer exploration on 30 July, but resumed highway occupations in September. [source: nv-database] On 28 September, about 500 protesters created a blockade around South Western’s thumper trucks, holding the equipment for nearly two weeks. [source: nv-database] On 1 October, Chief Aaron Sock issued an eviction notice, but a court injunction on 2 October ordered demonstrators to disband. [source: nv-database] On 17 October, police cleared the site with rubber bullets, arresting over 40 protesters; some protesters threw rocks and Molotov cocktails, and six police vehicles were burned. [source: nv-database] The injunction was repealed on 21 October, allowing protests to continue. [source: nv-database] Solidarity actions occurred in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario. [source: nv-database] In early November, South Western filed a lawsuit against 13 protesters. [source: nv-database] On 13 November, South Western announced its return, but after a national day of protest on 2 December called by Idle No More, which included blockades, banners, and port closures, South Western announced it had finished seismic testing and would leave New Brunswick until 2015 [source: nv-database].

Key people & organizations

  • Mi’kmaq tribal members
  • Chief Aaron Sock
  • War Chief John Levi
  • Suzanne Patles
  • South Western Energy Resources Canada
  • Irving Oil
  • Idle No More
  • Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Outcome

Verdict: partial.

The campaign achieved 5 out of 6 points for success, as South Western did not begin gas extraction and left the area, though it completed its exploration phase. The company maintained the possibility of returning in 2015, and Mi’kmaq activists vowed to resist again if needed. [source: nv-database]

Lessons

  • Combining local direct action with nationwide solidarity campaigns can amplify pressure on corporate targets.
  • Traditional cultural practices, such as tobacco scattering and prayers, can strengthen community resolve and public support.
  • Persistent nonviolent obstruction, even in the face of arrests and police violence, can force companies to suspend operations.

Sources

Disclaimer: Included as a teaching example of campaign craft, not as endorsement.

Sources & verification

  • nv-database — grounding: primary — license: link-only
  • Rewritten: 2026-06-25 via worker_casestudies_v2.py

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