Members of the Musqueam band are threatening to escalate their protest over a housing project on top of an ancient burial ground in Vancouver.
Work permits set to expire Wednesday have been extended to September 15th.
Sparking anger from Rhiannon Bennett, one of the protesters camping out at the site below the Arthur Laing bridge.
‘We need to continue to stand here vigil over these graves to ensure that no work is done on the property. That means that our people need to continue to make these personal sacrifices to care for our ancestors because the provincial government continues to show us disrespect.”
Bennett fears construction will resume, but a spokesman for the Marpole Midden says the extensions are an ‘administrative matter’ and the owners are still waiting for a purchase offer from the Musqueam.
Last Friday marked 100 days since work was halted.
As for why the permits have been extended, staff with the Ministry of Forests and Lands insist no work is resuming and human remains on the site will be protected while negotiations continue between the developer and the Musqueam band.
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