CHEMAINUS - The Halalt First Nation says an incident at a road blockade in front of its administration office over the weekend was a hoax and was staged by a group of non-First Nation protestors.  The demonstration has been peaceful, but that's not what was shown in video that appeared on some newscasts across the province. 

Halalt First Nation councillor Tyler George said he believes the video could be a hoax, "anything to maniupulate the media and maybe heighten tensions here."

The video shows a white truck slowing down as it approaches the blockade. A woman tries to stop the vehicle from going any further, but the truck charges through.

The person shooting the video was not a member of the mainstream media or the Halalt First Nation, but a self described freelancer and political activist reported to be David Shebib.

The Halalt First Nation also says the others in the video, one of whom was wielding an axe, were from out of town and up until Sunday had nothing to do with the protest.

The police have been monitoring the blockade closely and say the incident on Sunday is the only time they've heard of violence since the protest began.

"Right now we're investigating it because it looks to be a set up," North Cowichan Duncan RCMP Constable Ed Power said. "It appears that somebody came with a video camera, knowing the people involved and as a result video taped this and it was a hoax to get the media involved in the protest."