In 2013 anti-fracking protests took place in NB as a result of exploratory drilling and seismic testing by SWN Resources, a company that the NB government leased 2.5 million acres of public land to for natural gas exploration—land many indigenous people in NB claim as their traditional territory. Demonstrations in NB over a period of months—lead by members of Elsipogtog First Nation—with support across the country, attempted to prevent the oil and gas company from working. They resulted in dozens of arrests, and allegations of violence against both the RCMP and the protesters. The protests resulted in two legal challenges, both have retained Kowalchuk as their legal counsel.