Wet'suwet'en Land Defenders Court Support Date, February 18
The Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chiefs have repeatedly affirmed in our balhats (feast hall) that there
are to be no pipelines cross our yintah
(land). In 2018 Justice Church granted Coastal GasLink, a fracked gas
pipeline company, an injunction to trespass and complete their work
without resistance. The Wet'suwet'en fought back. After a series of
militarized raids and catch and release, charges were laid in 2021 that
saw several Wet'suwet'en and Indigenous allies face off with the
colonial court system.
Last year Sleydo' Molly Wickham (Gidimt'en), Shaylynn Sampson (Gitxsan) and Corey Jocko (Haudenosaunee) filed an Abuse of Process Application against the RCMP (Canadian police) for the violence they experienced during the enforcement of the injunction obtained by Coastal GasLink. In the last year we have heard testimony of their Charter Rights being breached and the atrocious experiences of their arrests and violations of their human rights while in custody. We presented evidence on the flawed enforcement plan and lack of planning to protect our rights by leadership within C-IRG [the RCMP's Community Industry Response Group, renamed the Critical Response Unit — TML Ed. Note] and the RCMP. One officer testified that he was instructed to not take any notes during enforcement, a directive given by his commander during a briefing the night before.
The time for Justice Tammen's decision is coming on February 18, 2025 at 10:00 am PST in Cas Yikh yintah (Smithers, BC).
If Justice Tammen rules in favour of our application we are asking him to stay the charges. In January 2024 he found all three guilty of criminal contempt for violating the injunction on Wet'suwet'en yintah obtained by Coastal GasLink.
Alternatively, if he decides against our application and proceeds to sentencing we are asking that he determine all three have served their time while in custody in November of 2021.
His decision in this case will be precedent setting.
Justice Tammen also saw the cases of Sabina Dennis and Diní 'ze' [hereditary chief] Dtsa'hyl in 2024 who were also charged with criminal contempt of the injunction. At the end of those proceedings he found Sabina not guilty and found Diní 'ze' Dtsa'hyl guilty and sentenced him to 60 days of house arrest. Each of the cases had very different circumstances and outcomes. There is not a case yet that follows the facts of the case before him now.
These proceedings have taken over a year to date. This has meant time away from family, undue stress and hardships and the criminalization of Indigenous people upholding Wet'suwet'en law. Through 'anuk niwh'iten all five clans of the Wet'suwet'en nation have passed laws within our balhats to ban all pipelines from our yintah. We have very strong trespass laws as well that have been violated by industry and the state. We continue to stand firm in our knowing and ways of our ancestors who have protected these lands since time immemorial. We have done this work with our ancestors, Diní 'ze' and Tsakë ze', allies, comrades and supporters.
We are asking everyone to pay attention to this. If you can come support in person please do so. Watch our social media pages for updates. Check our website for ways to support. Light your sacred fires and send prayers for everyone involved in upholding our sacred responsibilities.
"In the very violent
and unjustifiable manner in which they conducted themselves, against
our Charter Rights and against UNDRIP, the RCMP
and the courts have proven that we are living under a Police State
guided by a Petroleum State."
— Diní 'ze' Na'Moks —
This article was published in
Friday, February 14, 2025
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/ITN2025/Articles/TI55202.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca