Criminalized Wet’suwet’en land defender Sleydo’ testifies about RCMP C-IRG violence at abuse of process hearing
Still from RCMP video of arrest of Sleydo’ on Wet’suwet’en territory, November 19, 2021.
An abuse of process application alleging excessive force by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Community-Industry Response Group (C-IRG) continues in a Smithers, British Columbia court room this week.
Sleydo’, also known as Molly Wickham, a wing chief of Cas Yikh, a house group of the Gidimt’en Clan of the Wet’suwet’en nation, has posted on Instagram: “Today, I engaged in truth telling about the rcglmp and ongoing colonial violence. I shouldn’t have to, but it’s either that or straight to jail. So if I must, you can bet I’ll say what they all don’t want to hear.”
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 3
Disturbing radio transmissions
CBC reports: “Video footage played in court showed Sleydo’ and other members listening to radio transmissions the evening of Nov. 18, 2021, the day before she was arrested, of audio that was reminiscent of a horror movie. The audio was a disturbing transmission where what sounded like children sang the nursery rhyme Ring Around the Rosie, along with other disturbing noises, including a voice saying, ‘I know where you are. I’m coming to get you.’ [At this time] an exclusion zone had been set up in the area, which only allowed access to the RCMP and Coastal GasLink members.”
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 4
Heat blasting and no water in police van
CBC also reports: “Sleydo’ testified on Wednesday that after she and others were arrested on Nov. 19 at a location referred to as the tiny house, they had to spend what ‘felt like hours’ sitting in a police van with the heat blasting before being moved to the Houston, B.C., RCMP detachment. She said she was wearing multiple layers, including long underwear, wool socks, and snow pants, at the time, and they weren’t offered water or use of a washroom, and she felt like she was going to pass out from the heat.”
“Last time you’ll see that camp”
That article further notes: “Sleydo’ said a wireless microphone known as a Lavalier mic she wore when she was arrested was removed and placed in the police vehicle carrying her. The mic belonged to a journalist who was also arrested, and it was recording while she was in the car. Court heard audio of an RCMP officer telling Sleydo’ and others in the van, ‘Last time you’ll see that camp,’ while passing the Gidimt’en Checkpoint [on Wet’suwe’ten territory]. Sleydo’ said she wasn’t sure whether the officer was referring to the camp being destroyed or whether something would happen to them.”
“High-speed chase”-like transport to Prince George
The CBC report continues: “Those arrested were taken to the Houston RCMP detachment before being moved to the Smithers detachment, where they spent the night. The next morning, Sleydo’ said she was told she was being moved to Prince George [370 kilometres away] and refused to leave because she didn’t want to be taken out of her territory but was forced to go. She described the trip to Prince George feeling like a ‘high-speed chase’ with a heavy police presence around the vehicle.”
Forcibly removed medicine bag
CBC further notes: “A video and an audio recording were played in court of Sleydo’s medicine bag being forcibly removed after she arrived in Prince George. …Sleydo’ described the video during the hearing, and court heard the accompanying audio of three officers physically restraining her while one cut the medicine bag from her neck after she refused to hand it over.”
Video: Sleydo’ interviewed by Brandi Morin, November 30, 2021.
Forcibly removed cedar bracelet
The article also notes: “The medicine bag was later returned. Court heard Sleydo’ had to be moved into a cell by herself in order to keep it. Sleydo’ also testified that after the incident, while being led down a hallway, three more officers restrained her and forcibly removed the cedar bracelet she was wearing, ripping it.”
PTSD, harassment and intimidation
CBC adds: “Sleydo’ told the court that the entire incident has had lasting repercussions on her health and life. …She said she has felt harassed and intimidated by RCMP officers questioning her activities while on her territory and living in fear that they would arrest her again and she would lose her children. ‘I don’t feel safe, and I have not felt safe anymore on my own territory and in my own home,’ she told the court.”
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 6
CBC further reports: “[On Friday] Shaylynn Sampson, a Gitxsan woman with Wet’suwet’en family ties, was questioned by defence lawyer Frances Mahon about her time at the blockade and events after her arrest in November 2021.”
Cedar headband dropped on the ground
That article continues: “[The day after RCMP C-IRG officers arrested her] Sampson was moved to the Prince George detachment, where she said she was forced to hand over cultural items. Video and audio was played in court of an interaction between Sampson and officers. Sampson was wearing a collar with white buttons and black fringe that went over her chest and shoulders and a cedar headband. The items were removed from Sampson and her cedar headband was passed around and dropped on the ground, which she said showed the disregard the officers had for her cultural items.”
Choking
And the article notes: “Video played in court showed Sampson telling officers at the time of her arrest that they were choking her and to get their hands off her regalia.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
Yintah Access has noted on Instagram that beyond the week and a half of court hearings that will take place September 3-11 in Smithers, British Columbia, more dates have been set for November 4-8 and December 9-13.
At some point, Justice Michael Tammen will rule on this abuse of process application that seeks to stay or reduce the sentencing of Sleydo’ and two other land defenders who were found guilty in January 2024 of criminal contempt for breaking a court injunction against impeding the construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline.
A “systemic investigation” is also concurrently underway by the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission (CRCC) that is assessing “whether or to what extent the activities and operations of the C-IRG are carried out in accordance with legal standards, policy requirements, and leading practices.” While this investigation was launched on March 9, 2023, almost 18 months ago, there is no clear or set deadline for its completion. The CRCC has also noted: “Once the CRCC’s report is final, it will be sent to the RCMP for review and response. The RCMP has 60 days to respond, after which the CRCC may release the report.”
We continue to follow this.
Further reading: Twelve concerning things we learned about the RCMP C-IRG during the first week of the abuse of process hearing (January 20, 2024).
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