Scheduling hearing set for April 25, sentencing of Wet’suwet’en land defenders delayed to September-November
Photo: Wet’suwet’en land defender Molly Wickham, Gitxsan land defender Shay Lynn Sampson, Akwesasne Mohawk land defender Teka’tsihasere Corey Jocko.
The Prince George Citizen reports: “In January 2024, [BC Supreme Court Justice Michael] Tammen found Wet’suwet’en Nation’s Molly Wickham (aka Sleydo’), Gitxsan member Shaylynn Sampson and Corey Jocko, a Mohawk from Akwesasne guilty of contempt of court” for disobeying in November 2019 a court injunction that prohibited impeding the construction of the Coastal GasLink fracked gas pipeline on Wet’suwet’en territory.
“[Then] on February 18, Tammen decided they will face reduced sentences for disobeying an injunction, but dismissed their application to stay the charges [despite ruling that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Community-Industry Response Group had] breached the Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantee of life, liberty and security of person [during a militarized raid on November 18-19, 2019].”
“[Now after a Thursday] April 3 BC Supreme Court scheduling hearing in Smithers, Tammen said that his schedule and the time needed for pre-sentencing reports have delayed the three-day [sentencing] hearing until fall [at some point in the months of September, October or possibly as late as November].”
“[That’s because] one cannot proceed [with the sentencing of the three land defenders] prior to preparation of Gladue Reports, which analyze the history of an Indigenous defendant and how family and personal suffering contributed to their offence [and] those reports may not be done until July or August.”
The article further notes: “[Justice Tammen] adjourned the matter until April 25 for another scheduling hearing.”
At the time of the February 18 ruling, the Canadian Press reported: “Tammen says that criminal contempt carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, but those convicted typically receive short sentences.”
Photo: The courthouse in Smithers, British Columbia.
Potential prisoners of conscience designation
Ana Piquer, the Mexico City-based Americas director at Amnesty International, has previously commented: “If the Canadian state decides to unjustly criminalize and confine Sleydo’, Shaylynn, and Corey, Amnesty International will not hesitate to designate them as prisoners of conscience. Canada is on the sadly long list of countries in the Americas where land defenders remain at risk for their essential work.”
UN Special Rapporteur following the proceedings
Mary Lawlor, the Dublin-based United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, has posted on social media that these “HRDs continue to be criminalised for the peaceful defence of human rights & the environment [and that she] will be closely following their sentencing.”
Peace Brigades International
Ottawa-based Peace Brigades International-Canada coordinator Brent Patterson was on Wet’suwet’en territory November 19-22, 2019 in response to this video appeal in which Sleydo’ stated: “Whatever clan you are, whatever background you are, we need people to come and witness what’s happening on the yintah.”
We could return to territory to observe and help draw international attention to the three-day sentencing hearing in Smithers, British Columbia when that takes place in September, October or November of this year.
We will be following the hearing on April 25 to set this date.
PBI-Canada continues to encourage contributions to the Wet’suwet’en Yintah Defence Legal Funds.
More militarism is not the answer
PBI-Canada is also collaborating with World BEYOND War on this upcoming webinar in which Cree land defender Clayton Thomas-Muller will discuss the ongoing militarization of Indigenous territories, professor Tyler Shipley will talk about the militarization of foreign policy including through weapons exports that can serve to repress land and water protectors around the world, and author-activist Harsha Walia will provide her analysis of the militarization of the border including by RCMP Black Hawk helicopters.
You can register for this online discussion here.
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