Peace Brigades International, Amnesty International and Front Line Defenders to monitor sentencing of Indigenous land defenders in Canada

Published by Brent Patterson on October 14, 2025 October 14, 2025

Photo: PBI-Canada coordinator Brent Patterson in front of the courthouse in Smithers, Wet’suwet’en territory, October 14, 2025.

Amnesty International has posted this media release that highlights: “Amnesty International, Peace Brigades International and Front Line Defenders will be closely monitoring the sentencing this week [Wednesday October 15 to Friday October 17] of Indigenous land defenders who have been criminalized by Canada for protecting unceded Wet’suwet’en Territory against the construction of a fossil-fuel pipeline.”

And this statement from Front Line Defenders notes: “Front Line Defenders reiterates its concern at the criminalisation faced by Sleydo’, Shaylynn Sampson and Corey Jocko, and will continue to closely monitor the situation. Front Line Defenders reminds the Canadian government of its obligation under international law to ensure the protection of Wet’suwet’en land defenders and to guarantee all human rights defenders in Canada are free to exercise their right to defend rights free from all restrictions, including from judicial harassment.”

Yintah_access social media post.

The Amnesty International media release includes these quotes:

Sandra Patargo, Front Line Defenders: “The case of the Wet’suwet’en land defenders adds to an alarming pattern of criminalisation of Indigenous defenders in the Americas and sets a dangerous precedent for land defence in Canada.”

Erin Riley-Oettl, Amnesty International Canada: “Amnesty International will not hesitate to designate these courageous defenders as prisoners of conscience if they are sentenced to jail or house arrest.”

Brent Patterson, Peace Brigades International-Canada: “We are deeply concerned by the criminalization of these land and environmental defenders who were upholding ‘Anuk niwh’iten (Wet’suwet’en law) and protecting unceded territory from a destructive extractivist megaproject. The surveillance, harassment, intimidation and offensive remarks made against them by the RCMP is disturbing. This must end. Any sentencing involving either jail time or house arrest would be unjust and unwarranted.”

Video: “Dramatic Video Shows Militarized Canadian Police Raid Wet’suwet’en Land Defenders & Journalists” (Democracy Now!)

PBI-Canada and Amnesty International will also be present for this solidarity march to the courthouse tomorrow, Wednesday October 17 at 8:30 am. “The goat” is a statue located at Main Street and Highway 16, about a 10 minute walk from the courthouse.

We will continue to post updates throughout the week.

Further reading: PBI-Canada has previously visited Wet’suwet’en territory in June 2025 and November 2021.