Amnesty International has condemned the continued criminalization of Indigenous land defenders after a BC court upheld the convictions of three Wet’suwet’en and Gitxsan activists. Sleydo’ (Molly Wickham), Shaylynn Sampson, and Corey Jocko were arrested during a heavily militarized police raid on Wet’suwet’en territory in November 2021. While a judge acknowledged the RCMP’s racist treatment of the defenders, he chose not to overturn their convictions, instead considering reduced sentences.
Amnesty is now reviewing the case, and if the defenders receive arbitrary sentences, it could designate them as prisoners of conscience. The organization also reiterated its stance against the criminalization of Indigenous land defenders, particularly those opposing the Coastal GasLink pipeline, which is being built without the consent of Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs. This case highlights broader concerns over the violation of Indigenous rights and the impacts of climate change, as the defenders were acting to protect ecosystems vital for future generations. Amnesty International continues to call for Canada to honor its obligations under both national and international law in protecting Indigenous rights.
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