RCMP officer says cultural items removed from Wet'suwet'en blockade members seen as safety risks
CBC
WARNING: this story contains details of cultural items being forcibly removed
An RCMP officer told court in Smithers, B.C., Tuesday it's common practice to remove cultural items from people when they're being processed into custody.
Justice Michael Tammen is hearing an abuse of process application brought by Sleydo' (Molly Wickham), Shaylynn Sampson, and Corey Jocko. Tammen found the three guilty in January of criminal contempt of court for breaking an injunction against blocking work on the pipeline.
The abuse of process application alleges RCMP used excessive force while arresting the accused in November 2021 and the group was treated unfairly while in custody. It asks the judge to stay the criminal contempt of court charges or to reduce their sentences based on their treatment by police.
Sleydo', a wing chief of Cas Yikh, a house group of the Gidimt'en Clan of the Wet'suwet'en Nation, and Sampson, a Gitxsan woman with Wet'suwet'en family ties, have previously testified to being physically restrained by RCMP officers and having cultural items forcibly removed while at the Prince George RCMP detachment.
Both Sleydo' and Sampson described the interactions as being among the most traumatic things that happened to them while in custody.
Cpl. Michael Flewelling, one of the officers involved in the interactions at the Prince George detachment, testified Tuesday.
Sleydo' was arrested with three cultural items: a medicine bag worn around her neck, a cedar bracelet and earrings that represent her clan — items she was allowed to keep while in custody in Houston and later in Smithers.
Flewelling, who was in charge of the intake of prisoners at the detachment, said all items are removed from prisoners when they are being booked into cells for their own physical safety, the safety of others and to ensure they can't escape.
Flewelling said he was concerned about the medicine bag because the long string posed a safety risk and he was concerned about what substances were contained in the pouch.
A video played in court shows Flewelling restraining Sleydo' while the medicine pouch was cut from her neck, after she refused to hand it over.
Flewelling said that is common practice when someone detained is not co-operating.
In an audio recording of the interaction played in court, Flewelling was heard asking Sleydo' to put the medicine bag in an envelope so officers didn't have to touch it. The item was then cut off her neck after she refused to remove it herself.
When escorted to cells, Sleydo' also had a cedar bracelet removed from her wrist, an item she previously testified was damaged during the removal.
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