Wet'suwet'en leader testifies RCMP forcibly removed sacred items
CBC
A Wet'suwet'en leader testified in court Wednesday about the treatment she allegedly received while in RCMP custody after being arrested during two days of raids by police enforcing an injunction against a blockade of the Coastal GasLink pipeline in November 2021.
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, was questioned for a second day by defence lawyer Frances Mahon.
The proceedings are a continuation of an abuse of process application that started in January in B.C. Supreme Court in Smithers.
Sleydo' has brought the application along with Shaylynn Sampson, a Gitxsan woman with Wet'suwet'en family ties and Corey Jocko, who is Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) from Akwesasne, which straddles the Quebec, Ontario and New York state borders.
Justice Michael Tammen found them guilty in January of criminal contempt of court for breaking a 2019 injunction that impeded anyone from blocking work on the Coastal GasLink pipeline.
The abuse of process application alleges that RCMP used excessive force while arresting the accused and that 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' 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.
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 Gidimet'en Checkpoint.
Sleydo' said she wasn't sure whether the officer was referring to the camp being destroyed or whether something would happen to them.
Those arrested were taken to the Houston RCMP detachment before being moved to the Smithers detachment, where they spent the night.
This story is part of CBC Health's Second Opinion, a weekly analysis of health and medical science news emailed to subscribers on Saturday mornings. If you haven't subscribed yet, you can do that by clicking here.
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