Wetʼsuwetʼen land defenders are being criminally prosecuted just for defending their lands. Now they are fighting for its very survival, and the survival of our planet during a global climate crisis. Sign the petition and help them protect their land.

The Indigenous  Wet’suwet’en Nation have lived on and cared for their ancestral lands for generations, sustaining their culture and raising their children. As Sleydo ’ Molly Wickham, a Wet’suwet’en land defender says: “Our medicines, our berries, our food, the animals, our water, our culture, are all here since time immemorial”. 

This long-standing way of life is under threat. Despite the Nation having the right to decide what development happens on their lands, a company called Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd (CGL) began constructing a fossil fuel pipeline through their territory, without the consent of the Hereditary Chiefs  and their clans. 

Wet’suwet’en land defenders and their allies knew they had to fight back. They began taking actions to protect Wet’suwet’en territory; however, CGL obtained an injunction to prevent interference with pipeline construction. The land defenders’ peaceful actions have been met with appalling violence and criminalization. The police have conducted raids on Wet’suwet’en territory with semi-automatic weapons. Over 75 land defenders have been arrested.

In 2022, criminal charges were pressed against Sleydo’ and 19 other land defenders . In 2024, Sleydo’, Shaylynn Sampson and Corey Jayochee Jocko were found guilty of “criminal contempt” for disobeying the injunction order, despite the fact that they were peacefully defending Wet’suwet’en territory. The three land defenders have made an application to the court stating that their human rights were violated by police during the raids. Their futures depend on the outcome of this application. If unsuccessful, they face time in prison. 

Sleydo’ and others are not just defending Wet’suwet’en land, they’re protecting everyone’s right to a healthy environment by opposing another harmful fossil fuel project, and they need our support.

Sign the petition and demand that the Canadian authorities stop criminalizing Wet’suwet’en land defenders and their allies now.

As we come up to another set of trial dates we are asking for your support for our allied land defenders.

Our relatives/allies Shaylynn (Gitxsan) and Corey (Haudensosaunee) are gearing up to travel to the yintah for another week on November 4-8 and again in December 9-13.

While we are so very grateful for all the support towards legal fees we recognize that Shaylynn and Corey have to take time away from work, family, home and responsibilities to attend trial for supporting us in asserting our 'anuk niwh it'en. We are asking all our supporters to help them make this process a bit more bearable so they don't have to worry about things at home like rent and bills. They are dealing with so much already fighting for their lives for doing the right thing.

This colonial system takes so much from us already. It's not reasonable to also have to worry about their housing security and capitalism while they are already facing a system designed against us.

Please give generously and share with your networks.

Tabï misiyh.

After nearly two years, two of our supporters had trumped up charges of dangerous driving, failure to stop and obstruction dropped yesterday. This comes after having shown up for trial twice and having the judge be overbooked. Both supporters and lawyers travelled, booked time for trial and prepared themselves for court.

The trauma and violence they and others experienced for a “traffic stop” escalation, through no fault of their own, is a case in point for the harassment and intimidation that has been ongoing. While we are relieved that they are no longer facing charges for being pepper sprayed, one while handcuffed, we are continuously frustrated with the colonial systems that aim to oppress our people.

We encourage everyone to continue living as your ancestors did. Continue speaking the truth. Stand strong and be loud. While we continue to care for ourselves, support each other and and those that are facing state violence, we continue to love and protect the yintah.

Stay safe out there.

#WetsuwetenLandWetsuwetenLaw #DefendLandDefenders #ChargesDropped #RCMPOfftheYintah