Sentencing of Land Defenders Tests Canada’s Commitment to Indigenous Rights

Sentencing of land defenders tests Canada’s commitment to Indigenous rights

Three Indigenous land defenders are set to be sentenced this week for blocking construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline on their nation’s unceded territory in northern British Columbia.

International human rights organizations to monitor sentencing of Indigenous land defenders criminalized by Canada

Amnesty International, Peace Brigades International and Front Line Defenders will be closely monitoring the sentencing this week 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.  A delegation of representatives from Amnesty International Canada’s English-speaking section, the organization’s Americas Regional Office, and the Canadian…

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

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