(February 20, 2025 – Unceded Algonquin Territory, Ottawa) – National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak and British Columbia (BC) Regional Chief Terry Teegee issued the following statement in response to the BC Supreme Court’s ruling in the Wet’suwet’en land defenders case, in which Justice Michael Tammen found that Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) members used “grossly offensive, racist, and dehumanizing” language in reference to First Nations women, including hereditary Chief Sleydo’ Molly Wickham and Shaylynn Sampson, who were protesting against the construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline.
“The language used by these RCMP officers is unacceptable and despicable,” said National Chief Woodhouse Nepinak. “We welcome Justice Tammen’s recognition of this harm, as it exposes the deep-rooted racism that continues to exist within policing institutions. This kind of insidious discrimination is the same poison that leads to violence and the senseless deaths of First Nations people when interacting with law enforcement.”
“We urge all levels of government to work with First Nations to establish new approaches in responding to land defenders and collaborate to resolve all outstanding land claims,” continued National Chief Woodhouse Nepinak. “In that spirit, we call for a thorough review of policing methods to address the systemic racism affecting land defenders. Any response to land defenders, from police or otherwise, must honour our inherent, human, and Treaty rights and fully recognize First Nations’ rights and title to their lands.”
“The BC Supreme Court’s ruling highlights the ongoing and persistent struggles faced by First Nations in their pursuit of justice and exposes the systemic racism deeply embedded in Canada’s justice and policing institutions,” said Regional Chief Terry Teegee. “It is imperative that the review of policing methods, policies, and ideologies effectively eliminate the ingrained discrimination that violates the inherent human rights of First Nations. The foundation for these necessary reforms exists within the principles outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and BC’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.”
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The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is a national advocacy organization that works to advance the collective aspirations of First Nations individuals and communities across Canada on matters of national or international nature and concern.
For more information, please contact:
Cherish Francis
Press Secretary
National Chief’s Office
(343) 630-1372 (mobile)
[email protected]
Genna Benson
Director of Communications
Assembly of First Nations
[email protected]
604-340-3117 (mobile)