By Aaron Hemens, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Secwepemc leaders and allies who have been standing trial now face potential jail time related to their opposition of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project (TMX) in the nation’s unceded homelands. But hereditary chiefs and matriarchs remain unwavering in their commitment to protecting their territories, saying they won’t back down to “Canada” and its illegal jurisdiction under Secwepemc laws. During two instances in October of 2020, a total of eight Indigenous and non-Indigenous land defenders were arrested for defying a TMX injunction order- both times, leaders had been holding ceremonies related to the water and land near the pipeline company’s construction sites. Last week, four of the land defenders were found guilty of criminal contempt for breaching an injunction. Four others, facing the

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