Brandi Morin: Indigenous Journalist and Defiant Voice in the Face of Persistent Harassment from Law Enforcement
Brandi Morin, an acclaimed multimedia journalist with Cree/Iroquois/French roots from Treaty 6 territory in Alberta, has devoted her career to reporting on indigenous oppression in North America. Despite earning recognition, including two National Native American Journalism awards in 2022 and PEN Canada's Ken Filkow award in 2023, her commitment to truth-telling has resulted in repeated clashes with Canadian law enforcement. The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom has documented the numerous infringements against Morin, culminating in her shocking arrest and detention in January 2024 on baseless obstruction charges. Morin stands as an exemplary and inspiring journalist, channeling her efforts into giving a voice to marginalized communities. The notion that she could potentially face up to two years in prison for reporting on a police raid of a homeless encampment in Edmonton is profoundly unjust and an assault on press freedom. We vehemently demand the immediate dismissal of all charges against Brandi Morin and an unequivocal end to the harassment she endures at the hands of Canadian law enforcement. Morin's pursuit of truth, justice, and amplifying the voices of the oppressed should be celebrated, not met with legal adversity.
This timeline details the challenging environment Morin has faced while covering Indigenous struggles:
2024
March 1
Following campaigns from CFWIJ and Women Press Freedom, Police drop obstruction charge against Morin. Her lawyer was due to enter a plea of not guilty and arrange a trial date today but was informed that prosecutors had chosen to withdraw the charge. The decision is a victory for press freedom, signaling a need for law enforcement agencies to respect journalists' rights to report on events in the public interest.
February 1
On February 1, Welund, a secretive multinational surveillance company with ties to the Canadian government, posts the following tweet: “Obstruction charge against Indigenous journalist Brandi Morin proceeds.” The tweet links to an article on Welund's exclusive intelligence platform, accessible only to paying corporations, law enforcement, and governments. The government of Alberta holds two contracts with Welund, totaling over $140,000, for a subscription service supporting intelligence and risk assessment. The journalist's undisclosed charges and Welund's involvement in preparing an intelligence report on her case raise concerns about privacy violations and press freedom interference. The secretive nature of Welund's operations, coupled with its connections to government agencies and industry, prompts calls for transparency.
January 30
Morin goes to Edmonton Police Station to be fingerprinted and have her mugshot taken. “This really solidifies that I am being criminalized for doing my job,” says Morin.
January 29
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom joins more than a half-dozen press freedom groups demanding police drop the bogus charges against Brandi Morin. If convicted, she could face two years behind bars.
January 10
Morin is criminally charged with obstruction for her coverage of a police raid on a homeless encampment in Edmonton. Morin, who has a history of confrontations with law enforcement in pursuit of her work, was arrested alongside Indigenous community members during the police intervention.
2023
August 15
A police officer grabs and threatens Morin with arrest as she reports on a raid of an environmental blockade at Fairy Creek Watershed, on Pacheedaht territory.
2022
April 27
Morin faces unauthorized surveillance bordering on harassment by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) while documenting militarized action against Indigenous land defenders in Wet'suwet'en territories.
February 2
Morin is on the receiving end of a vile abuse campaign. She receives messages which threaten her professional and personal safety via email as well as through her social media accounts. CFWIJ was informed that she received over 60 hateful and threatening emails in 24 hours.
2021
July 19
The Canadian Association of Journalists sues the RCMP for restricting access of the press to the Fairy Creek demonstrations. Both the police brutality on site and the subsequent censorship have been an ongoing issue for months. In response to the lawsuit, the RCMP registers an affidavit against Morin, accusing her of lying about being prohibited from visiting the site despite there being video proof to the contra
July 19
The RCMP harasses and attempts to intimidate journalists Brandi Morin and Amber Bracken when they visit the Unist’ot’en Healing Cam to shoot a documentary.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
