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Resistance Without Reservation

CONVERGENCE AGAINST SUNPEAKS TO PROTECT UNCEDED TERRITORIES

RESISTANCE WITHOUT RESERVATION!
CONVERGENCE AGAINST SUN PEAKS RESORT
At SUN PEAKS
SUNDAY AUG 29 @ 10 AM

Sun Peaks is built on Secwepemc land, which the Secwepemc refer to as Skwelkwek’welt, located in BC’s interior, 30 km NE of Kamloops. Secwepemc have never ceded, surrendered or released their land in any way. In 1997, the BC government approved a $70 million development plan, allowing Sun Peaks to continue to expand their resort to 20,000 beds and put ski runs on the previously undisturbed Mt. Morrisey. The Secwepemc attended stakeholder meetings and clearly said no to the development. Land and Water BC however, clearly disregarded their voices and granted new leases to Sun Peaks to facilitate their expansion, and in June 2001, Land and Water BC obtained a court injunction to forcibly remove Secwepemc from their lands. To date, 54 arrests with charges from criminal contempt and intimidation by blocking a road to resisting arrest have been made.

FOR MORE INFO ON SECWEPEMC RESISTANCE:
Turtle Island Native Network News - Secwepemc
Union of BC Indian Chiefs - Sun Peaks
Skwelkwekwelt Protection Centre

Recent Article:
ZMag

Organized by Land,Freedom Decolonization Coalition in conjunction with NYM-Secwepemc Chapter and the Skwelkwek'welt Protection Center.

For more information: tel: 778-552-2099, email: noii-van@resist.ca,
website: http://apc.resist.ca/skwelkwekwelt

Land, Freedom, Decolonization Coalition is a network of groups and individuals in Vancouver from Native Youth Movement, Native Solidarity Network, No One is Illegal, Refugees Against Racial Profiling, South Asian Network for Secularism and Democracy, Palestine Community Center, Anti-Poverty Committee, International Solidarity Movement, Bus Riders Union, South Asian Youth Alliance, Friends and Families of Mexican Political Prisoners, Committee for Solidarity with Columbia, and others.

TAKE BACK THE LAND! CAMPAIGN AGAINST SUNPEAKS

* The community is building a campaign against Sun Peaks and Delta Hotels and their investors by initially collecting signatures/ endorsements. Please email noii-van@resist.ca if you endorse the demands below.

We stand united in protesting the Canadian government's continued criminalization of the Secwepemc people. They have been targeted for their use of their own land and for speaking out against Sun Peaks resort Corporation and the British Columbia government who continue to expropriate and destroy what was once a vibrant and abundant ecosystem. We stand opposed to the Canadian colonial system and support the Secwepemc people fighting state and corporate interests in British Columbia. Sun Peaks Resort is built in Secwepemc territories, land which has never been ceded, released, nor surrendered. The BC government therefore has no authority over the Secwepemc people or their territories, or over the resources within the land.

Despite the recognition of the inherent land rights of Aboriginal People as Aboriginal Title in Delgamuukw, and despite the Haida decision that requires provincial and private interests to consult, obtain consent and accommodate Aboriginal interests prior to pursuing development on Aboriginal territories, federal and provincial governments still insist indigenous peoples must prove their title within the court system rather than by abiding by the principal of Title itself.

The Royal Proclamation of 1763 asserts that "And We do further strictly enjoin and require all Persons whatever who have either wilfully or inadvertently seated themselves upon any Lands within the Countries above described, or upon any other Lands which, not having been ceded to or purchased by Us, are still reserved to the said Indians as aforesaid, forthwith to remove themselves from such Settlements."

The development of Sun Peaks resorts has continued without participation of those with Title to the land. In 1997, the BC government approved a $70 million development plan, allowing Sun Peaks to continue to expand their resort to 20,000 beds and put ski runs on the previously undisturbed Mt. Morrisey. The Secwepemc attended stakeholder meetings and clearly said no to the development. Land and Water BC however, clearly disregarded their voices and granted new leases to Sun Peaks to facilitate their expansion, and in June 2001, Land and Water BC obtained a court injunction to forcibly remove Secwepemc from their lands. To date, 54 arrests with charges from criminal contempt and intimidation by blocking a road to resisting arrest have been made.

We stand in support of the Secwepemc people and in their fight in defense of the land in maintaining their livelihood. In support of them and their communities struggle, we make the following demands:

1) We demand that all charges be dropped for all peoples charged in relation to protection of Aboriginal Rights and Title in Skwelkwekwelt territory.

2) We demand that no development or expansion continue on unceded territories that does not honour the rights of indigneous peoples as Title holders.

Undersigned,

LEGAL GUIDE FOR PROTESTERS

CLICK HERE FOR LEGAL GUIDE FOR PROTESTERS
PRODUCED FOR RESISTANCE WITHOUT RESERVATION, 2004

SPONSPOR A SEAT ON THE BUS TO SECWEPEMC TERRITORIES

July 15, 2004
Vancouver

Dear friends and allies --

We are writing to ask for your financial support for the convergence against Sun Peaks on the weekend of Aug 28-Aug 29, 2004.

Sun Peaks Resort and Delta Hotels are built on Secwepemc territories that have never been ceded or surrendered. Land and Water BC disregarded the Secwepemc, who said NO to expansion in stakeholder meetings, and in June 2001 obtained a court injunction to forcibly remove Secwepemc from their homelands. The Skwelkwek’welt Protection Center, at the Resort's entrance, claims Aboriginal Title & Rights. For this exercise of rights, 54 arrests with charges from criminal contempt and intimidation by blocking a road to resisting arrest have been made. In January 2003, a BC judge found four Elders not guilty for refusal to obey an injunction to tear down the Center, and as she left court, Elder Irene Billy stated: "I always knew we were right, this is our land, and Sun Peaks and the province cannot remove us from it."

With the 2010 Olympic bid, environmental destruction and expansion on unceded territories will be perpetuated yet further. In the spirit of solidarity movements that honour front-line struggles of communities, rather than organizing actions in the city, it is imperative to support this movement by offering our presence on the territories itself.

Of course, the organizing of the convergence comes at a cost. We are making this special appeal so that we can pay the costs of travel for those who cannot afford the price (30-50$), particularly indigenous Elders and youth, and thereby building a strong movement for indigneous struggles and to support the crucial fight of the Secwepemc community.

We are aiming for 40 people/ organizations to donate $40 each, the cost of one seat, which will ensure representation and participation of low-income people, particularly aboriginal people who wish to travel to support our sisters and brothers on the territories. Many organizations and individuals have continously offered their support over the past few years to Native Youth Movement and the struggles against Sun Peaks and Delta Hotels led by the Secwepemc community.

Also, please consider paying the full 40$ cost for tickets for one or two organizational delegates to travel to Secwepemc territories to witness first-hand the devastation of the land, the camp the community has set up, and the repression the community has come under.

If you can donate, please send a cheque to "Harjap Grewal" to the following address: No One is Illegal c/o Palestine Community Center 1874 Kingsway Vancouver, BC Canada, V5N 2S7

Please indicate "Sun Peaks convergence" in the memo line of the cheque. Please also let us know if you're sending money by calling at 778-552-2099 or email at noii-van@resist.ca. If you prefer to donate by cash, please let us know.

Again, your financial contribution is a very important and tangible way to support the struggles of the Secwepemc community, one of the strongest struggles on this land.

In solidarity and struggle, The Land, Freedom and Decolonization Coalition

Sun Peaks Convergence Update

August 22, 2004

==> Please check this website for frequent updates. For more information: noii-van@resist.ca or call 778-552-2099

Click here for the following information:

1) Tickets for the convergence
2) Funding appeal
3) Transportation
4) Guidelines for convergence
5) Accomodations
6) Media
7) Legal
8) Food
9) First Aid
10) What to Bring
11) Driving Directions

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Sun Peaks is built on Secwepemc land, which the Secwepemc refer to as Skwelkwek’welt, located in BC’s interior, 30 km NE of Kamloops. Secwepemc have never ceded, surrendered or released their land in any way. In 1997, the BC government approved a $70 million development plan, allowing Sun Peaks to continue to expand their resort to 20,000 beds and put ski runs on the previously undisturbed Mt. Morrisey. The Secwepemc attended stakeholder meetings and clearly said no to the development. Land and Water BC however, clearly disregarded their voices and granted new leases to Sun Peaks to facilitate their expansion, and in June 2001, Land and Water BC obtained a court injunction to forcibly remove Secwepemc from their lands. To date, 54 arrests with charges from criminal contempt and intimidation by blocking a road to resisting arrest have been made.

FOR MORE INFO ON SECWEPEMC RESISTANCE:
Turtle Island Native Network News - Secwepemc
Union of BC Indian Chiefs - Sun Peaks
Skwelkwekwelt Protection Centre

Recent Article:
ZMag

Land, Freedom and Decolonization Coalition

Land, Freedom, Decolonization Coalition is a network of groups and individuals in Vancouver from Native Youth Movement, Native Solidarity Network, No One is Illegal, Refugees Against Racial Profiling, South Asian Network for Secularism and Democracy, Palestine Community Center, Anti-Poverty Committee, International Solidarity Movement, Bus Riders Union, South Asian Youth Alliance, Friends and Families of Mexican Political Prisoners, Committee for Solidarity with Columbia, and others.