Police end Sun Peaks protest

Jason Hewlett
Kamloops Daily News Staff Reporter
September 22, 2004

RCMP brought a month of protest at Sun Peaks Resort to a peaceful conclusion Tuesday.

More than 16 officers enforced a provincial court order at 1 p.m., moving into a makeshift camp a group of First Nations protesters had erected on the 16th fairway of the resort's golf course in late August.

The camp was built to oppose continued development at Sun Peaks.

Officers arrived at a staging area on Sun Peaks Road at about noon. They were accompanied by an RCMP helicopter and members of the B.C. Ambulance service.

As police prepared to move in, protest organizers Arthur Manuel and Janice Billy, both of the Neskonlith Indian Band, drove into the camp via a dirt access road and talked with the remaining protesters.

Occasionally one of the protesters would approach the police with a video camera, shoot some footage, and then return to the camp.

Mounties took position on the access road shortly before 1 p.m. As they did, one of the camp's occupants walked up the road and was directed back to the village.

"They have until 1 p.m. to leave," said Const. Brian Flanagan.

"If they leave on their own accord, they won't be arrested," he said.

At 1:05 p.m. a paddy wagon backed its way toward the camp. The officers walked in after it.

As police and protesters came together, the RCMP helicopter began circling the camp. Yelling could be heard over the whup-whup-whup of the chopper blades.

After 10 minutes, police started escorting the occupants toward the paddy wagon one by one. In the end, three protesters were arrested. Four others had walked out before the order was enforced.

Manuel said the injunction was a "court-ordered real estate deal."

"The people who were here, this is their land and Sun Peaks is selling it off."

He said it was only a matter of time before the protesters returned.

"This was the eighth Skwelkwek'welt protection centre. There will be a ninth. Our rights are here and we will continue to stand our ground."

Billy called the arrests an act of genocide.

"It was the forcible removal of people off our land. That's genocide."

Flanagan said the enforcement order was discussed every day since the protest began.

"We have a briefing every day ... discussing is it time to enforce, yes or no. Today was yes."

He said the order was not influenced by Tuesday's press release announcing that protesters were trying to legally quash a Sept. 4 injunction ordering them off the mountain.

"We let all parties discuss the issues at length and look for peaceful resolutions. There were many groups affected by this action and we decided to carry out the order."

Sun Peaks resident John Hatchett was hitting balls on the driving range when the order was carried out.

"I think if (the protesters) have land claims issues they should pursue it in ways other than setting up camp on the golf green. They should pursue the matter legally."

The protesters were not disruptive and often had lunch in the village's restaurants.

"They would have coffee and buy supplies. They were never obstructive at all," Hatchett said.

Darcy Alexander, vice-president of Sun Peaks, said he heard about the police action moments before it happened. He was glad the situation resolved itself peacefully.

"We support the resolution of these land claims issues. We would be happy to work with the tribal council and the chiefs to get these issues resolved."

Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Kevin Krueger said the enforcement order was a long time coming.

"The people of Sun Peaks are very patient. They bring in so much to our economy and I'm glad this was resolved for them."