INTERNATIONAL STATEMENT
SECWEPEMC’ULECW
NATIVE YOUTH MOVEMENT
DECEMBER 1, 2004

The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) is trying to put another railway in on Secwepemc land. The CPR workers found some of our ancestors in an ancestral burial ground and dug them up on Friday, November 19th, 2004. The elder’s and traditional people got together and had a ceremony and the ancestors told them to rebury the remains at the original burial site.

How would the white man like it if we went in their cemetery and dug up their remains? They already had their ceremony long ago before any of us arrived and they should be respected where they were buried. They were there even before the railroad was built.

We believe in something stronger and that is spirituality. If we believe in it so much they will help us and show us the way and which actions to take. We also believe in helping our people to open their eyes and help us protect the land. We know what’s right in our hearts and that’s all it takes is one person. But also remember to stay humble.

CPR did not stop their expansion when they found the first set of remains and continue to dig, they found another one of our ancestors on Saturday, November 27th, 2004.  These remains are over 6,000 years ago.  These remains were given to the eskonlith Band and they have not been given to the proper spiritual people and they lay in a box, in a room in the band office.  The ancestors have already spoken, they must be returned to the original burial site so they may rest.

Today the Kamloops Daily News wrote a front-page story about this and CPR said they have stopped work indefinitely.  We heard from a source that they will continue again in the spring, but we haven’t had anything in writing from CPR.  They are just stalling so they can build up a good public image but the bottom line is the CPR makes millions per minute by shipping all the stolen resources off Indian Land.

We need as much support as we can get.  We need to stop this railway expansion and we need to rebury the ancestors where they belong. To see how you can help contact Sawses (250) 679-3451 or at mindy_2001_1@yahoo.com
or nymcommunications@hotmail.com

Secwepemc’ulecw NYM

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SUN PEAKS CORP. AND PROVINCE STAY CHARGES AGAINST THREE SECWEPEMC NATIONALS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

( November 29, 2004, T’kumlups, Secwepemcul’ecw )

In Kamloops bc Supreme Court today, Sun Peaks Corporation, provincial prosecutor Stephen R. Harrison and bc Supreme Court Justice Lamperson issued an uncontested stay of proceedings against 3 Secwepemc Nationals who have been representing themselves; Henry Saul ( Saw – Ses ) George Manuel Jr. ( Sen XeXe7 t’e Spelqweqs ) and Arnie Jack.  With a packed courtroom, Justice Lamperson gave no reason for the stay of proceedings,
immediately called for a two minute recess and ran from courtroom 5B.

The three were originally charged as a result of their uncompromising role to occupy, use and enjoy their un-ceded land in a month-long standoff with provincial RCMP from August 29, 2004 through to the time of their arrests at Skwelkwek’welt ( aka Sun Peaks Ski Resort ) on September 21, 2004.

During the standoff, while citing International Law and even contradictory canadian constitutional law, Saul, Manuel, and Jack maintained that they were only instruments of their traditional elder’s policy and were jointly authorized by a signed July 11, 2003, Sewepemcul’ecw Traditional Peoples Government Traditional Territorial Occupation Resolution to occupy, use
and enjoy their un-ceded traditional territory in a physical effort to halt the immoral and environmentally destructive practices of Sun Peaks Corporation as dictated by their owners, Masayoshi and his father Masafumi Ohkubo, top CEO’s of Nippon Cable Inc. from Japan.

"At Skwelkwek’welt we were not protesting, we are not protesters, we were exercising our Inherent Secwepemc Title and Rights to this land and we will not stop.  This is only the beginning of how we will continue to pursue a Title case within the setter governments illegal court system when they drag us to court again. Immediately filing a Notice of Constitutional Motion/Issue/Question, representing ourselves and continuing to ask for a deed will be our preferred defense from now on…It works!” George Manuel Jr. stated with a smile on his face.

In a related Sun Peaks matter, in another courtroom today in Kamloops, a Secwepemc mother of 2 young children and a member of the Native Youth Movement – Secwepemc Chapter, Niki Manuel, was found guilty of Mischief (Section 430 CCC ) stemming from June 24, 2001 at Skwelkwek’welt. A one
month conditional sentence and 8 months probation was sought by the crown and granted by Justice Rohrmoser.  Rohrmoser imposed conditions of a curfew, a 10 kilometre radius restriction from Sun Peaks, no camouflage and no facemasks.

Appeal dismissed in Sun Peaks case

• INDEPTH: Aboriginal Canadians

BOYCOTT SUN PEAKS RESORT

=========================== BOYCOTT SUN PEAKS RESORT Sunday October 17 @ 1 pm Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre 999 Canada Place =========================== The Canadian Ski Patrol is hosting the 2004 Winter Extreme Swap from the weekend of October 15-17 at Canada Place. Sun Peaks will be operating a booth. This is huge event attended by ski clubs, tourists and tour operators and it is crucial to have a presence at this event to affect Sun Peaks Resorts where it hurts- at their economic base of tourists and potential investors. Skwelkwek'welt defenders will be traveling to Vancouver for this action and we will be there to support them in calling for a boycott of Sun Peaks Resort and demanding a halt to Sun Peaks resort expansion on unceded territories. Link for the event: http://www.winterextreme.com/vancouver/default.aspx

CLOG THE LINES OF CAPITALISM

MASSIVE CALL-IN TO SUPPORT THE SECWEPEMC

Thursday, September 30th
9h00 - 17h00
Skican Limited
1-800-363-3009

From colonial Canada to the Usurped States, people will be phoning in on the 30th of September to hit Skican where it hurts!

Skican Limited is the only distributor of travel packages to Sun Peaks Ski Resort, so they are just as guilty for the racist and violent theft of Secwepemc territories, known as Skwelkwek'welt, land that has never  been ceded, released, or surrendered.

Join us as we phone in to disrupt the profiteering off of Native land in one  of three (or more!) ways:

1.  Ask to make a reservation.  Ask lots of questions, find out all the details, plan a two-week trip down to the last meal, and then mention that you heard something about Sun Peaks being stolen land.

2.  Ask to make a reservation.  Ask questions the call taker won't know, and then ask to speak to the manager.  Tell him that if they don't stop doing business with theives and goons, you'll never buy through Skican again.

(3)   Just try talking with the call taker about what's happening in Skwelkwek'welt (Sun Peaks) and say that you really can't support that kind of violence against peaceful people just protecting their home.

For more information visit email: ipsm@resist.ca

Organized by the Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Movement in solidarity with the Secwepemc and No One Is Illegal - Vancouver

BC Chiefs and Council of Canadians Condemn Arrests at Sun Peaks

Council of Canadians Condemns Arrest of Indigenous Activists at Sun Peaks VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA: The Council of Canadians joins the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, the Skwelkwek’welt Protection Centre and national and international supporters in condemning the arrests of three Indigenous protestors on Tuesday, September 21 at the Sun Peaks Ski Resort in Kamloops, BC. ==> UBCIC Condemns Arrests at Sun Peaks (Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver, September 22, 2004) Yesterday’s arrests at Sun Peaks Resort is another stage in the long, nasty and protracted battle to protect traditional Secwepemc territory from the wanton destruction by the massive expansion of Sun Peaks Resort. ==> more photos ==>

Update

Tuesday, September 22, 2004

9pm
The RCMP arrested three people at the camp for contempt of court.  Two people are still in jail.

12pm
The RCMP is up at the camp and arrests are imminent. Many Skwelkwek'welt defenders are already in Kamloops Courts this week appealing previous roadblock charges. We must fight back against the genocidal policies of the Canadian government and as police and state violence against indigenous peoples is escalating. The Skwekwelwek'welt community has continously inspired many in resistance, indigenous and non-indigenous alike, that the fight for self determination and freedom must be won by taking action to assert and defend our rights. Now is the time to support them.

DOWN WITH DELTA HOTELS!

MEET AT VICTORY SQUARE THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 23 @ 3 PM We will be marching to Delta Hotels, 550 West Hastings. It is time for all those opposed to the Canadian colonial system and corporate globalization to support, through concrete actions of solidarity, the rights of the Secwepemc people fighting state & corporate violence in British Columbia. Bring your banners, noisemakers, drums. Organized by Land, Freedom and Decolonization Coalition Contact: noii-van@resist.ca/ 778-552-2099/ ==> go to press release --> WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE LOCAL DEMONSTRATIONS IN OTHER CITIES. We need to maintain public and political pressure to stop Sun Peaks expansion. Even a modest presence outside the Delta Hotels or any Fairmont subsidiary is important. Please notify your local media about the action and situation at Sun Peaks. If you are organizing a local action, please pass on the details to noii-van@resist.ca --> MASSIVE CALL-IN/ FAX CAMPAIGN. More information about who and where to write/ call and a sample letter is available here --> ENDORSEMENTS by organizations in support of the Skwekwelk'welt Protection Center. If you can endorse please contact both noii-van@resist.ca and jrbilly@mail.ocis.net. A list of endorsers to date is available here =================================== NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION IN SUPPORT OF THE SKWELKWEK'WELT PROTECTION CENTER VANCOUVER: Meet at Victory Square @ 3pm (Cambie and Hastings) From there we will march to Delta Hotels (550 West Hastings) Contact: noii-van@resist.ca or 778-552-2099 MONTREAL: Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Hotel @ 4pm 900 Rene-Levesque West Contact: ipsm@resist.ca CALGARY: Delta Bow Valley Hotel @ 4 pm 200 4 ave SE WINNIPEG: details TBC. contact: Friends of Grassy Narrows, No One is Illegal-Winnipeg slim_feller@yahoo.ca, burrows@a-zone.org

Sun Peaks Arrests

September 21, 2004

Dear Friends:

It was a very sad day today, I was at the Kamloops Law Courts listening to an appeal regarding previous arrests, and during the brake I listened to my messages and one was from the RCMP telling me that they were on there way to Sun Peaks to execute the enforcement order. Apparently they felt that nothing was being accomplished for their advantage between our talks with the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council.

I therefore left to Sun Peaks and made it before the police acted on the enforcement order. Our people and our non-indigenous supporters packed their personal belongings, I then made arrangements to bring my truck to the camp location. Janice Billy also drove her vehicle to our camp area. We then loaded our vehicles with our stuff and waited the police to come down the hill. They did and they read out to four people the court order and proceeded to arrest people. The first person left and therefore was not arrested. The remaining three were arrested and brought to Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada.

One person did give there name and was released immediately. Two of our people would not give their name. One person who was identified this evening by another prisoner not related to this situation. But one person is still in custody and is in the process of taking a fast.

It is very clear that the courts system and police force do not take us into consideration. The legal system is basically corrupt and is set up to steal our land and use it without even thinking about what we feel about our land. The system only thinks about what the settler or investor feels toward our land.

That kind of thinking is from Pre-Delgamuukw or before Aboriginal Title was judicially recognized because that kind of logic cannot work now, despite the fact that British Columbia judges still think it can. In this case they looked at Frank Quinn's $36 million dollar condo and townhouse sales and said that he was suffering irreparable harm, but they did not take into consideration that he was building those condos and townhouses on our land. I know we are actually suffering a bigger loss than Frank Quinn because we lose our land through third party alienation, and he gets to sell it and become a millionare, but we lose our culture and land. That is a real ripp-off.

I know judges are scrambling to try and rethink how to keep the economic status quo and sound legally logical but I really think they cannot. The fact we own the land means that certain things are going to change. I suppose we need to keep the pressure up and hope that more indigenous peoples here in BC get with the fact that now is the time for change and put pressure on the system.

We own the land, they cannot deny that, they can only get us to extiguish our rights, but if we stand up we can defeat them. It is all a matter of belief in our rights that counts. I saw that today in the strength of our men who stood up to a century and half old system of genocide. The use of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for politcal purposes by using them as an armed force to settle outstanding Aboriginal Title issues about Sun Peaks expansion.

Clearly the federal and provincial government policies have failed therefore they are using armed force to allow Frank Quinn, Darcy Alexander and Sun Peaks to go on their merry way in an Secwepmec free zone inside our Secwepemc territory of Skwelkwek'welt.

We need your help to boycott Sun Peaks and Delta Hotels. Also get after the federal and provicial governments to get their policies in line with recognizing our Aboriginal Title now.

Arthur Manuel

MASSIVE CALL-IN/ FAX CAMPAIGN !!!

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 - FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
go to sample letter ==>

Message from Skwelkwek'welt Protection Center

September 12, 2004
To all Indigenous Leaders and People
To All Support Groups and Friends

We are requesting urgent letters of support for our actions to:
- occupy our lands at Skwelkwek’welt (what is classified as crown land)
- protect our traditional lands from destruction
- re-establish the connection of Elders and youth to restore our Secwepemc culture and language at our residences we are building up the mountain.

We maintain that we own our lands because we never signed treaties, sold or surrendered the land in any way. We demand the right to exist on our lands and save ourselves from extinction and extermination.

Secwepemculecw Traditional Peoples Government
Box 837
Chase, B. C.
V0E 1M0
email: jrbilly@mail.ocis.net
Janice Billy 250-318-4290
Arnie Jack 250-320-7822
Art Manuel 250-319-0068

Skwelkwek'welt Update

September 11, 2004

The Skwelkwekwelt Protection Center, along with various support groups, held a rally at Sun Peaks on August 29 to protest the on-going expansion of the Sun Peaks Ski Resort.  On the same day, Secwepemc members began construction of what was to be a permanent structure.  This structure was to:
*  monitor environmental damage at Skwelkwekwelt
*  inform visitors and investors of the on-going unsettled land issue in the area
*  assert and exercise our Secwepemc Title and Rights to our unceded lands by occupying our lands
*  educate our people, our guest, the public, and the courts of laws we stand on and the legal right to live on our lands
*  restore Secwepemc culture and language to our people (as taught by our traditional Elders)

When we began the occupation of our lands, we were immediately attacked by the Sun Peaks Ski Resort Corporation, BC government officials (acting under the illegal BC Land Act), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the court system, and certain Shuswap chiefs.

Click here for a chronology of events to date ==>

Wilful Blindness, Law and Order or Just Plain Apartheid, BC Style

September 8, 2004

Yesterday, September 7, 2004 late afternoon and early evening I had the opportunity to sit with some Secwepemc and white supporters at the Skwelkwek'welt Protection Center as they talked about what has been happening as they wait for their impending doom to sooner or later be arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

more ==>

Sun Peaks Convergence

more photos: 1 / 2 / 3 /

Sun Peaks Court Order - Economic Racism

September 4, 2004

The Supreme Court of British Columbia banned Aboriginal political presence at Sun Peaks in an interlocutory injunction on September 3, 2004.  The interlocutory injunction prohibits the Skwelkwek'welt Protection Center from having a camp at Sun Peaks to monitor the destruction and sale of their land.  People who are at the camp now could be arrested at any time.  This decision completely ignores or recognizes any value to our Secwepemc indigenous economy.                     - Art Manuel

more ==>