[antiwar-van] Court Support for Secwepemc Defenders

[harsha at resist.ca]

* pls post *

COURT SUPPORT FOR SECWEPEMC DEFENDERS

TUESDAY JANUARY 10, 2006 @ 9:30 AM
COURT OF APPEAL 800 SMITHE STREET


Beverly Manuel and Nicole (Mayuk) Manuel are appearing in the BC Court of
Appeal on Tuesday to legally challenge a criminal conviction for
participating in a road block at Sun Peaks Resort, near Kamloops, BC. "We
have targeted the patently unconstitutional 1874 BC Lands Act as the
center of our legal actions and defense" states defendant Beverly Manuel.
Mayuk, a Secwepemc mother of two and member of the Secwepemc Youth
Movement, has already served 30 days of a 45 day sentence for standing up
for her Rights during the roadblock.

Over the past five years, there have been over 57 arrests of Secwepemc
community members defending their rights to Secwepemc territories against
the corporate mega-development project of Sun Peaks Resort. Sun Peaks
Resort is built on Secwepemc territories, land which has never been ceded,
released, nor surrendered. The BC government and Sun Peaks therefore has
no authority over the Secwepemc people or their lands.

Yet the development of Sun Peaks Resort has continued without
participation of those with Title to the land. The government disregarded
environmental and cultural impact studies performed by the Adams Lake and
Neskonlith Indian Bands and refused to engage in consultation and
meaningful discussion with the bands about the development. 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.

Since purchasing the resort in 1992, the Japanese holding company, Nippon
Cable, has expanded on site accomodation from 100 beds to 4000. 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. In June 2004 with the Olympic
bid, the expansion now totals $285 million.

Please show your support in Court for those continuing the struggle
against Sun Peaks Resort. For more information on support in Vancouver:
Email noii-van at resist.ca or visit http://noii-van.resist.ca/skwelkwekwelt

RESISTANCE WITHOUT RESERVATION!
Skwelkwek’welt Protection Center P.O. Box 837, Chase, BC, V0E 1M0
Phone (250) 318-4290
Fax (250) 679-5306
e-mail: jrbilly at mail.ocis.net