[IPSM] RCMP attack/ Ntl day of Action

[Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Movment - Montreal]

Date: Tue, 21 Sep 2004 14:12:11 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: RCMP attack/ Ntl day of Action
From: noii-van at resist.ca

* UPDATE TUESDAY SEP 22 @ NOON:

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. * see below for ways of supporting the struggle. *


<><><><><><><><><><><><><>
DOWN WITH DELTA HOTELS!
NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION
SEPTEMBER 23, 2004
<><><><><><><><><><><><><>

To date, there are at least four cities confirmed for actions in
solidarity with Skwelkwek'welt (details and press release below).

Sun Peaks Ski Resort & Delta Hotels (a subsidiary of Fairmont hotels) are
built on Secwepemc territories, known as Skwelkwek'welt, that have never
been ceded, released, or surrendered. The Secwepemc peoples are now
fighting an additional $285 million expansion (proposed in 2004) of Sun
Peaks Resort that includes development of luxury hotels, tennis courts,
and a massive real estate business that is stealing Aboriginal territories
through lucrative resort and sport tourism.

Over the last six years, the Secwepemc have attended various "stakeholder"
meetings and clearly said "NO!" to the further expansion of the Resort.
The Skwelkwek'welt defenders are building and residing in yet another
permanent structure off-reserve on traditional territories (adjacent to
Sun Peaks golf course) as an assertion of their inherent and legal
Aboriginal Title, despite the brutal police, government and corporate
harassment they constantly face, along with the imminent risk of arrest.
They have been served with a Trepass Notice as well a court injunction
(sought by Sun Peaks) and face forcible removal from their lands in the
coming week.

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.


* Comprehensive background information, chronologies, articles, analysis
and updates on the Secwepemc struggle is  available:
http://apc.resist.ca/skwelkwekwelt

*  A downloadable PDF flyer and poster for the action will be available on
the website soon. Feel free to use and modify the flyers for your local
actions.


--> 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 at resist.ca

--> MASSIVE CALL-IN/ FAX CAMPAIGN. More information about who and where to
write/ call and a sample letter is available at
http://apc.resist.ca/skwelkwekwelt_campaign

--> ENDORSEMENTS by organizations in support of the Skwekwelk'welt
Protection Center. If you can endorse please contact both
noii-van at resist.ca and jrbilly at mail.ocis.net. A list of endorsers to date
is available at: http://apc.resist.ca/skwelkwekwelt_documents


=================================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 at resist.ca or 778-552-2099

MONTREAL:
Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Hotel @ 4pm
900 Rene-Levesque West
Contact: ipsm at 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 at yahoo.ca, burrows at a-zone.org


==========================================*** (edited version of press
release)

MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

National day of action and economic boycott against Sun Peaks and Delta
Hotels in support of the Secwepemc fighting Sun Peaks Resort expansion on
unceded territories in BC.

The RCMP has surrounded the Skwekwelk'welt Protection Center (noon on
Wednesday September 21) to enforce court orders to forcibly remove the
Secwepemc people and arrests of Elders, youth and land-users is imminent.

Demonstrations will be taking place simaltaneously in Vancouver, Victoria,
Winnipeg, Calgary and Montreal on Thursday September 23 as the Secwepemc
people are fighting an additional $285 million expansion. Over the last
six years, the Secwepemc have attended various "stakeholder" meetings and
clearly said no to the further expansion of the resort.

The Skwelkwek'welt defenders are currently occupying and building a
phyiscal structure adjacent to the Sun Peaks golf course as an assertion
of their Aboriginal Title, reaffirmed by the Supreme Court of Canada
Delgaamukw decision. They have been served with a Trepass Notice and a
Court
injunction (sought by Sun Peaks) and face imminent forcible removal.

Former Chief Art Manuel writes, "The court order is kind of a BC form of
legitimate aparthied. It is clear that the Secwepemc peoples have legal
and constitutional rights at Sun Peaks but they are being willfully
ignored by the federal and provincial governments and by Sun Peaks. The
Canadian government has an outdated and internationally condemned Indian
Aboriginal Title extinguishment policy."

Despite attempts by the province and Sun peaks to use a divide and rule
tactic by stating that those fighting Sun Peaks are a marginalized group
without support of their Indian bands, Chief Nathan Mathews of the
Shushwap Nation Tribal Council said that the “Shushwap Nation Tribal
Council supports the right of the Secwepmc people to occupy, use and enjoy
the land.”

Author of the best-selling book No Logo Naomi Klein recently visited the
Secwepemc territories. She writes: "Let's be clear about something: the
massive expansion of the Sun Peaks Resort is an act of violence. The
Secwepemc have never ceded this land, and their Elders have clearly said
no to this development."

Three hundred people converged on Sun Peaks Resort on Sunday August 29,
2004 to protest the Sun Peaks expansion. Supporters of the Skwelkwek'welt
Protection Center include Council of Canadians, Simon Fraser Student
Society, Women in the Woods, and CUPE BC.


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