[van-announce] Support the Secwepemc Defenders

[No One is Illegal-Vancouver]

* please post widely *

“Let’s be clear: this is not about a ski hill. It is about a plan to build
a small city in the mountains, a place for urbanites to have a weekend
getaway -- and for developers to make a killing on real estate. Let’s be
clear about something else: the massive expansion of the Sun Peaks Resort
is an act of violence. British Columbia’s First Nation peoples have
already been robbed of so much. It is the duty of all Canadians living on
stolen land to join in the struggle.”
- Naomi Klein, author of No Logo


:::::: SUPPORT THE SECWEPEMC DEFENDERS :::::::

In Kamloops Supreme Court on June 16 2005, four Secwepemc Nation members
received jail sentences for their participation in a 4-hour roadblock on
August 24, 2001 at Skwelkwek’welt (Sun Peaks Ski Resort). Sentences ranged
from 45 days for 28-year-old Secwepemc mother of 2, Nicole Manuel, to 90
days for three other Secwepemc Nationals, Trevor Dennis 26, Rose Jack 25
and Mark Sauls 24. The Court denied the defence to have numerous
constitutional questions submitted concerning the BC Lands Act. “Since
December 15, 2004, we have targeted the patently unconstitutional 1874 BC
Lands Act as the center of our legal actions and defense,” stated
defendant Beverly Manuel. Secwepemcul’ecw Traditional Peoples Government
spokesperson Janice Billy said “ I deplore the imprisonment of my people
for upholding our sacred responsibility to protect our land from
destruction by Sun Peaks Resort Corporation.”  She added, the “the
imprisonment of our people is just one of the many immoral tactics used by
the BC provincial courts, government, and corporations to continue the
theft and destruction of our unceded lands.  Rather than deal honorably
with us, the government uses the RCMP, courts, and media to carry out
their theft and destruction.”


Nicole Manuel and Rose Jack were transferred to prison facilities in the
Lower Mainland and are currently in Maple Ridge. We currently do not have
updated information for Trevor or Mark.  Below are different ways you can
show your support to those in prison and to others continuing the struggle
against Sun Peaks Resort.

For more information on support in Vancouver:
Email noii-van at resist.ca
Call 778-885-0040
website: http://noii-van.resist.ca/skwelkwekwelt

Skwelkwek’welt Protection Center P.O. Box 837, Chase, Britiish Columbia,
Canada, V0E 1M0
Phone (250) 318-4290
Fax (250) 679-5306
e-mail: jrbilly at mail.ocis.net



==> Write a letter to show your support

In a recent letter from jail, Niclole (Mayuk) wrote “It sucks being in
here when you know you did nothing wrong.”  Please show your continued
support for the courage and conviction the women have show in standing up
for their rights and let them know their actions and the struggle against
Sun Peaks continues to inspire us.

Alouette Correctional Centre for Women
c/o Nicole Manuel
PO Box 1000
Maple Ridge, British Columbia V2X 7G4

Alouette Correctional Centre for Women
c/o Rose Jack
PO Box 1000
Maple Ridge, British Columbia V2X 7G4

Use either white or yellow paper and only write on one side of the sheet. 
Do not send anything else like stamps or even newspaper clippings as it
may get returned to you. Also, assume that prison staff will read letters.



==> Financial Donations:

Donations can be made directly to Nicole's and Rose’s accounts in prison.
Money is also needed for ongoing legal defense and for transportation
costs for visits with family coming from Kamloops.

Money can be sent directly to the prison, payable to either Nicole Manuel
or Rose Jack, at the addresses above. It would be best to only deposit
money orders as personal cheques have about a 10-day hold placed on them.

Alternatively personal cheques, along with other donations to help cover
ongoing legal defense costs and transportation costs, can be sent to:
Make cheques payable to "Sun Peaks Arrests Fund"
Indigenous Network on Economies and Trade (INET)/ No One is Illegal
Office 714
Dominion Building, 207 West Hastings
Vancouver BC, V6B 1H7




==> Write a letter/ make a call

Gordon Campbell, Premier
Government of British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W 9E1
Fax: (250) 387-0087
Email: premier at gov.bc.ca
Phone: 250-387-1715

Wally Oppal
East Annex, Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC, V8V1X4
Fax: 250 356-6176
Phone: 250 387-1866

Darcy Alexander
Vice President, General Manager
Sun Peaks Resort
1280 Alpine Rd.
Sun Peaks, BC
V0E 1Z1
tel#: 250-578-7222
fax#: 250-578-7223
email: marketing at sunpeaksresort.com


Sample Letter

RE: STOP EXPANSION OF SUN PEAKS RESORT IN SECWEPEMC TERRITORY

I am writing in support of the Skwelkwek’welt Protection Center that has
been protecting Secwepemc lands and culture that is being destroyed by Sun
Peaks Resort and in support of the four Secpwemc youth who were recently
jailed for their courageous defense of their land and their rights.

It is clear that despite the fact that the Supreme Court of Canada has
recognized Aboriginal Title, and that the Canadian Constitution of 1982
protects Aboriginal Title as an Aboriginal Right yet your political
decision has been to extinguish Aboriginal Title. The recent Haida
decision added a legal duty government and industry to consult and
accommodate Aboriginal Title even before it has been proved. It is clear
that the recent endorsement by Canada and British Columbia of the $285
million dollar expansion of Sun Peaks is a deliberate and clear effort to
extinguish Aboriginal Title.

Negotiations under the present extinguishment policy and process is
failing (those negotiations have only been a benefit to those negotiators
who get a pay check from those funds for the last 10 years); that the
injunctions are not necessarily always conducive in balancing the
interests between business and Aboriginal Rights; and that full blown
court decision takes 10 to 14 years; and all of these remedies put
Secwepemc people at a decided disadvantage when dealing with the
governments that are committed to an out dated status quo of marginalizing
indigenous economic and cultural rights.

I reiterate the position of the Skwelkwek’welt Protection Center that
wants the expansion of Sun Peaks stopped and demand a new federal policy
that recognizes Aboriginal Title in line with the legal mandate to consult
and accommodate Aboriginal Title.


Yours sincerely,



:::::::::::: BACKROUNDER ::::::::::::::


“On December 10th, 2001, International Human Rights Day, Sun Peaks Resort
and the province of BC demolished several homes at Skwekwek’welt. One home
demolished was my family’s. We returned home to discover our home
bulldozed to the ground with absolutely no trace that we had ever been
there. Where our house previously stood was a groomed ski trail.  The pain
my family felt that day was unspeakable. I held my two children in my arms
and we wept together. I will never understand how other human beings can
treat us in such an atrocious, hateful way. It is wrong that Sun Peaks can
come into our homes that we built with our blood, sweat and tears.
Ultimately it is the Indigenous peoples, including my children, that are
paying the real cost for Sun Peaks to exist where it is and for their
tourists fun-filled packages.”
- Native Youth Movement warrior Nicole Manuel

Sun Peaks Resort is built in 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.

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 willfully 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."

Still, Canada and BC, with disturbing disregard for the highest legal
authority in Canada, continue to ignore Secwepemc Title and consequently
ignore their own laws. The United Nations has repeatedly condemned Canada
for violating International Human Rights in its treatment of indigenous
communities and the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights recently
visited Secwepemc Territories to document the injustices committed against
the peoples of land.

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:

The Secwepemc people set up the Skwelwek’welt Protection Center at the
entrance of Sun Peaks resort in order to protect their Aboriginal Title.
To date, 54 arrests with charges from criminal contempt and intimidation
by blocking a road to resisting arrest have been made. Charges range from
criminal contempt, mischief, intimidation and obstruction of a police
officer to intimidation by blocking a road, resisting arrest, and breach
of bail conditions.

In January 2003, a BC judge found four Elders NOT guilty for refusal to
obey an injunction obtained by Sun Peaks Resort to tear down the
Skwekwek’welt Protection Center. The judge found that the Crown could not
prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defenders intentions were
criminal. 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.”



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No One is Illegal- Vancouver
web: http://noii-van.resist.ca
email: noii-van at resist.ca
(604)682-3269 x 7149

The No One is Illegal campaign is in full confrontation with Canadian
colonial border policies, denouncing and taking action to combat racial
profiling of immigrants and refugees, detention and deportation policies,
and wage-slave conditions of migrant workers and non-status people.

We struggle for the right for our communities to maintain their
livelihoods and resist war, occupation and displacement, while building
alliances and supporting indigenous sisters and brothers also fighting
theft of land and displacement.