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"Skwelkwekwelt Protection Center to Carry Out Direct Actions & Return to Occupy Their Lands and Mountains: Demands that Sun Peaks Resort Leave Territory Altogether!"

Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver - Since their forced eviction from their homes at Skwelkwekwelt yesterday, representatives of the Skwelkwekwelt Protection Center have been in discussions with supporters from around the province, the country and internationally about having back-up to assist in re-establishing homes on their 1862 Neskonlith Douglas Reserve (which is also Secwepemc Aboriginal title territory). They have received now numerous offers of assistance for further direct actions on the ground.

The Skwelkwekwelt Protection Center has made many reasonable attempts to have their title, rights and interests recognized in the area where the Sun Peaks Resort Corporation wants to expand its year round destination resort.

After the 'bad faith' treatment the Secwepemc Elders and peoples have received by the Sun Peaks Resort, the provincial government, the RCMP, and the provincial court system, the position of the Secwepemc of Skwelkwekwelt is that they now want to convince the Sun Peaks Resort Corporation, it is in their best interests to vacate the territory altogether. The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs' supports this position.

Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the UBCIC stated today "The labelling of the Secwepemc at Skwelkwekwelt as 'trespassers' and forcibly removing them from their homes marks a new and dangerous phase in the history of Aboriginal and Crown relations in the province of B.C. The South, Central interior is a region where the vast majority of the Indigenous communities have not entered into the illegal and immoral B.C. Treaty process, so when the Attorney-General of B.C., Geoff Plante, walked away from discussions with Chief Arthur Manuel last month and used the police to evict Secwepemc people and demolish their homes at Skwekwekwelt, he as much as said it's open season on Indigenous peoples, use the tactics of the eighteenth century and force them off their lands. As a leader, I have no choice but to support all Indigenous peoples who resist this 'brute force' approach to settling the land question in British Columbia. There will never be any certainty in B.C. if this abuse of power continues to escalate."