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Secwepemc Territory - Vigilante Gerald Overwater who was charged for committing hate crimes against Secwepemc and cruelty to animals earlier this year will appear in court on Friday, December 6, 2002. After threatening the lives of Secwepemc living at Skwelkwek’welt, Overwater deliberately ran over a puppy resulting in the loss of the puppy’s leg.

In past when hate crimes were committed against our Peoples at Skwelkwek’welt, those vigilantes were not charged. In August of last year Russ Perchall, a Sun Peak’s resident, was let off free of charges after striking Nicole Manuel, a young Secwepemc woman in the face; at the same time, Nicole was arrested and charged with mischief. The Canadian legal system must make serious attempts to balance the justice between towards Indian Peoples and settlers. In all of our court case to date, the Euro-Canadian supremist attitude prevailed and found us quilty.

Currently Nicole Manuel is returning from an Eastern tour of Canada’s Universities where she spoke about Skwelkwek’welt land struggle with Sun Peaks and the government. Nicole Manuel stated, “We have been criminalized for exercising our inherent and legal title and rights to our land at Skwelkwek’welt and have been continuously harassed by Sun Peak’s tourists and residence. This is obviously unjust and has cost our Peoples our freedom and security on our own land. Too much times our people get arrested and jailed for being on our land and when settlers violate our land title and safety and security they are excused.” In fact, settlers safety is ensured, while illegally occupying our lands.

Through the various speaking tours, the Skwelkwek’welt Protection Centre has created a lot of awareness of the horrific human rights violations against Secwepemc at Skwelkwek’welt by the Sun Peaks, RCMP, and BC and Canadian system and our valid request to Boycott Sun Peaks and Delta/Fairmont Hotels. Speakers on the most recent tour focused particularly on the recent decisions and sentences against Skwelkwek’welt Defenders and the other upcoming trials, including Gerald Overwater’s trial. The courts are definitely being observed worldwide to see how fairly they handle the remaining trials.