Kamloops - January 10, 2003 - Aboriginal activists leave the Kamloops court
house jubilant: a judge found elders Irene Billy and Charlie Willard not
guilty of contempt of court( for refusing to leave their land at Skwelkwelk'welt.
Also present was Lawrence Pascal of the neighboring St'at'imc Nation
who was released from the Kamloops Detention Centre where he had been held
for 2 months for defending his ancestors land against the construction of
Cayoosh Creek Ski Resort. An appeal in his case has been granted.
The Secwepemc people, accompanied by leaders and members of fellow Interior
Aboriginal nations, are proud of and inspired by the example given by their
elders Irene Billy (74) and Charlie Willard who, along with Segwses and
George Manuel Jr., on July 23rd, 2001 refused to obey a court injunction
sought by Sun Peaks to tear down the Skwelkwek'welt Protection Centre.
International law considers the forceful removal of indigenous peoples from
their traditional territories genocide. The provincial judge found that the
Crown had failed to prove the criminal intention of the Secwepemc defenders
beyond a reasonable doubt.
Irene Billy, Elder, stated, as she left the court: I always knew we were
right, this is our land, we have the right to be here and Sun Peaks and the
province cannot remove us from it. We love this land and we will continue
to protect it.
This case sets an important precedent for other cases of Aboriginal people
defending their lands around Skwelkwek welt and Sutikalh.
Chief Manuel of the Neskonlith Band stressed: I am delighted with the court
decision, our people are not criminals, they love and defend their land and
the courts are coming to realize that. It is the government and the
companies who refuse to deal with our land rights and human rights in a
meaningful way, they are the ones who use violence and the police against
our people.
