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Secwepemc Territory, May 22, 2003 - Beverly Manuel, a Secwepemc warrior and an NYM advisor and Skwelkwek’welt Defender appeared in provincial court today in kamloops, british columbia, kkklanada. The charges against her were dismissed when a "no evidence motion" was introduced.

In May of 2002, Beverly Manuel went to Skwelkwek’welt to pick up family from the Skwelkwek’welt Protection Centre and was confronted by an RCMP officer who "mistakenly" identified her twin daughter Nicole Manuel (Mayuk Pellkey) as Amanda Soper (Kanahus Pellkey) who had outstanding warrants for her arrest related to defending Skwelkwek'welt. The RCMP officer warned Beverly if Nicole didn’t turn herself in he would arrest her, for looking like her twin sister. No arrest was made and Beverly and Nicole left the Skwelkwek’welt Protection Centre and Beverly was later charged with "obstruction of a peace officer."

Beverly Manuel has been directly active in the protection of her Peoples’ mountains at Skwelkwek’welt in Secwepemc Territory from the expansion of Sun Peaks Resort, near kamloops, british columbia, kkklanada. Because of her peoples’ active involvement in defending her land the RCMP has targeted her people and will find anything to charge them with.

"Sun Peaks is still interfering with Secwepemc lands and are using the RCMP to protect their interests and threaten our people with jail time if we don’t stop defending our lands. We have lived here forever and we are forced to go through their court system. This is Secwepemc Land. They trench our roads, evict women, men, children, Elders from the land, destroy our hunting and medicine area and bulldoze our sweat lodges and turn around and charge me and many other Secwepemc people. I will always defend my homeland."

Native Youth Movement and the Skwelkwek’welt Protection Centre are asking for your support to continue with the Sun Peaks Resort and Delta Hotel (Fairmont Hotel) Boycott. To contact the Skwelkwek’welt Defenders for more information or to help, send email to: NYM Communications or Janice Billy.