Three Arrests at Sun Peaks
Secwepemc Territory, "British Columbia", "Canada"
September 23, 2004
On September 21, more than 16 RCMP officers arrived to evict the Skwelkwek'welt Protect Centre. One person left the camp and three others were arrested. One of those detained gave his name and was released, while two refused to give their names and began a fast. Unfortunately, a prisoner recognized one of the arrestees and collaborated with the cops in telling them his name. On September 23, the local corporate media reported that the last person had been released.
The Skwelkwek'welt defenders vowed to continue to occupy their traditional territories.
According to Vancouvers's CKNW news radio, Premier Gordon Campbell said the re-occupation camps at Skwelkwek'welt would accomplish nothing.
Secwepemc Land Re-Occupation
Secwepemc Territory, "British Columbia", "Canada"
August 30, 2004
After about 140 Natives and their supporters marched through the village at the Sun Peaks Resort on August 29, traditional Secwepemc people began construction of a new Skwelkwek'welt Protection Center on a golf course which is part of the Sun Peaks expansion. The provincial government served a Trespass Notice to the Secwepemc later that evening.
The Secwepemc people have a strong history of resistance to colonization, including the armed Cache Creek highway blockade of 1974 (which was sparked by poor housing conditions on the Bonaparte Indian Band reservation), and the armed stand-off at Gustafsen Lake in 1995.
The struggle against the Sun Peaks Resort has been ongoing since 2001 and has resulted in 54 arrests. Traditional Secwepemc people are determined to stop the destruction of their land caused by the continuing Sun Peaks expansion.
Two Native Youth Movement Warriors Arrested During Anti-Fairmont Hotel Rally
INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE
ONE WARRIOR STILL BEHIND ENEMY LINES, RANSOM SET FOR $50, 000
August 29th, 2004 Fairmont Miramar Hotel Santa Monica, California
Fairmont Hotel security assaults a 14 year old NYM warrior during a peaceful info rally which leads to the arrest of two NYM Warriors. 14 year old, Alma Barba, was handing out flyers condemning Fairmont Hotel?s participation in the forcible removal of Secwepemc from their homeland: GENOCIDE, when a Fairmont security shoved her to the grass then kicked her to her back and held her there with his foot grinding into her chest.
Fairmont Hotel called Santa Monica Police Department and two arrests were made, including the arrest of WAR CLUB NYM Ryakin Rip who is in the Los Angeles area completing a music and speaking tour. He is being accused of issuing terrorist threats while defending 14 year old Alma Barba from further attack. Ryakin is being held for $50,000 ransom.
The Santa Monica Fairmont rally was coordinated with a rally held today against the expansion of Sun Peaks Resort in the interior of British Columbia, Canada. Fairmont Hotels has invested $40 million in Sun Peaks Resort to build the Delta Hotel Sun Peaks, drawing mass tourists to sensitive mountain area still depended on by Secwepemc, the Indigenous Peoples of the land.
Contact info:
Native Youth Movement nymcommunications@hotmail.com