| St'at'imc Nation reoccupies traditional lands
On October 4, the Action Van stopped into the camp of people from the St'at'imc Nation. They are re-occupying their traditional territory in the Cayoosh and Melvin Creek drainages, home of Sutikalh, the Winter Spirit. Nancy Greene-Raine Resort Consultants have leased this land from the British Columbia government in order to develop an all-season ski-resort. The proposed area falls within unceded St'at'imc Territory that has, in the words of St'at'imc Ancestors in the Declaration of the Lilloet Tribe, "been continually occupied by us {St'at'imc peoples} from time out of mind." The St'at'imc chiefs stated that they are against the proposed ski resort because of the ill effect it will have on all the human and animal communities, the air and water quality and the availability of foods and medicines. Constitutionally, British Columbia has no right to pass unceded Native lands to third parties. (97% of the "province" of British Columbia is unceded, untreatied land). On August 14, 2000, the EAO recommended to accept the resort proposal, ignoring the position of the St'at'imc First Nation. At the end of September, the Mt. Currie Reservation voted on the ski resort proposal and over 240 people were against it to only 40 people for it. Despite this overwhelming opposition to the ski resort, the Raine's are still trying to build their resort to make Melvin Creek into the next Whistler. We stand in solidarity with the St'at'imc peoples' re-occupation of their traditional lands and encourage anyone who can to lend them support. The St'at'imc people are building a pithouse that they will occupy over the winter time and next spring will be building more structures including a longhouse. Their occupation of their traditional land is not just a political action, but a returning to their roots and their ancestors.
What you can do to help:
-Visit the camp and help them build structures for the winter
Directions: head North on 99, past Mt. Currie, past the big hill you will see Duffy lake on your left...the blockade is just past there...the camp is just a five minute walk from the highway...you'll see signs...call info numbers below to find out more
~Donations~
-food, building supplies, camping materials and money would be greatly appreciated
-techincal help is needed to set up a solar power system, and with communications gear such as two way radios, video camera and digital camera
-spreading the word about what is going on
-make cheques payable to Rosalin Sutikalh Sam (Pemberton Scotiabank, #90670 02042 85)
~Call or fax the following Ministers and ask that they abandon the project~
Gordon Wilson
Minister of Employment and Investment
Tel: (250) 356-7020
Fax: (250) 356-5587
Joan Sawicki
Minister of Environment
Tel: (250) 387-1187
Fax: (250) 387-1356
~For more information, please call:
Chief Garry John
St'at'imc Chiefs Council
(250) 256-7523 Lilloet Tribal Council
(250) 259-8227 Seton Lake Band
(604) 868-8560 cell
Ramona: (604) 894-2462
Rosalin: (604) 894-2400
~T-shirts with the Sutikalh (Winter Spirit) logo are for sale. Inquire at one of the above numbers.
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