NATIVE YOUTH MOVEMENT - INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE

UNSURRENDERED SECWEPEMC TERRITORY IS RE-OCCUPIED AGAIN BY NATIVE YOUTH

AFTER GOVERNMENT WAGED WAR ON NATIVE YOUTH AND ILLEGALLY BULLDOZED THEIR HOME

BC IS NOT FOR SALE NOR OPEN FOR BUSINESS AS USUAL! THE INDIAN WARS CONTINUE!

(Skwelkwek'welt (Sun Peaks), Unsurrendered Sovereign Secwepemc Territory / January 29, 2002)

On Sunday, January 27th, 2002 Secwepemc families, youth, women and warriors returned to re-occupy their home and ancestral lands at Skwelkwek'welt. The first successful time doing so since Sun Peaks Resort Corporation and the governments of British Columbia and Canada bulldozed their cordwood house at McGillivray Lake at Skwelkwek'welt on December 10, 2001, International Human Rights day.

This is a proud moment in history for the Secwepemc youth and the Native Youth Movement (NYM). Nicole Manuel, spokesperson for the Native Youth Movement and resident of this home says, "The government can come and bulldoze my families house but I will never leave because my people never surrendered or ceded our land to any foreign government. This is Secwepemc Land, Indian Land! They can never scare me out of our Secwepemc homeland. We will build a new home for myself, my children and the NYM family."

Native youth, from the Native Youth Movement hiked through the cold and 6 feet of snow to set up their home, which is a canvas tent for the winter until construction can begin. On their arrival the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) were present to greet the Secwepemc and Native youth with unnecessary acts of intimidation and harrassment, they are even quoted saying to one Native warrior, "you are not even human." Nicole Manuel and NYM state that, "the governments of BC and Canada, their laws and law enforcers are on our land illegally, they have no right or place within our Territory and are therefore breaking our Secwepemc Laws by being here. We never surrendered our land to them and we maintain 100% ownership over our own Secwepemc Laws and Land."

The "illegal" governments of British Columbia and Canada are in for a big surprise, if they think that they can continue to wage war on the Secwepemc and Native youth at Skwelkwek'welt, by bulldozing our homes and spiritual sweatlodges and by continuing to arrest Elders and Native youth for doing nothing more than living on and protecting our land from foreign invaders and corporations. BC and Canada have waged war on the Native youth and Native Youth Movement for speaking and living the truth that this is our land, not crown land, and proving that we, as

Indians, can live and build homes where ever we want within our Traditional Territories and Nations. NYM Chapters are sparking everywhere and more and more young Native Warriors will re-occupy their Traditional Territories and challange the govenments "illegally enforced" ownership over our Lands and Resources.

MEDIA CONTACT:

NATIVE YOUTH MOVEMENT

MICHELLE JONES (250) 679-4687

NICOLE MANUEL mountain_defender@redpride.com