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At the anniversary of the Night of Broken Glass (KRISTALLNACHT) Indian Information Camp Set Aflame

(Kamloops, Secwepemc Territory, November 11th, 2000) Chief Gary John, Spokesperson of the St'at'imc Chiefs and Chief Arthur Manuel, Chairperson of the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council, both nations are members of the Interior Alliance today expressed their shock about the racist mob violence and destruction of the Indian information camp in Melvin Creek.

The St'at'imc peoples had set up this camp in May 2000 to exercise their Aboriginal Title to the area and through their presence protect one of their last untouched valleys from the construction of the proposed Cayoosh Creek Ski-Resort. As the camp slowly expanded the residents of the camp set up an information checkpoint, consisting of a shelter, tables and information materials to inform tourists and the interested public passing on the nearby Duffy Lake Road, leading from Lillooet to Whistler and Vancouver.

On the night from Nov. 9th to Nov. 10th, coinciding with the date of the Night of Broken Glass (Kristallnacht), the beginning of the holocaust of Jews in Germany and Austria, when Jewish cultural centers and houses had been set aflame all across the country, the Indian information Camp was set on fire.

Just before dawn the Melvin Creek Camp was vandalized by a dozen white people. Arriving in 2 cars they jumped out, raided the shelter and display of the information check point and threw the building and information material on the fire. They also pulled out the signs that the St'at'imc had set up to demonstrate their rights and ownership of the land and set them on fire. One of the residents staying in a trailer just across the bridge from the information stand on Duffy Lake road watched the vandals and alarmed the other residents staying in the main camp. They arrived when the raiders had already departed. The local RCMP was informed but has no hopes to be able to identify the vandals and trespassers.

Chief Arthur Manuel, Chairperson of the Interior Alliance, stated that: "I am deeply shocked about this open act of violence against our peoples exercising their Aboriginal Title and Rights to their traditional territories. The information checkpoint was set up to inform the interested public and also local population about the camp and our rights. Its racially motivated destruction challenges this dialogue and was probably enhanced by the polarization in Canadian politics with some parties even denying our rights as Indigenous Peoples. It is time that the settlers accept that our Aboriginal Title and rights have been recognized by the Supreme Court of Canada and that their recognition and implementation by the government is imperative to avoid such open outbreaks of violence."

Chief Gary John, who spent the night at the camp that the Secwepemc people set up to protest against the planned expansion of the Sun Peaks ski-resort, was assured of the solidarity of the Secwepemc peoples with their St'at'imc relatives and made it clear that: "After this act of aggression against our camp, our people are alerted. Our indigenous and human rights to exercise our Aboriginal Title and freedom of information are at stake. Immediately more people moved into the camp, to protect our land and people against racially motivated mob violence. This has just reconfirmed our conviction and made us stronger in our commitment to defend our constitutionally protected rights."