Activists meet in T.O.

Page 10

The governments of the day would rather make criminals of Aboriginal people than address their historical grievances, was the message delivered by invited speakers Jones William Ignace aka 'Wolverine' and Nicole Manuel at the Resistance without Reservation talk sponsored by the Ontario Public Interest Research Group of Toronto the last week in November.

Almost 70 people gathered at the University of Toronto's Koffler Institute to hear the two speak about their struggles to protect Aboriginal rights.

Ignace, a 69-year-old Shuswap Elder, became known in Canada for his role in events that transpired at Gustafsen Lake in 1995, between the Secwepemc people and the RCMP. It was a peaceful confrontation that turned violent, with the RCMP firing 77,000 rounds of ammunition at the protesters, Ignace told the audience.

Ignace was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison for his role in the protest.

"They tried many ways to break my spirit in prison," Ignace said. "When I had my appeal, I went in front of three judges. They said I could have my freedom if I pleaded self-defence; I said this was an error of law."

Ignace claimed during his trial that he was upholding Aboriginal rights on unceded Aboriginal land and that the RCMP were the real law-breakers.

He was released in February 1999, after having served roughly half his term. The Crown had sought an unprecedented 16-to-23 years for Ignace on his charges of simple mischief and mischief endangering life.

In all, 15 protesters at Gustafsen Lake were convicted of criminal charges.

The outstanding land issue that had prompted Ignace and the other demonstrators to stage their protest has never been addressed by the courts or the government.

"We're still waiting for them to do something," said Ignace.

Today, Ignace still must contend with police harassment because he refuses to stop acting in defence of Aboriginal rights.

"Do you know why they call me wolverine?" asked Ignace, who was clad in blue jeans and a plaid shirt. The audience remained silent. "Because a wolverine knows how to fight."

As with Wolverine, Nicole Manuel, 26, who belongs to the Neskonlith First Nation, faces a jail term for her role in demonstrations asserting her people's Aboriginal title to land in B.C.

The Lakes Secwepemc, consisting of Adams Lake, Neskonlith and Little Shuswap bands has an 1862 Neskonlith Douglas reserve claim that includes traditional lands upon which the Sun Peaks Resort, a popular ski destination, is proposing a $70 million expansion.

In October 2000, Manuel and other demonstrators established the Skwelkwekwelt Protection Centre at the entrance to the Sun Peaks Resort, and demonstrated at the Much Music Snow Jam in March 2001. (Much Music has said they will not return to Sun Peaks Resort until a settlement is reached.)

In May 2000, the Secwepemc erected a permanent log building on the MacGillvray Lake road between Sun Peaks resort and MacGillvray Lake, and exercised their right to live on their lands by settling there. The land is not under any land tenure by Sun Peaks or the province.

Since then there have been confrontations with RCMP and other non-Natives, and systematic destruction of Native buildings on the site. Only Native people have been charged.

"In the last two months, there's been a constant flow of trials," said Manuel.

"In the courts, they won't look at the land issue, they just lay charges without looking at our permanent and legal interest in the land."

Manuel was found guilty of intimidation this past September and sentenced to 45 days in jail.

Her mother, Beverly Manuel, was also convicted of criminal charges. Both women are appealing the charges.

Sun Peaks is expanding on one of the Sekwepemc's most important cultural and hunting areas, Manuel told the audience. Clearcutting has already caused irreparable damage to watersheds and a golf course pumps chemicals into the water.

"It's our backyard," said Manuel. "Our people still depend onthat land to hunt, fish, pick berries, to sustain ourselves."