News posted mostly by Ernie Yacoub. Archives were posted in illegible form by Settlers in Support of Indigenous Sovereignty; unedited except for removal of many "Urgent action -- call these people now!" -- notices. Accuracy of facts, quotes, etc. not verified.
Subject: Sundancer Siege Sept. 1 update
"The people in the camp are rosy-cheeked, bright-eyed and solid
- just really solid people."
So said Dr. Bruce Clark, Shuswap Defenders' counsel, of his
visit yesterday to his clients, behind an RCMP assault team encircling
indigenous traditionalists defending sacred sundance grounds
at Gustafsen Lake.
As Shuswap traditionalists maintain their armed standoff
against an RCMP tactical assault force, international outrage
and support for the Indians' due process right to an independent
and impartial adjudication of their sovereign status is growing.
Yesterday Clark revealed evidence that directly contradicts the
RCMP's account of a shooting incident last Sunday. Spent shell
casings from the RCMP tactical assault team, a secretly-
recorded audio tape of Sunday's events, and a sworn affidavit
from an independent journalist inside the camp prove that RCMP
initiated the shooting incident on Sunday, "firing directly at the
traditionalists' camp".
Nationally syndicated columnist Will Johnson questioned whether or not the alleged shooting of two
RCMP officers even took place:
"Something, perhaps my gray hair, tells me that the story
of an 'ambush' in a 'hail of bullets' fired by semi-automatic
weapons doesn't stand up. When an ambush involves crossfire
from two sides on unsuspecting targets - the story told by
the Mounties - one would expect that someone would get hurt.
If there is no wounded Mountie to photograph and show the
pictures of, if there is no bullet-torn clothing to hold up at a
press conference, I begin to sense that there is more or less
to the "ambush" story than what reporters so confidently reported."
(Montreal Gazette, August 29)
Stuart and Francis Dick, caught behind the RCMP siege, walked
out of camp on Wednesday and were let go before dawn
yesterday. They remain under investigation but, contrary to
media reports that the two men had been charged with
mischief, the media now reports that no charges have been laid.
BC Attorney-General Ujjal Dosanjh has demanded the
Sundancers' unconditional surrender. He continues to reject a
peaceful solution based on international adjudication of the
traditionalists' sovereignty - continuing to insist that this is
simply a police enforcement matter. Rallies and
demonstrations worldwide are spreading the news of Canada's
illegal invasion of unsurrendered, unceded Indian hunting
grounds and attempts to suppress the binding constitutional
and international law which established this fact.
All access to the Defenders' camp and sacred sundance grounds
is tightly sealed, and all communications to those inside the
camp remain in the hands of the RCMP. This cutting off of all
outside communications puts the lie to the police claim that they
want a peaceful resolution and continues a dangerous and unacceptable
practise - and should be protested.
RCMP anti-terrorist experts, psychological consultants, and
other security personnel have swollen the anti-native force. As
a result the RCMP have taken over an abandoned furniture
warehouse as the new RCMP operations centre. Talk of military
intervention continues.
Before returning to Ottawa, Dr. Clark advised RCMP that the
armed standoff can be solved. "There would be a letter from the
Attorney-General of Canada to her Majesty - confirmed by the
Canadian Governor-General, acting upon the instructions of the
Canadian Privy Council, waiving any objection of Canada, to the
Queen addressing the petition dated January 3rd 1995."
This alludes to the due process right of the Indians to an
independent and impartial tribunal according to binding
international and constitutional law. BC Attorney-General
Dosanjh responded "I can tell you that the position of the
province is very clear. There shall be no participation in what
amounts to criminal and political extortion of the
administration of justice in this province at the hands of a few
people holed up at this camp who use AK-47s to shoot police
officers in their backs. That is how simple it is."
It is obvious to all that Canada is resisting a peaceful solution
by simply referring the jurisdictional question to an
independent and impartial council. If the matter can be kept
internal, Canada's domestic court system can itself continue to
decide in favor of itself against the Natives' claim. It is
known that the Canadian legal establishment is dominated by
several large national and international law partnerships which
simultaneously bracket the resource industry from coast to
coast.
The federal/provincial conspiracy to usurp indigenous
jurisdiction beyond the treaty frontier is well documented. In
1875 Canada's Governor-General Lord Dufferin demanded that
the racist renegade BC government cease its illegal annexation
of the Indian Territories: "Before we touch an acre, we make a
Treaty with the Chiefs representing the Tribes we are dealing
with...and not until then do we consider that we are entitled to
deal with a single case." For political purposes this prohibition
was ignored.
In 1875, the federal Minister of Justice also recommended
disallowance of BC's illegal land legislation: "No cession of
their territorial rights has ever been executed by the Indian
Tribes of the Province...The Indians are not averse to taking up
arms to enforce rights which it is impossible to deny them...I
can not do otherwise than advise the act is objectionable as
tending to deal with lands that are assumed to the absolute
property of the province - an assumption which completely
ignores the honor and good faith with which the Crown has in
all other cases dealt with the various Indian Tribes."
Although the provincial law demanded disallowance, political
expedience meant looking the other way, and the federal
government fell in with the fraud of the Province of British
Columbia. The next year - 1876 - the federal government
passed the Indian Act - and thus began the long dark night of
genocide which has led to the Gustafsen Lake resistance in the
spiritual heart of the sacred Shuswap sundance grounds. This is
the dirty secret which provincial Premier Mike Harcourt and
Attorney-General Ujjal Dosanjh seek to hide.
The very survival of indigenous nationhood is at stake if
Canada's blatant colonialism is not halted immediately. All
international human rights organizations, progressives, and
media are urged to involve themselves - to force Canada to
canvas the international and impartial legal remedies provided
for by law.
Demand that the Defenders, these internationally protected
Shuswap nationals, be protected by the Paramount Law to
which Canada is pledged.
"And whereas it is just and reasonable and essential to our
interests...that the several Nations or Tribes of Indians with
who we are connected and who live under our protection...shall
not be molested or disturbed...[lands] not having been ceded to
or purchased by us are reserved to them or any of them as their
hunting grounds."
- Royal Proclamation of 1763, incorporated into the existing
Constitution of Canada
Phone, write, protest and support! To be silent is to be an
accomplice in the destruction.
URGENT ACTION NEEDED!
-.-.-.-. Your urgent protests:
Sample letter follows addresses.
**PLEASE NOTE: We have been advised that the Prime Minister
and Governor General are stopping all fax receipt on this issue
after receiving the cover sheet. So if possible do not include a
cover sheet with your fax, or if necessary write all comments
on a cover sheet only.**
Prime Minister Jean Chretien
Parliament Buildings
Ottawa, Canada
Phone: (613) 992-4211
Fax: (613) 941-6900
The Honorable Allan Rock, Minister of Justice
Parliament Buildings
Ottawa, Canada
Phone: (613) 947-5000
Parliament Office Fax: (613) 990-7225
Main Office Fax: (613) 947-4276
Riding Fax: (416) 231-2082
Governor General of Canada
His Excellency the Right Honorable Romeo Le Blanc
Rideau Hall
1 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A1 Canada
Phone: (613) 993-9530
Fax: (613) 990-7636
RCMP Public Complaints Commission Phone: 1-800-665-6878
Apparently this line is not accessible outside B.C.
Government of British Columbia - 1-800-663-7867 and ask for:
B.C. Premier Mike Harcourt who, when briefed by the police early in the
crisis, called the Sundancers terrorists. email: Premier
phone 604-387-1715, fax 604-387-0087
B.C. Attorney General, Ujjal Dosanjh, who denies that this is
about Sovereignty, land and culture, not law and order. email:
Attorney General phone 604-387-
1866, fax 604-387-6411
B.C. Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, John Cashore (still in
hiding), who should have immediately spoken out in support all
First Nations People, calling for a peaceful resolution of the
conflict. email: Aboriginal Affairs
----------sample letter---------
To: Mike Harcourt, Ujjal Dosanjh, John Cashore, RCMP Sgt. Peter
Montague
From: (name of organization)
WE HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR DEFENDERS OF THE SHUSWAP
NATION
I am writing you to demand that you do everything in your
power to ensure a just and peaceful resolution to the current
confrontation at Gustafsen Lake. Contrary to the inflammatory
images of "terrorists", "thugs", and "lunatics" conjured up by
provincial officials, the RCMP, and corporate media, the
Defenders there are acting in legitimate defence of sacred, and
unceded, Shuswap territory. They took up weapons, and
requested assistance from other sovereigntists, only when
threatened by armed groups of local whites allied with
ranching interests who spoke openly of "lynching red niggers".
The campaign of disinformation conducted by the provincial
government, RCMP, and media can only be seen as a despicable
attempt to prepare public opinion for a massacre.
We demand that in order to foreclose the possibility of a
violent solution to the present standoff, you see to it that the
following steps are taken immediately:
1) Withdraw all RCMP personnel from the immediate vicinity of
the encampment, and guarantee that there will be no RCMP
attack on the Defenders.
2) Restore the Defenders' communications links so they have
unrestricted access to people outside the camp.
3) Guarantee the Defenders free access to their lawyer, Bruce
Clark.
4) Permit delivery of supplies as needed.
5) Agree to meet with the Defenders to discuss their demands.
Supporters of the Defenders of the Shuswap Nation are
watching your actions from across Canada, the U.S. and Europe.
We hold you accountable.
Sincerely,
(name/organization)
[Thanks to Michael D. Smith, from Men Against Oppression (604-
872-4096), for text of this letter.]
-.-.-.-. Solidarity, support, and inquiries to:
Dr. Bruce Clark: (613) 741-7065; fax (613) 741-7077
Splitting The Sky: (403) 865-1784
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
VIDEO NOW AVAILABLE!
A 50-minute video with extensive coverage from inside the
camp has been released. "Defenders of the Land: The Truth
Behind the Stand at Gustafsen Lake" has just been released. The
film is an excellent source of information for people who are
looking for more information about the current crisis, or on
native sovereignty in general.
Copies are available from Roz in Vancouver, BC.
Phone: (604) 254-4459
Fax: (604) 873-4801
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
posted by
S.I.S.I.S. Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty
RING OF PEACE - SUNDANCER SIEGE UPDATE -
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1995
POLICE DECLARE HUGE 2000 square mile "NO-GO ZONE"
Today police announced the creation of a 2000 square
mile "no-go zone" in the region surrounding the Gustafsen
Lake area. Police have admitted that they can only ask
that people stay away from the area, since they can't
actually enforce a "no-go" restriction in such a large
area.
Black bear hunting season began yesterday. According to
police, the "no-go" request is aimed at keeping hunters
out of the area.
We doubt this is the real reason for attempting to clear
out the area. We fear that this is an attempt to prevent
observation of police maneuvers, clearing the way for an
police invasion.
The media reports tonight were sparse. The only other
reported news was that a few shots had been fired at the
RCMP surveillance helicopters - and that police wouldn't
confirm or deny this.
According to BCTV news, there is talk of bringing in
spiritual leaders in from BC/Ontario "to bring this to a
peaceful conclusion", but as of 7 pm it is only an
unconfirmed media report.
Given the recent ominous developments an increased call
is going out for human rights and other activists to come
to Gustafsen Lake to create a "ring of peace" between the
police line and the Gustafsen Lake encampment. We feel
that such a peacekeeping force may prevent the police
from massacring the people inside the encampment. Any
organizations *with experience* in this area who are
interested - please
, or fax c/o (604) 721-7111, labeled "Re: Shuswap peace plan".
International media are also welcome and urgently needed.
The police are trying to clear everyone out of the area -
let's make sure they are kept accountable.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
info from BCTV news, 6 pm, Sept 2
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
posted by
S.I.S.I.S. Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty
Tuesday, September 05 at 06:27 PM: Jim Wight from
wrote:
"Sept 5th/95-armoured personel carriers
Provincial and Federal Government leave Gustafsen Lake Seige in hands
of RCMP. RCMP call in three armoured personel carriers from army to
be under direction of RCMP. RCMP claim that natives shot at their
vehicles. Natives ask for cool heads to prevail. Bruce Clark being
attacked by legal profession for attack on Canadian Government as
being genocidal. His disbarment is eminent. Bruce claims that this
is a move to draw attention away from the real issue. Indeed it
matters not whether he is a lawyer or not; he is their legal council. "
Wednesday, September 06 at 04:26 PM: Ernie Yacub from
wrote:
"September 5, 1995 - 11pm
Tanks, Lap Dogs and Injunctions
Early this morning, radio reports announced that armoured personnel
vehicles were racing through the police roadblock toward the Sundancers'
camp in unceded Shuswap territory. Many feared that the final assault
had begun. After a few tense hours, the news reports began to tell a
different story. The police reported that a firefight last night in the
perimeter around the camp necessitated reinforcing their patrols with
armoured vehicles, "to protect the officers." There were no police
casualties, and no information about the defenders.
"It looks like someone with Gulf War experience is advising the RCMP,"
said Ernie Yacub in his own internet broadcast. "They have the war zone
closed up tight. The cops are feeding the media, who are dutifully
regurgitating the propaganda like lap dogs, just like they did during the
Gulf War." The police keep talking about a peaceful resolution while
stepping up their provocative actions. The tanks arrived very early in
the morning which meant that they were already close at hand. The
skirmish was most probably engineered by the police in order to justify
bringing in the tanks.
The first good news came yesterday when the Defenders announced that an
RCMP defector had joined the camp. A police dog wandered into the camp
and decided to stay. Wolverine said that the dog seemed to be quite
happy. "The dog is very well trained," he said.
Meanwhile, their attorney, Dr. Bruce Clark has filed an injunction in the
Supreme Court of Canada, pending the outcome of a scheduled September 12
court appearance to hear the argument of the constitutional question.
The motion is made on the grounds that the RCMP have no jurisdiction on
lands that have not yet been ceded to or purchased from the crown by the
Indians, except to apprehend NON-NATIVE fugitives and commiters of
offences. If the injunction is not immediately granted, it is probable
that there will be irreperable harm and possible loss of life.
Supporters from all over Canada are making their way to 100 Mile House in
the interior of British Columbia to witness the police action. A peace
camp, modeled after the one set up during the Oka crisis, is being organized.
It would appear that NDP premier Harcourt and attorney general Dosanjh,
who continues his law and order refrain, are prepared to allow the police
to starve the Defenders into submission. They have not wavered from
their demand for unconditional surrender. Who, then, are the real criminals?
- 30 -
Posted by Ernie Yacub
Thursday, September 07 at 01:26 AM: Jim Wight from Times Colonist News wrote:
"Sept 6/95
Margaret Clark, wife of Bruce Clark, the Defenders Lawyer wants the
RCMP to 'back off' until at least Sept.12 when the Supreme Court
could provide a legal case for the Gustafsen Lake natives.(Times
Colonist B3 Sept 6/95)
"We're trying to get the message out that all people in the camp
want is to be heard by an impartial, independent third-party tribunal
guaranteed under the Constitution of Canada" said Margaret Clark.
(Times Colonist B3 Sept 6/95) "
From: MATT WILSON
To:
, John Seed
Subject: Shuswap Aboriginal Nation (please advise if you got this letter)
Brisbane Indigenous Media Assn
PO Box 6229
FAIRFIELD GARDENS
4103 QLD Australia
6 September 1995
Prime Minister JEAN CHRETIEN
Parliament Buildings
OTTAWA CANADA
Dear Mr Prime Minister
land and the response from the Canadian Authorities has come to the
attention of the indigenous population of this country and it has raised
serious concerns.
Indigenous Australians are well aware of what occurred in
sovereignty
clashes at Oka between the Quebec Police and the Mohawk people in 1990. We
fear for the safety of the indigenous peoples of Canada when their
legitimate attempts to assert their land rights are met with a violent
response.
The Shuswap Nation, having never sold nor entered into any treaty over their
land, have an international entitlement to exercise their sovereign rights
over this land. We're extremely concerned the Government reply to this
assertion of their legitimate rights has been to send in a heavily armed
24-member emergency response team, dogs and helicopters to surround the
camp. The indigenous people of Australia are asking why such force is
necessary. We ask whether the situation can be resolved without resort to
this type of intimidatory tactics.
The Shuswap people have repeatedly stated they seek a peaceful resolution to
the 139 year crisis, yet they've also publicly expressed their determination
to end the colonial domination.
So far, it would appear negotiations with a people frustrated with the
bureaucratic channels of a foreign power, are extended to the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police labelling the traditional landholders "thugs". Indigenous
media groups in this country are wondering why the RCMP are negotiating with
indigenous people about land rights when it is surely the role of senior
Government officials. They ask if this is the
common practice for negotiations in your country.
As an Aboriginal media organisation with over two million Australians living
in our listening area, we watch with interest the land aspirations of our
indigenous cousins on the international stage. Meeting these aspirations
with force is not the act of a compassionate government with a fiduciary
duty to all of its citizens.
The RCMP in Gustafson Lake must cease its
tactical operations in the area and stop the harassment and intimidation of
the Shuswap people.
Your Government, as a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, must ensure the rights of the Shuswap aren't infringed in
a discriminatory manner.
The cutting of communication lines will be seen as
a breach of this convenant. These lines must be reinstalled.
Australia's indigenous population is concerned at the contravention of the
Shuswap people's fundamental human rights to legal representation. They are
entitled to and must be given access to the legal representation of their
choice.
Further to this, Canada, having retained legal connection
with
Westminster, must refer the sovereignty claims of Canada's Aboriginal
peoples to the Privy Council
for determination. It's unacceptable for a party to a claim to also
adjudicate on the matter.
We write on behalf of the Staff, Management and listeners of Brisbane
Indigenous Media Association, to let the Canadian people know, Australia's
National Indigenous Media Industry is watching the developments in your
country in respect to the indigenous aspirations for land.
We request the Shuswap concerns be treated in a manner which is
civilised, truthful and in good faith.
Yours faithfully,
Bob Anderson
CHAIRPERSON
Ross Watson Tiga Bayles
MANAGER ASST MANAGER
Bottom of Page File
----------sample letter---------
To: Mike Harcourt, Ujjal Dosanjh, John Cashore, RCMP Sgt. Peter
Montague
From: (name of organization)
WE HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR DEFENDERS OF THE SHUSWAP
NATION
I am writing you to demand that you do everything in your
power to ensure a just and peaceful resolution to the current
confrontation at Gustafsen Lake. Contrary to the inflammatory
images of "terrorists", "thugs", and "lunatics" conjured up by
provincial officials, the RCMP, and corporate media, the
Defenders there are acting in legitimate defence of sacred, and
unceded, Shuswap territory. They took up weapons, and
requested assistance from other sovereigntists, only when
threatened by armed groups of local whites allied with
ranching interests who spoke openly of "lynching red niggers".
The campaign of disinformation conducted by the provincial
government, RCMP, and media can only be seen as a despicable
attempt to prepare public opinion for a massacre.
We demand that in order to foreclose the possibility of a
violent solution to the present standoff, you see to it that the
following steps are taken immediately:
1) Withdraw all RCMP personnel from the immediate vicinity of
the encampment, and guarantee that there will be no RCMP
attack on the Defenders.
2) Restore the Defenders' communications links so they have
unrestricted access to people outside the camp.
3) Guarantee the Defenders free access to their lawyer, Bruce
Clark.
4) Permit delivery of supplies as needed.
5) Agree to meet with the Defenders to discuss their demands.
Supporters of the Defenders of the Shuswap Nation are
watching your actions from across Canada, the U.S. and Europe.
We hold you accountable.
Sincerely,
(name/organization)
[Thanks to Michael D. Smith, from Men Against Oppression (604-
872-4096), for text of this letter.]
-.-.-.-. Solidarity, support, and inquiries to:
Dr. Bruce Clark: (613) 741-7065; fax (613) 741-7077
Splitting The Sky: (403) 865-1784
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
VIDEO NOW AVAILABLE!
A 50-minute video with extensive coverage from inside the
camp has been released. "Defenders of the Land: The Truth
Behind the Stand at Gustafsen Lake" has just been released. The
film is an excellent source of information for people who are
looking for more information about the current crisis, or on
native sovereignty in general.
Copies are available from Roz in Vancouver, BC.
Phone: (604) 254-4459
Fax: (604) 873-4801
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
posted by
S.I.S.I.S. Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty