FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 29, 2004, T’kumlups, Secwepemcul’ecw

In Kamloops bc Supreme Court today, Sun Peaks Corporation, provincial prosecutor Stephen R. Harrison and bc Supreme Court Justice Lamperson issued an uncontested stay of proceedings against 3 Secwepemc Nationals who have been representing themselves; Henry Saul ( Saw – Ses ) George Manuel Jr. ( Sen XeXe7 t’e Spelqweqs ) and Arnie Jack. With a packed courtroom, Justice Lamperson gave no reason for the stay of proceedings, immediately called for a two minute recess and ran from courtroom 5B.The three were originally charged as a result of their uncompromising role to occupy, use and enjoy their un-ceded land in a month-long standoff with provincial RCMP from August 29, 2004 through to the time of their arrests at Skwelkwek’welt ( aka Sun Peaks Ski Resort ) on September 21, 2004.

During the standoff, while citing International Law and even contradictory canadian constitutional law, Saul, Manuel, and Jack maintained that they were only instruments of their traditional elder’s policy and were jointly authorized by a signed July 11, 2003, Sewepemcul’ecw Traditional Peoples Government Traditional Territorial Occupation Resolution to occupy, use and enjoy their un-ceded traditional territory in a physical effort to halt the immoral and environmentally destructive practices of Sun Peaks Corporation as dictated by their owners, Masayoshi and his father Masafumi Ohkubo, top CEO’s of Nippon Cable Inc. from Japan.

“At Skwelkwek’welt we were not protesting, we are not protesters, we were exercising our Inherent Secwepemc Title and Rights to this land and we will not stop. This is only the beginning of how we will continue to pursue a Title case within the setter governments illegal court system when they drag us to court again. Immediately filing a Notice of Constitutional Motion/Issue/Question, representing ourselves and continuing to ask for a deed will be our preferred defense from now on. It works!” George Manuel Jr. stated with a smile on his face.

In a related Sun Peaks matter, in another courtroom today in Kamloops, a Secwepemc mother of 2 young children and a member of the Native Youth Movement – Secwepemc Chapter, Niki Manuel, was found guilty of Mischief (Section 430 CCC ) stemming from June 24, 2001 at Skwelkwek’welt. A one month conditional sentence and 8 months probation was sought by the crown and granted by Justice Rohrmoser. Rohrmoser imposed conditions of a curfew, a 10 kilometre radius restriction from Sun Peaks, no camouflage and no facemasks.