May 26, 2001

The new British Columbia government's cabinet ministers hadn't even been sworn-in yet when Gordon Campbell's -we've got no treaty work to do- civil servants of the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs (MAA) launched legal action against Aboriginal people.

(By the way, did you know MAA won a prestigious public service award for all their good work in making 'progress' with Aboriginals and the BC Treaty Process?)

Rather than sit down and discuss the issues with the peaceful protestors, the MAA escalation strategy was to go for a court injunction. 16 Native youth protestors were arrested May 25th after a three day occupation of a provincial government office in Kamloops. Criminal contempt and other charges were laid for defying the court injunction.

Members of the Native Youth Movement (NYM) occupied the BC Assets and Lands office to protest against the continued sale of 'Crown Land' without proper consideration of First Nations' Aboriginal Rights.

The protestors called for an end to all sales of crown land on First Nation traditional territories until Aboriginal Rights and Title issues are addressed, "As a provincial crown company, British Columbia Assets and Land Corporation must radically change its policies to recognize and implement our Aboriginal Title and Rights. Both the provincial and federal governments must uphold their own laws in respect to Aboriginal Rights and Title. BC and Canada must stop violating our Human Rights and stop the theft of our homelands".

Most First Nation leaders stayed silent, despite the fact this is at the heart of their own concerns - loss of land and resources.

It might be argued the government's 'interim measures' are supposed to address this problem. But of course they're attached to the BC Treaty Process - a likely candidate for the mothball museum.

In a media advisory, the NYM's message was familiar to freedom fighters and anyone defending and protecting traditional territories, "In 1997, the Supreme Court of Canada's Delgamuukw decision confirmed that our Aboriginal Title and Rights are protected by section 35 of the Constitution Act 1982. In spite of this, the Canadian government refuses to recognize, affirm and implement Aboriginal Title, and British Columbia continues to assume 100% jurisdiction over lands and resources on the Territories of the 23 Indigenous Nations in British Columbia. Both the provincial and federal government continue to ignore our legal property rights to our Indigenous Territories".

The NYM protest was supported publicly by Chief Arthur Manuel and the leadership of the Neskonlith Indian Band, and Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs.

However, armed with an apparent abundance of patience and 'another' approach, at least one local chief, Bonnie Leonard of the Kamloops Indian Band spoke out against the youth action. Since her election she has called for more negotiations and relationship building between First Nations and non-Aboriginal local, provincial and federal governments.

Chief Leonard and other Kamloops area Native leaders were among those who also opposed the tactics of chiefs Manuel and Phillip during the Much Music - Sun Peaks ski resort protest earlier this year. The Native Youth Movement also supported that Secwepemc 'traditionals' protest, one that is not over yet.

The real news from the Kamloops protest is that despite the Ministry of Aboriginal Affair's antagonistic approach - organizers Amanda Soper, Nicole Manuel and other NYM members staged a legitimate, meaningful, peaceful protest. When arrested they did not resist.