Here are some pictures that I took today at Skwelkwek'welt when we were having a camp fire chat. It was good to hear the Elders both in the meeting and privately. It is clear that what is being built here despite government pressure is a peoples movement.

It is clear that we have gone beyond the scope of being a demonstration to becoming an occupation of traditional territory. It is clear in our minds that the federal and provincial government do not recognize our Aboriginal title but this does not mean that we should also not recognize our Aboriginal title.

These lands are ours and the Supreme Court of Canada recognizes these inherent rights and the Canadian Constitution also protects these rights. Indeed, the only way in which the federal and provincial governments will recognize our Aboriginal title to our lands depends are our political strength and determination.

In fact it is good that the Native Youth are leading us in this struggle because it is the Native Youth who need lands and resources.It is clear that municipalities expand according to our needs but our reserves remain static. It is the young people who need lands and resources. I think that all our unemployed Native Youth should get out on the land this summer. I think getting out on the land will be the basis for building for their future.

Today I took the opportunity to thank the two Elders and the 14 Native Youth that gave up their personal liberty for our collective freedom. I thanked them for occupying the British Columbia Assets and Lands Corporation (BCAL) and for having the courage to be arrested to defend our right to be free in our traditional territory.

The occupation of our traditional territory at Skwelkwek'welt is more than a demonstration because it is an occupation of our lands. I think that in this sense it is a model for building a series of freedom camps. I think that the more freedom camps we build the more difficult it will be for the federal and provincial governments to ignore the fact that we do own our lands and our resources.

Our warriors are our freedom fighters. Let us not be content with the restrictions of our reserves but enjoy the full wealth of our traditional territories. Let us be strong. Let us unite around our! lands. (Don Moses of the All Nations Party joined the peoples of Skwelkwek'welt.)

Chief Arthur Manuel,
Neskonlith