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Resolution No. 59

Confederacy Of Nations
Resolution No. 59/2000
December 13 & 14, 2000, Ottawa Ontario

Subject:
Melvin Creek And Sun Peaks Camps

Moved By:
Chief Arthur Manuel - Shuswap Nation Tribal Council

Seconded By:
Chief Garry John -  Lillooet Tribal Council

Carried
See Resolution 67/2000

WHEREAS the St’at’imc, Secwepemc, Nlaka’pamux, Okanagan and Southern Carrier Nations, also known as the Interior Alliance, are engaged in an international market campaign in preparation of promoting a boycott of British Columbia forest products and tourism activities; and

WHEREAS the Interior Alliance international forest and tourism campaign is based upon the fact that First Nations hold Aboriginal title and rights tot heir traditional territories as a sacred grant from the Creator; and

WHEREAS as long as there are no agreements between First Nations and the Crown regarding Aboriginal title property rights, all B.C. forest products traded on the open market are ‘stolen lands’; and

WHEREAS on December 11^th 1997, the Supreme Court of Canada affirmed the existence of Aboriginal title, and found that:

• Aboriginal title encompasses the right to exclusive use and occupation of land.”
• Aboriginal title encompasses the right to choose to what uses the land can be put, subject to the ultimate limit that those uses cannot destroy the ability of the land to sustain future generations of Aboriginal peoples.”

WHEREAS the Governments of Canada and British Columbia have thus far, refused to apply the legal, constitutional principals pertaining to Aboriginal title, which are set out in the landmark Delgamuukw decision; and

WHEREAS the St’at’imc have asserted that they “are the rightful owners of (their) traditional territory and everything pertaining thereto,” and as such, are opposing a ski development proposal at Melvin Creek, British Columbia; and

WHEREAS a camp has established at the site of the proposed ski resort at Melvin Creek, British Columbia, to monitor and arrest any developments; and

WHEREAS the Secwepemc Nation at Adams Lake and Neskonlith have established a Joint Secwepemc Watershed Committee to assist in protecting and defending their Aboriginal title, rights, culture and livelihood, and

WHEREAS the Secwepemc peoples of Adams Lake and Neskonlith are concerned about the cumulative and ongoing social, cultural, economic and environmental impacts of settler encroachments on their Aboriginal title territory, particularly within their 1862 Neskonlith Douglas Reserve, and

WHEREAS the Secwepemc peoples of Adams Lake and Neskonlith have identified the Sun Peaks Ski Resort Development expansion—which is located within the 1862 Neskonlith Reserve—as a significant threat to their lands, culture and livelihood; and

WHEREAS Sun Peaks Resort has already increased the non-Secwepemc annual population in this important ecosystem, from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands of people, with more expansion planned; and

WHEREAS the Secwepemc have also established a ‘Skwelkwek’welt Camp’ at the entrance to the Sun peaks Resort Development in order to 1) bring public awareness about Secwepemc have also established a ‘Swelkwek’wek’welt Camp’ at the entrance to the Sun Peaks Resort Development in order to 1) bring public awareness about Secwepemc opposition to Resort expansion; 2) monitor and arrest Sun Peaks Resort expansion activities:

WHEREAS the St’at’imc and Secwepemc Nations have never relinquished, or extinguished their respective traditional territories, which includes the areas of Melvin Creek AND Sun Peaks;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the delegates to the AFN Confederacy of Nations, held in Ottawa on December 13, 14, 2000, hereby;

1. Support the St’at’imc Camp at Sutikallh (Melvin Creek; and

2. Support the Secwepemc Camp at Swelkwek’welt (Sun Peaks) and their position in opposing further expansion of the Sun Peaks Resort at Skwelkwek’welt (Sun Peaks); and

IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED that the Assembly of First Nations hereby endorses the Interior Alliance’s international market campaign on Forests and tourism as a toll for protecting and promoting the recognition of Aboriginal title and rights; and

IT IS FINALLY RESOLVED that the Sun Peaks Resort expansion is within the 1862 Neskonlith Douglas Reserve which has been the subject of a ongoing dispute with the Government of Canada, the Assembly of First Nations, Land Rights Unit shall be assigned to provide all technical support, and the National Chief will assist in arranging a meeting between the parties, including the Federal Minister of Indian Affairs.