(Secwepemc Territory, January 31, 2010) The Skwelkwek’welt Protection Center (SPC) rejects the results of the British Columbia government’s referendum on establishing a forced settlement municipality at Sun Peaks Ski Resort in Secwepemc territory at Skwelkwek’welt. The expansion of Sun Peaks has resulted in an ongoing battle between Sun Peaks Ski Resort and the Skwelkwek’welt Protection Center.
The Secwepemc (Shuswap) people are asserting their title and rights to their traditional territory at Cqelqletkwe (Green Lake).
On Oct. 20, elders, chiefs and spiritual people from the north and south of the Secwepemc Nation held a ceremony at Green Lake. That same day, they worked on a strategy to the proposed Green/Watch Lakes and 70 Mile area Official Community Plan (OCP).
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About Secwepemc
The Secwepemc people have always taken a strong stance in defending their Aboriginal Title from expelling gold miners that negatively affected the salmon to protesting the development of mountain ski resorts such as Sun Peaks. The laws of the Secwepemc are laid out in our traditional stories that tell us how to take care of the land, treat guests in our territory, and govern ourselves. The treatment of the Secwepemc at the hands of the settler government is described in what is known as the Laurier Memorial. The Secwepemc chiefs, along with the Okanagon and Nklapmux petitioned Sir Wilfred Laurier to address our governance and title and rights issues. Nearly one hundred years later we are still waiting for a satisfactory answer. Secwepemc Chiefs and Citizens led the fight against the Recognition Act, which would have recognized Crown Title throughout BC to the detriment of our Aboriginal Title and Jurisdiction over our lands.
