And now:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (S.I.S.I.S.) writes:
Canadian Federation of Students Media Release
FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION Wednesday, March 24, 1999
STUDENTS JOIN GROWING CAMPAIGN FOR INQUIRY INTO
USE OF FORCE AT GUSTAFSEN LAKE, 1995
OTTAWA – Today, the Federation announces it has joined the call for
justice for the Shuswap First Nation and the members of the Sundance camp
at Gustafsen Lake, 1995, where the police and military used unprecedented
and unnecessary force to end the conflict.
"From Oka to Ipperwash to Gustafsen Lake, the Federal and provincial
governments have shown time and again that justice for First Nations is not
part of their program," said Charlene Green, Aboriginal National Executive
Representative.
"Students are determined to push the Minister of Indian Affairs, Jane
Stewart, to fulfil her responsibility to Aboriginal peoples. She has the
power to order an investigation into why the RCMP conducted the largest
paramilitary offensive in Canadian history in order to remove a small group
of people who were occupying unceded land," said Jennifer Story, National
Deputy Chairperson.
In June of 1995, members of the Shuswap nation gathered near Gustafsen
Lake, British Columbia to practice a traditional Sundance ceremony. The
Sundance site was a portion of some 922 hectares to which, without the
consent of the Shuswap nation, American rancher Lyle James had been granted
grazing rights. When James attempted to evict the Sundance campers from
their unceded land, the Sundance camp made clear their intention to stay.
For the next three months, they were subjected to a campaign of legal,
psychological, physical and military intimidation, from James and his
ranchers, the RCMP, the military and the government.
By the time Shuswap defenders left the Sundance camp on September 17,
some 77,000 rounds of ammunition had been spent. As well, helicopters,
armoured personnel carriers, video surveillance, M-16's and land mines were
used by the RCMP.
After a 10-month trial that included police openly admitting to a
"smear and disinformation campaign" against the Ts'Peten Defenders and
their supporters, guilty verdicts were returned against 15 people.
Since then, dozens of organizations throughout Canada and the United
States have been calling on the provincial and federal governments for an
inquiry. The Federation first joined the campaign at its general meeting
last November by unanimous motion of the membership.
-30-
For more information please contact the Federation at 232-7394
Simone Saint-Pierre, Communications Coordinator, ext. 23 or
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Jennifer Story, National Deputy Chairperson, ext 13, or [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Charlene Green, Aboriginal National Executive Representative, (705)
748-1000 or [EMAIL PROTECTED]
The Canadian Federation of Students, Canada's national student
movement, is comprised of more than 400,000 students at over 60 colleges
and universities.
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S.I.S.I.S. Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty
P.O. Box 8673, Victoria, "B.C." "Canada" V8X 3S2
EMAIL : <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
WWW: http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/SISmain.html
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