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Native resistance to the 2010 Olympics
The growing warrior movement to take back native land
The 2010 Winter Olympic Games has run into fierce Native Resistance that is snowballing and gathering momentum, as the games are scheduled to begin in just over two years. The games are scheduled to take place in un-surrendered Native (St’at’imc and Squamish) territories in February 2010.
British Columbia is what the colonizers call this vast territory in Northwestern North Amerikkka. It is home to 23 distinct Native Nations, none of which have ever given up their land to any foreigners.
In 2003 Secwepemc Elder Irene Billy and Ske7cis Manuel travelled to Europe to make a presentation in front of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stating that the Olympics should not come to British Columbia. They were ignored and Vancouver-Whistler was chosen for the games. Since then Native people and anti-poverty activists have voiced their opposition to the Olympics, but in 2006 the struggle against the Olympics took a new turn.
In honor of Native Warrior-Elder Harriet Nahanee
In early 2006 protesters blocked the expansion of the Sea-to-Sky Highway for the Olympics. The protesters were mostly made up of upper class non-Natives who did not want to see this untouched coastal rainforest destroyed for the Olympics.
Standing with the non-Native protesters was Harriet Nahanee, a Pacheedaht elder who was defending Indian Land from destruction.
The protesters were arrested in May 2006. On Jan. 24, 2007, Harriet Nahanee was sentenced to 14 days in jail by madame Justice Brenda Brown because she refused to apologize for her actions to protect her land. She was 71 years old and became very ill while in jail, where she was held in a cell with 26 women.
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British Columbia is what the colonizers call this vast territory in Northwestern North Amerikkka. It is home to 23 distinct Native Nations, none of which have ever given up their land to any foreigners.
In 2003 Secwepemc Elder Irene Billy and Ske7cis Manuel travelled to Europe to make a presentation in front of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stating that the Olympics should not come to British Columbia. They were ignored and Vancouver-Whistler was chosen for the games. Since then Native people and anti-poverty activists have voiced their opposition to the Olympics, but in 2006 the struggle against the Olympics took a new turn.
In honor of Native Warrior-Elder Harriet Nahanee
In early 2006 protesters blocked the expansion of the Sea-to-Sky Highway for the Olympics. The protesters were mostly made up of upper class non-Natives who did not want to see this untouched coastal rainforest destroyed for the Olympics.
Standing with the non-Native protesters was Harriet Nahanee, a Pacheedaht elder who was defending Indian Land from destruction.
The protesters were arrested in May 2006. On Jan. 24, 2007, Harriet Nahanee was sentenced to 14 days in jail by madame Justice Brenda Brown because she refused to apologize for her actions to protect her land. She was 71 years old and became very ill while in jail, where she was held in a cell with 26 women.
More
http://www.sfbayview.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=208&Itemid=14
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Its nice to see that the Squamish area is getting more press as a result of the Olympics. I grew up there and I happy that people from so far away have even heard of it. Unfortunately, whoever wrote this stirring tale of oppression is leaving out a few facts.
The Squamish Nation is one of the richest native bands in Canada as a result of lucky geography and good negotiations by the band council. The council was not opposed to the construction, the elder was. She chose to make her minority opinion heard and as a result went to jail - a move on her part that elevated the issue to a national/international media event. Good for her. World opinion is shaped by the brave acts of leaders willing to put themselves on the line and I applaud her for her convictions.
While the Elder was in jail she was examined for pneumonia-like symptoms and the physicians discovered she had late term cancer - she died shortly after. That is sad but at least while she was alive she had made her convictions public despite whatever deals the local band council was making.
Some more information about the local native groups. They recently became the recipients of the largest piece of undeveloped land in the Whislter area (including some very nice, pristine forest) and are currently interested in developing it as a golf course and housing development. The land was clearly given as a bribe. As both sides have stated, treaty negotiations were not affected by this massive transfer of property. It's obviously hush money for the Olympics.
The local town council has already said no to the proposed development by the native-owned land corporation because they want to preserve green space in the area, but with the Olympics coming up I am sure any threats of protests by the Nation will be a big enough stick to push it through. The local natives were also recently able to build a massive native-themed conference centre for Whistler with the help of government money. Its quite nice. You can read articles about both of these developments in the local Whistler newspaper archives or by doing a quick Google search.
So while the Squamish nation is still negotiating a treaty with the federal government for their 'unsurrendered land' they are making out quite well because of the Olympics and some skilled negotiations on their part. A few lone 'warriors' may be making the news by protesting but I am sure that as the Olympics draws near the Squamish nation's leaders will continue to conduct buisness as usual and rack up a much bigger bank account for their constituents as a result. Good for them. Let's just open our eyes to it rather than wrapping the issue in overblown rhetoric and the shrouds of the honourable dead.
The Squamish Nation is one of the richest native bands in Canada as a result of lucky geography and good negotiations by the band council. The council was not opposed to the construction, the elder was. She chose to make her minority opinion heard and as a result went to jail - a move on her part that elevated the issue to a national/international media event. Good for her. World opinion is shaped by the brave acts of leaders willing to put themselves on the line and I applaud her for her convictions.
While the Elder was in jail she was examined for pneumonia-like symptoms and the physicians discovered she had late term cancer - she died shortly after. That is sad but at least while she was alive she had made her convictions public despite whatever deals the local band council was making.
Some more information about the local native groups. They recently became the recipients of the largest piece of undeveloped land in the Whislter area (including some very nice, pristine forest) and are currently interested in developing it as a golf course and housing development. The land was clearly given as a bribe. As both sides have stated, treaty negotiations were not affected by this massive transfer of property. It's obviously hush money for the Olympics.
The local town council has already said no to the proposed development by the native-owned land corporation because they want to preserve green space in the area, but with the Olympics coming up I am sure any threats of protests by the Nation will be a big enough stick to push it through. The local natives were also recently able to build a massive native-themed conference centre for Whistler with the help of government money. Its quite nice. You can read articles about both of these developments in the local Whistler newspaper archives or by doing a quick Google search.
So while the Squamish nation is still negotiating a treaty with the federal government for their 'unsurrendered land' they are making out quite well because of the Olympics and some skilled negotiations on their part. A few lone 'warriors' may be making the news by protesting but I am sure that as the Olympics draws near the Squamish nation's leaders will continue to conduct buisness as usual and rack up a much bigger bank account for their constituents as a result. Good for them. Let's just open our eyes to it rather than wrapping the issue in overblown rhetoric and the shrouds of the honourable dead.
Its nice to see that the Squamish area is getting more press as a result of the Olympics. I grew up there and I happy that people from so far away have even heard of it. Unfortunately, whoever wrote this stirring tale of oppression is leaving out a few facts.
The Squamish Nation is one of the richest native bands in Canada as a result of lucky geography and good negotiations by the band council. The council was not opposed to the construction, the elder was. She chose to make her minority opinion heard and as a result went to jail - a move on her part that elevated the issue to a national/international media event. Good for her. World opinion is shaped by the brave acts of leaders willing to put themselves on the line and I applaud her for her convictions.
While the Elder was in jail she was examined for pneumonia-like symptoms and the physicians discovered she had late term cancer - she died shortly after. That is sad but at least while she was alive she had made her convictions public despite whatever deals the local band council was making.
Some more information about the local native groups. They recently became the recipients of the largest piece of undeveloped land in the Whislter area (including some very nice, pristine forest) and are currently interested in developing it as a golf course and housing development. The land was clearly given as a bribe. As both sides have stated, treaty negotiations were not affected by this massive transfer of property. It's obviously hush money for the Olympics.
The local town council has already said no to the proposed development by the native-owned land corporation because they want to preserve green space in the area, but with the Olympics coming up I am sure any threats of protests by the Nation will be a big enough stick to push it through. The local natives were also recently able to build a massive native-themed conference centre for Whistler with the help of government money. Its quite nice. You can read articles about both of these developments in the local Whistler newspaper archives or by doing a quick Google search.
So while the Squamish nation is still negotiating a treaty with the federal government for their 'unsurrendered land' they are making out quite well because of the Olympics and some skilled negotiations on their part. A few lone 'warriors' may be making the news by protesting but I am sure that as the Olympics draws near the Squamish nation's leaders will continue to conduct buisness as usual and rack up a much bigger bank account for their constituents as a result. Good for them. Let's just open our eyes to it rather than wrapping the issue in overblown rhetoric and the shrouds of the honourable dead.
The Squamish Nation is one of the richest native bands in Canada as a result of lucky geography and good negotiations by the band council. The council was not opposed to the construction, the elder was. She chose to make her minority opinion heard and as a result went to jail - a move on her part that elevated the issue to a national/international media event. Good for her. World opinion is shaped by the brave acts of leaders willing to put themselves on the line and I applaud her for her convictions.
While the Elder was in jail she was examined for pneumonia-like symptoms and the physicians discovered she had late term cancer - she died shortly after. That is sad but at least while she was alive she had made her convictions public despite whatever deals the local band council was making.
Some more information about the local native groups. They recently became the recipients of the largest piece of undeveloped land in the Whislter area (including some very nice, pristine forest) and are currently interested in developing it as a golf course and housing development. The land was clearly given as a bribe. As both sides have stated, treaty negotiations were not affected by this massive transfer of property. It's obviously hush money for the Olympics.
The local town council has already said no to the proposed development by the native-owned land corporation because they want to preserve green space in the area, but with the Olympics coming up I am sure any threats of protests by the Nation will be a big enough stick to push it through. The local natives were also recently able to build a massive native-themed conference centre for Whistler with the help of government money. Its quite nice. You can read articles about both of these developments in the local Whistler newspaper archives or by doing a quick Google search.
So while the Squamish nation is still negotiating a treaty with the federal government for their 'unsurrendered land' they are making out quite well because of the Olympics and some skilled negotiations on their part. A few lone 'warriors' may be making the news by protesting but I am sure that as the Olympics draws near the Squamish nation's leaders will continue to conduct buisness as usual and rack up a much bigger bank account for their constituents as a result. Good for them. Let's just open our eyes to it rather than wrapping the issue in overblown rhetoric and the shrouds of the honourable dead.
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