We, the Secwepemc: Virtual Unity Camp to stop Transmountain Pipeline

Wish this Water Protector a Happy Birthday Saw-Sess, fast runnerstill able to Run for Clean Water. Picture taken for our Run for Clean Water ceremony. This man will appear in front of Judge in Kamloops Supreme Court March 1st 2021 at 2pm Secwepemc say No to TMX

****COMMUNITY ALERT AND MEDIA RELEASE**** Share and Distribute WIDELY TRANSMOUNTAIN PIPELINE FORCES 8 SECWEPEMC & ALLIES TO COURT... On Wednesday January 20th, 2021, Secwepemc Hereditary Chief Henry Sauls, Matriarchs Miranda Dick and April Thomas, former Transmountain Engineer Romilly Cavanaugh, and Water Protectors from allied Nations incluing Billie Pierre of N laka'pamux Nation, Heather Lamreaux, Susan Bibbing and Laura Folwer, will be forced to appear in Vancouver’s BC Supreme Court on the illegally occupied territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. The Protect Clean Water Quilt, sewn together with 90 squares from water protectors all over the world, will also travel to the courts in ceremony and as a blessing and protection for all those who are standing up to defend our Mother and enforce the Secwepemc Nation’s clear refusal of the Transmountain Pipeline through their territories. The Secwepemc have repeatedly not consented to the Transmountain pipeline that has illegally attempted construction through the violent displacement of Secwepemc Nation members, Salmon and Waters. Instead of engaging in an appropriate Nation to Nation relationship with the Secwepemc, the Canadian government has chosen instead to buy the Transmountain pipeline and criminalize members of the Secwepemc Nation who are challenging this conflict of interest and denial of sovereignty. Secwepemc patrols of the Transmountain construction sites over the last few months have observed a steady decline in activity. In October, Samatar Sahal, a worker, a father of 4 (including a newborn), was killed at Transmountain’s West Edmonton Site as a result of unsafe work conditions. Yet another worker was critically injured in December at the Burnaby site. After the pipeline was unsuccessful i n drilling under the salmon-bearing confluence of the Thompson rivers, leaving pipe stuck in the river’s bedrock, pipes are still on the ground and no work is being done on both sides of Mission Flats and Airport Side Rd. The Canadian Government’s Transmountain pipeline corporation initially misled the public and regulators by insisting zero cases of COVID19 at their worksites but are now reporting over 91 total cases, confirming fears of that COVID19 is being spread into Secwepemc and other Indigenous communities through man camps and transitional workers. The Secwepemc Nation will always act out of love for the land and protection of the water and the People. We retain our jurisdiction, our rights and responsibilities as stewards of our territories and we will be heard as a Nation, not a collection of bands or subgovernment groups. We have not consented to the construction of this Pipeline and we will continue to enact our jurisdiction, Miranda Dick. Media Contact: Miranda Dick, Secwepemc Hereditary Matriarch 250 679 1101 236 586 5182