(Kamloops) This United Nations International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples marks the 10th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). UNDRIP was seen as a major milestone with respect to the cooperation and solidarity between indigenous peoples and Member States. As the newly formed BC Government prepares to implement itself, founded on support for the UNDRIP, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls to action and Tsilhqot’in Court decision, the results of an inadequate EA Legislation Process have been shared for public comment. SSN stand behind our decision and to this end will sharing our library of documents and reports with the public. SSN’s review process took leaps and bounds to fill many of the gaps in achieving the implementation of UNDRIP, but how the EA Process will respect the SSN’s Decision to withhold its Free, Prior, and Informed Consent remains a question.

“We continue to stand steadfast in our decision. It came from 18-month review of over 20,000 pages of information and over 300 reports including the KGHM Environmental Impact Statement / Application. It also included a public comment and question period during Spring 2016 in lead up to our oral panel hearing. We had nearly 300 individuals submit public questions and comments to us and heard from over 80 experts at our hearing. These were part of our deliberation process for our panel of community members as well as for the SSN Joint Council. Our process has shown that this project will be detrimental and too risky for the health and well-being of our Secwepemc and non-Secwepemc communities.” – Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc Chief Fred Seymour

“We are two small communities committed to the well-being of our members as well as those of our guests. Even with the stress of Skeetchestn being under evacuation order and Tk’emlúps being an exceptional host to Indigenous and non-Indigenous wildfire evacuees, we continue to ensure that our collective knowledge of the land and our decision regarding its stewardship is heard. We say, “Me7e Pípsell, Ta7a Ajax, Yes Pípsell, No Ajax- for the health and well-being of everyone who resides in our traditional territory for today and generations to come.” – Skeetchestn Chief Ron Ignace

Stk’emlúpsemc te Secwépemc Nation (SSN)
PO Box 188, 1030 Trans Canada Hwy.
Savona, BC V0K 2J0

Represented by the Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc and the Skeetchestn Band
We do not have a mandate, we have a responsibility We are yecminme7

Web: stkemlups.ca/process – Facebook: StkemlupsemcSSN – Twitter: @Stkemlups_SSN