Secwepemculecw Traditional Peoples Government

PO Box 837, Chase, bc. V0E 1M0 ( 250 ) 318 4290

jrbilly@mail.ocis.net

Friday, January 28, 2005

Delivered by hand to the 17 DIA Shuswap Chiefs
Shuswap Unity Meeting, Simpcw, Secwepemculecw
REVISED JANUARY 29, 2005
Attention:
Governor General Adrienne Clarkson
Fax ( 613 ) 998 1664 info@gg.ca
Prime Minister Paul Martin
Fax ( 613 ) 941 6900 pm@pm.gc.ca
Fed. Min. of Indian Affairs Andy Scott
Fax ( 613 ) 996 9955 scotta@parl.gc.ca
bc Premier Gordon Campell
Fax ( 250 )
!7 Canadian DIA Indian Act Elected Chiefs of the Secwepemc Nation
Re:

Bonnie Leonards January 11, 2005 - Ctkwenme7iple7ten: Secwepemc Constitution

As the Traditional Government of the Secwepemc Nation, we have continuously stated

that we represent the collective 8500+ members of the Secwepemc Nation and we are
committed to protecting and exercising our inherent collective title and rights to
Secwepemculecw as entrusted to us as Secwepemc by the Old One and his helper, Seklep,
since time began.
First, some of the fundamental constitutional principles proposed in this document are
culturally acceptable and have even served in guiding our ancestors actions in their efforts to
peacefully address the issue of continued colonial encroachment into Secwepemculecw.
Acceptable principles include:
Secwepemc People have never ceded, surrendered, or in any way relinquished Secwepemc Title and will
continue to exercise Secwepemc Title to Secwepemculecw p. 3
realities of today p. 3
exercise our inherent rights of governance and provide for governance that is accessible, stable, effective,
accountable and transparent for the benefits of the people p. 3
Protect our people, land and natural resources now and in the future p. 4
Protect our Secwepemc heritage, including our customs and language p. 4
Preserve, secure and exercise all the inherent sovereign rights and powers of the nation p. 4
Demonstrate power and authority over our lands p. 4

Now, this is where any similarities in any collective, transparent Secwepemc Governance
structures end. As committed members of the Secwepemculecw Traditional Peoples
Government, we categorically reject the efforts of any federally funded group of Shuswap
People who strive to compromise these principles through the development and endorsement
of a constitution which serves canadas Department of Indian Affairs continued usurpation of
Secwepemc Jurisdiction.
In her January 12, 2005 letter to the DIA Chiefs of the nation, lawyer Bonnie Leonard
stated her constitution was a direct result of nation members input at two community

meetings. This statement has proven itself to be a blatant lie. The Unity meeting of
November 16, 2004 in Skeetchestn and the December 13, 2004 meeting at the SNTC were
only attended by a 99 % majority of chiefs and councillors. These were certainly not duly
convened nation meetings seeking community consultation and input into constitution
development.
This constitution is obviously the wish list of the chiefs and councilors trying to
maintain colonial control of their fellow members and attempting to name it something other
than the Department of Indian Affairs.
As of this day, Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, Prime Minister Paul Martin,
Federal Minister of Indian Affairs Andy Scott, bc Premier Gordon Campell and the 17 DIA
Indian Act Chiefs of the Secwepemc Nation as represented by the Shuswap Nation Tribal
Council and the Caribou Tribal Council are hereby given formal notice that the proposed
ctkwenme7iple7ten: Secwepemc Constitution dated January 11, 2005, does not have, in any way,
shape or form, our endorsement.
No foreseeable endorsement by the Secwepemculecw Traditional Peoples Government
will be forthcoming with the continued inclusion of any reference to the canadian
governments involvement in sovereign Secwepemc Nation affairs.
Many fundamental flaws embracing the canadian colonial system in Bonnie Leonards
document are considered as seriously counter productive to any nations aspirations of
extinguishing their oppressors genocidal control.
The most obvious fundamental flaws in this constitutional document being:
an eligible member is an individual who is married to one who is of Secwepemc ancestory 5.1 iii, p. 7
The Secwepemc Nation Government shall be a National Government and will represent all 17 bands
within the Secwepemc Nation territory as a whole in decisions regarding traditional lands 6.1, p. 8
each of the 17 representatives shall be selected by the Chief and Council of each respective Band and
evidence of such selection shall be provided to the SNG in the form of a Band Council Resolution 6.3,
p. 8
The Chief and Council of each Secwepemc Band shall be the only body that the SNG shall recognize with
authority to select a representative from their community to hold office in the SNG 6.5, p. 8
The SNG shall represent all Secwepemc Peoples and the Secwepemc Nation as a whole, and exercise all
of its powers regarding financial management 7.1, p.9
All meetings of the SNG shall be open to the members except when the decorum of the audience shall
prejudice orderly administration of business 7.18, p 10

The remainder of this document is for the 17 Shuswap DIA Chiefs.

If the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council and the Caribou Tribal Council are serious about
unity and realistic Secwepemc Governance, both organizations will immediately and dually
collaborate a commission with a publicly defined timeline to transparently consult and define
a long term vision of reconciliation of colonial encroachment in Secwepemculecw.
When we speak of our inherent Secwepemc Title and Rights, we have to remember that
everything flows from Secwepemc Title. We need to go back to the basis of our struggle to
have this Title and our rights respected. We need to have a political, legal, negotiation and
direct action strategy all working together first for Secwepemc Title, and if even one of these
strategies is stalled, then our entire collective agenda is stalled.

Our political strategy is compromised as evidenced by the federal and provincial

governments refusal to respect our right to occupy, use and enjoy Secwepemculecw.
Our negotiation strategy is compromised as evidenced by the provincial governments
refusal to agree who owns the ( Northern Secwepemc te Qelmuc ) land in the Williams
Lake Tribune on October 12, 2004.
Our litigation strategy is compromised as evidenced by the SNTCs and the CTCs
refusal to pursue collective Secwepemc Title litigation encompassing all of
Secwepemculecw. The 1862 Neskonlith Douglas Reserve and Harper Lake Logging specific
claim litigation fall shamefully short of this collective definition.
Our direct action strategy is compromised as evidenced by the SNTCs and the CTCs
definition of direct action being restricted to standing on the lawn at the Victoria legislature
and on the steps of the Kamloops Ministry of Forests.
As demonstrated through the actions in 2000 2004 at Skwelkwekwelt and the
sovereign 2000 2003 HARVESTING 4 HOMES in the Red Lake area, the
Secwepemculecw Traditional Peoples Government will continue to authorize and exercise
our inherent Secwepemc Title and Rights to Secwepemculecw free and clear of any Shuswap
DIA regulated regimes.
These continued Secwepemculecw Title and Rights actions will again include
Skwelkwekwelt and HARVESTING 4 HOMES but will in no way be limited to these
specific initiatives.
The Secwepemculecw Traditional Peoples Government will continue to welcome the
efforts and support of our elders, youth and individual Secwepemc Nation members.

Janice Billy,
on behalf of

Secwepemculecw Traditional Peoples Government