Band Office Occupied, Puppet "Chiefs" Evicted by Squamish Hereditary Chief Kiapilano in Vancouver
by
Siem Kiapilano of the Squamish Nation
In a sudden action this morning, Hereditary Squamish Chief Kiapilano and a dozen supporters occupied the offices of the state-funded "Squamish Band Council" in North Vancouver, and ordered the eviction of the entire band council.
This action is the latest in a series of occupations led by Chief Kiapilano to expel from his land agencies responsible for the genocide of his people.
Squamish Nation Territory ("Vancouver, Canada") - Kiapilano and his group peacefully took over the band council chambers and issued a press statement.
Last March, Kiapilano and Eagle Strong Voice (Kevin Annett)
initiated these actions by posting eviction notices on the Roman
Catholic, Anglican and United churches in downtown Vancouver, ordering
them off Squamish land.
In a statement to reporters inside the occupied band council office, Chief Kiapilano said,
- "Our people are starving, they're living in dilapidated
homes, and these so-called 'chiefs' are doing nothing for them. Now
'chief' Bill Williams has signed a deal with the province allowing
mining and destruction of more of our land. We're here today to tell
these fake leaders to leave, and we're staying here until they're gone."
Band council head Bill Williams absented himself from the
office, and was represented by band council member Byron Joseph, who
called in the RCMP and band council police after the group took over
the band council chambers.
Chief Kiapilano then ordered Byron
Joseph and his staff to leave the premises, and announced his intention
to change the locks on the building. Joseph refused to leave, as did
Kiapilano and his group.
"We're consulting our lawyers" said Byron Joseph, shortly before he and his advisers eventually left the building for lunch.
- "Chief Kiapilano has declared a common law jurisdiction
over this building, and has reclaimed it for all of his people" said
Irene Peace Kiapilano. "We call on all hereditary chiefs to do
likewise, and reclaim their land and government from a foreign
occupying power."
Further occupations of church and government buildings will
continue on June 1 and indefinitely, until those responsible for
genocide of native people are brought to justice.
Issued under the authority of hereditary Siem Kiapilano of the Squamish Nation.
Information:
www.jointhefederation.org
www.hiddenfromhistory.org
Eagle Strong Voice
1-888-265-1007 (Canada)
