The Secwepemc have issued a Sacred Water Declaration.
As noted on the Secwepemc Nation website, “The Shuswap or Secwepemc people occupy a vast territory of the interior of British Columbia. …This traditional territory stretches from the Columbia River valley along the Rocky Mountains, west to the Fraser River, and south to the Arrow Lakes. Most Secwepemc people live in the river valleys. …Before the smallpox epidemic of 1862 there were thirty Secwepemc bands. Today, there are 17 remaining bands that make up the Secwepemc Nation.”
Their Declaration states, “As Secwepemc, we are collectively responsible to take care of our land and water, to uphold all of our responsibilities and follow our Natural Laws, as was passed down to us from Tqelt Kukpi7 and our ancestors. Therefore, we will not, under any condition, compromise the health of our water and our future generations.”
It continues, “We unanimously agree that all mining is detrimental to the health of our Nations’ water. The proposed Ruddock Creek project, as well as the other proposed and existing mining projects in Secwepemculecw, unsurrendered, unceded Secwepemc Territory, is a violation against our existing Secwepemc and Natural Laws, in that our Water, Sacred Headwaters and birthing waters is at risk of being destroyed forever. …As Secwepemc, we will not accept any monies or incentives from these mining corporations wanting to mine within our Secwepeculecw boundaries.”
This Water Declaration builds on other water protection statements, notably the Fraser Declaration (signed by more than 130 First Nations in opposition to the Northern Gateway pipeline) and the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug Watershed Declaration (that protects KI lands and water from mining projects).
To read the Secwepemc Sacred Water Declaration, please go to http://noii-van.resist.ca/?p=5473.
For more on:
Efforts to stop the Ruddock Creek mining project, http://canadians.org/blog/?p=17276
The Fraser Declaration, http://canadians.org/blog/?p=13283
The KI Watershed Declaration, http://canadians.org/blog/?p=12216
