Post by blackcrowheart on Mar 31, 2008 14:05:06 GMT -5
Kevin Annett replies to media claims
18 March, 2008
4:00 pm PST
MEDIA ADVISORY
Kevin Annett replies to media claims of "disruption" of church service in
Vancouver and the statement of Bill Williams of the Squamish nation
Vancouver, Squamish Nation territory:
In response to claims that our action last Sunday "disrupted" services at
Holy Rosary cathedral, and that an element of the Squamish band leadership
disagrees with our action, I wish to make the following statement:
1. At no time have I claimed or attempted to "speak for the Squamish
nation", as Squamish band chief Bill Williams has alleged. In participating in the
memorial vigil at Holy Rosary Cathedral last Sunday, March 16, I have spoken
and acted solely under the authority of hereditary Squamish Chief Kiapilano
and not as a spokesperson for the Squamish Nation. My aim was and is to speak
to my own Euro-Canadian culture and its churches, and to urge them to take
responsibility for the deaths of chidlren in their Indian residential schools.
2. Despite the distorted portrayal of our action by some media as a
"disruption" of the mass at Holy Rosary, in reality our action was peaceful,
respectful, and an integrated part of the service itself following a verbal welcoming
of us by presiding priest Rev. Glen Dion. Lasting barely ten minutes, our
action consisted of a silent procession to the front of the church, where we
were welcomed by Rev. Dion and where we stood in silent prayer. We then left
the church sanctuary, led by aboriginal elders and Chief Kiapilano, at which
point the entire congregation stood as we passed. At no time did we slow the
progression of the mass or interrupt its normal functioning. Further, at no
point prior to or during our action did police or church staff interfere with
our action, or warn us not to enter the church sanctuary.
3. We welcome the public discussion generated by our action, which was taken
solely because of the refusal of Archbishop Raymond Roussin of Holy Rosary
Cathedral to answer our Letter of January 13, 2008, asking him to help identify
the burial sites of children who died in local Catholic Indian Residential
Schools. To resolve this issue amicably, we are willing to meet with
Archbishop Roussin at any time to discuss our concerns. Failing such a meeting, our
actions will continue. We invite all aboriginal people and members of the
Squamish Nation, along with Chief Bill Williams, to join us in this effort to
bring home the children who died in Indian residential Schools, and to bring to
justice those persons responsible for their deaths.
Kevin D. Annett (Eagle Strong Voice)
Friends and Relatives of the Disappeared (National Committee)
253 B East Hastings St.
Vancouver, BC
V6A 1P4
ph: 1-888-265-1007
email: _hiddenfromhistory@yahoo.ca_ (mailto:hiddenfromhistory@yahoo.ca)
-----
Previous posts at _www.hiddenfromhistory.org_
(http://www.hiddenfromhistory.org/) :
Aboriginal People Occupy Catholic Church in Vancouver, Issue Eviction Notice
Squamish Territory ("Vancouver, Canada")
2:30 pm PST, 16 March, 2008
Led by Hereditary Squamish Chief Kiapilano, fifty people occupied Holy
Rosary Catholic Church in downtown Vancouver this morning in the midst of a high
mass, and issued an Eviction Notice to the Roman Catholic Church. (See Public
Declaration, below)
Triggered by the refusal of the Catholic Church leaders to reply to a Letter
of Demand asking that they identify the buried location of children who died
in their Indian Residential Schools, the occupation surprised the
church-goers, who sat silently as the procession of residential school survivors,
elders, and their supporters walked quietly to the front of the church sanctuary
and stood facing them with a banner that read "All the Children Need a Proper
Burial."
Despite physical intimidation by one of the officiating priests, the group
stood its ground, and distributed copies of the Eviction Order to the
congregants. Acting under the authority of Chief Kiapilano, Kevin Annett Eagle
Strong Voice handed an original copy of the Eviction Order to presiding priest
Glen Dion. The group then began drumming, and, led by the elders and Chief
Kiapilano, slowly proceeded out of the sanctuary as the congregegants stood up.
Outside the church, the group gathered again, where Chief Kiapilano and
others spoke.
"I'm Chief Kiapilano. I'm one of the survivors of the Catholic schools. They
used every method to shut me up, but I'm still here. We've got to stand up
and put these people out."
The crowd roared.
"They now have 72 hours to get off Squamish territory" said Kevin Annett to
the crowd. "I hope you'll all come back next Sunday to help enforce this
eviction order. That's Easter Sunday, when they celebrate the resurrection of
Jesus. Well, we'll be here to witness the resurrection of the Squamish Nation."
William Combes, a survivor of the Catholic residential schools in Mission
and Kamloops, B.C., spoke to the crowd.
"In the residential school I witnessed murders, burials, you name it. But
the truth's going to prevail over their lies"
Chief Red Jacket of the Seneca Nation said,
"it's long overdue, that this land be given back to Chief Kiapilano, its
rightful owner. If I was caught with stolen goods, I'd be taken to jail. Why
isn't this happening here?".
"I would like to reaffirm Chief Kiapilano's hereditary title" said an
aboriginal man who came from Vancouver Island to be pasrt of the occupation. "It's
the first time I've seen someone serve an eviction notice on a church. I'm
really proud to be here. I will pass this on to my children and grandchildren".
The crowd roared once more.
Led by the elders, the group then proceeded to Christ Church Anglican
Cathedral and St. Andrew's Wesley United Church, where the same Eviction Order was
posted on their front doors.
Despite the noticeable absence of aboriginal media, the event was covered by
local and national television and radio stations.
A similar occupation occurred at two churches in downtown Toronto the same
morning, and was reported in the Toronto Star and Sun newspapers. At one of
the occupied churches, St. James Anglican, the protestors were physically
accosted by parishioners and their banner was torn.
Chief Kiapilano's group is disseminating the Eviction Order to the nearly
300 Catholic, Anglican and United churches on his territory, throughout
Vancouver. They plan to return next Sunday to open up Holy Rosary church and others
to the hungry and homeless, and to release more evidence of mass murders in
Indian Residential Schools.
"I'm only doing what should have been done long ago" declared Chief
Kiapilano.
For more information:
_www.jointhefederation.com_ (http://www.jointhefederation.com/)
_www.hiddenfromhistory.org_ (http://www.hiddenfromhistory.org/)
..............................................................................
...................................
Public Declaration and Press Statement
On the Land of the Squamish Nation –
March 16, 2008
I am Kevin Annett Eagle Strong Voice, and I have been authorized by
Hereditary Squamish Chief Kiapilano to make the following Declaration.
As of today, March 16, 2008, the Roman Catholic, Anglican and United
Churches of Canada operating in the territory of the Squamish Nation have been
ordered permanently off that territory by Chief Kiapilano, under the authority of
his traditional tribal law.
Chief Kiapilano has evicted these churches from his territory because of
their illegal trespass and occupation of his land, their failure to pay his
Nation rent or acknowledgement for more than a century, their responsibility for
the deaths of thousands of children in their Indian Residential Schools, and
their refusal to return the bodies of these children and surrender those
responsible for their deaths.
This Eviction Notice gives these churches 72 hours to remove their
belongings from the nearly three hundred buildings owned and operated by them in
Squamish territory, which encompasses all of Vancouver and the north shore and
outlying territories. After this three day period, Chief Kiapilano and his
allies will peacefully occupy and take over these buildings, and open them as
sanctuaries for homeless and hungry people.
Therefore, as of 10:00 am, March 19, 2008, PST, the buildings of the three
corporations known as the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church of Canada,
and the United Church of Canada, will belong to the Squamish Nation, and
these church corporations will no longer be recognized by us.
This Eviction Notice also empowers me, Kevin Annett Eagle Strong Voice, and
bumociates, to take this measure of occupation and to conduct on Squamish
Nation territory an independent inquiry into crimes in Indian Residential
Schools, including by locating and returning the buried remains of children who
died in residential schools run by these church corporations.
As part of this inquiry, the church buildings that will be occupied by
Squamish Nation members will be opened to the public as a venue for the convening
of this independent inquiry, to which we will invite international observers
and the media in order to share our findings.
Finally, it is the aim of this campaign to bring to justice those persons
responsible for the crime against humanity known as the Indian Residential
School system, and therefore we will be establishing Indigenous Courts of Justice
on Squamish Nation territory where those accused of such crimes will be
brought for trial and sentencing.
We take these actions as a clear Declaration of our sovereignty as a Nation,
for the cause of final justice, and for the healing of all nations burdened
by the legacy of genocide. We therefore call upon all people of conscience to
join us in this struggle, under the guidance of a loving and just Creator,
to whom we commit our lives and our mutual honour.
Kevin Annett Eagle Strong Voice
Copies of this Declaration have been issued to the world media, governments,
and indigenous nations, and have been posted, alongside Chief Kiapilano’s
Declaration, at many Catholic, Anglican and United churches across Turtle
Island.
Information:
_www.jointhefederation.com_ (http://www.jointhefederation.com/)
_www.hiddenfromhistory.org_ (http://www.hiddenfromhistory.org/)
Read and Hear the truth of Genocide in Canada, past and present, at this
website: _www.hiddenfromhistory.org_ (http://www.hiddenfromhistory.org/)
“Kevin is more deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize than many who have
received it in the past.â€
- Dr. Noam Chomsky
Institute Professor Emeritus
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
“A courageous and inspiring man." (referring to Kevin Annett)
- Mairead Corrigan-Maguire
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
Belfast , Northern Ireland
The very lands we all along enjoyed
they ravished from the people they destroyed ...
All the long pretenses of descent
are shams of right to prop up government.
' Tis all invasion, usurpation all;
' Tis all by fraud and force that we possess,
and length of time can make no crime the less;
Religion's always on the strongest side.
Daniel Defoe, Jure Divino (England, 1706)
-----
web: _www.hiddenfromhistory.org_ (http://www.hiddenfromhistory.org/)
18 March, 2008
4:00 pm PST
MEDIA ADVISORY
Kevin Annett replies to media claims of "disruption" of church service in
Vancouver and the statement of Bill Williams of the Squamish nation
Vancouver, Squamish Nation territory:
In response to claims that our action last Sunday "disrupted" services at
Holy Rosary cathedral, and that an element of the Squamish band leadership
disagrees with our action, I wish to make the following statement:
1. At no time have I claimed or attempted to "speak for the Squamish
nation", as Squamish band chief Bill Williams has alleged. In participating in the
memorial vigil at Holy Rosary Cathedral last Sunday, March 16, I have spoken
and acted solely under the authority of hereditary Squamish Chief Kiapilano
and not as a spokesperson for the Squamish Nation. My aim was and is to speak
to my own Euro-Canadian culture and its churches, and to urge them to take
responsibility for the deaths of chidlren in their Indian residential schools.
2. Despite the distorted portrayal of our action by some media as a
"disruption" of the mass at Holy Rosary, in reality our action was peaceful,
respectful, and an integrated part of the service itself following a verbal welcoming
of us by presiding priest Rev. Glen Dion. Lasting barely ten minutes, our
action consisted of a silent procession to the front of the church, where we
were welcomed by Rev. Dion and where we stood in silent prayer. We then left
the church sanctuary, led by aboriginal elders and Chief Kiapilano, at which
point the entire congregation stood as we passed. At no time did we slow the
progression of the mass or interrupt its normal functioning. Further, at no
point prior to or during our action did police or church staff interfere with
our action, or warn us not to enter the church sanctuary.
3. We welcome the public discussion generated by our action, which was taken
solely because of the refusal of Archbishop Raymond Roussin of Holy Rosary
Cathedral to answer our Letter of January 13, 2008, asking him to help identify
the burial sites of children who died in local Catholic Indian Residential
Schools. To resolve this issue amicably, we are willing to meet with
Archbishop Roussin at any time to discuss our concerns. Failing such a meeting, our
actions will continue. We invite all aboriginal people and members of the
Squamish Nation, along with Chief Bill Williams, to join us in this effort to
bring home the children who died in Indian residential Schools, and to bring to
justice those persons responsible for their deaths.
Kevin D. Annett (Eagle Strong Voice)
Friends and Relatives of the Disappeared (National Committee)
253 B East Hastings St.
Vancouver, BC
V6A 1P4
ph: 1-888-265-1007
email: _hiddenfromhistory@yahoo.ca_ (mailto:hiddenfromhistory@yahoo.ca)
-----
Previous posts at _www.hiddenfromhistory.org_
(http://www.hiddenfromhistory.org/) :
Aboriginal People Occupy Catholic Church in Vancouver, Issue Eviction Notice
Squamish Territory ("Vancouver, Canada")
2:30 pm PST, 16 March, 2008
Led by Hereditary Squamish Chief Kiapilano, fifty people occupied Holy
Rosary Catholic Church in downtown Vancouver this morning in the midst of a high
mass, and issued an Eviction Notice to the Roman Catholic Church. (See Public
Declaration, below)
Triggered by the refusal of the Catholic Church leaders to reply to a Letter
of Demand asking that they identify the buried location of children who died
in their Indian Residential Schools, the occupation surprised the
church-goers, who sat silently as the procession of residential school survivors,
elders, and their supporters walked quietly to the front of the church sanctuary
and stood facing them with a banner that read "All the Children Need a Proper
Burial."
Despite physical intimidation by one of the officiating priests, the group
stood its ground, and distributed copies of the Eviction Order to the
congregants. Acting under the authority of Chief Kiapilano, Kevin Annett Eagle
Strong Voice handed an original copy of the Eviction Order to presiding priest
Glen Dion. The group then began drumming, and, led by the elders and Chief
Kiapilano, slowly proceeded out of the sanctuary as the congregegants stood up.
Outside the church, the group gathered again, where Chief Kiapilano and
others spoke.
"I'm Chief Kiapilano. I'm one of the survivors of the Catholic schools. They
used every method to shut me up, but I'm still here. We've got to stand up
and put these people out."
The crowd roared.
"They now have 72 hours to get off Squamish territory" said Kevin Annett to
the crowd. "I hope you'll all come back next Sunday to help enforce this
eviction order. That's Easter Sunday, when they celebrate the resurrection of
Jesus. Well, we'll be here to witness the resurrection of the Squamish Nation."
William Combes, a survivor of the Catholic residential schools in Mission
and Kamloops, B.C., spoke to the crowd.
"In the residential school I witnessed murders, burials, you name it. But
the truth's going to prevail over their lies"
Chief Red Jacket of the Seneca Nation said,
"it's long overdue, that this land be given back to Chief Kiapilano, its
rightful owner. If I was caught with stolen goods, I'd be taken to jail. Why
isn't this happening here?".
"I would like to reaffirm Chief Kiapilano's hereditary title" said an
aboriginal man who came from Vancouver Island to be pasrt of the occupation. "It's
the first time I've seen someone serve an eviction notice on a church. I'm
really proud to be here. I will pass this on to my children and grandchildren".
The crowd roared once more.
Led by the elders, the group then proceeded to Christ Church Anglican
Cathedral and St. Andrew's Wesley United Church, where the same Eviction Order was
posted on their front doors.
Despite the noticeable absence of aboriginal media, the event was covered by
local and national television and radio stations.
A similar occupation occurred at two churches in downtown Toronto the same
morning, and was reported in the Toronto Star and Sun newspapers. At one of
the occupied churches, St. James Anglican, the protestors were physically
accosted by parishioners and their banner was torn.
Chief Kiapilano's group is disseminating the Eviction Order to the nearly
300 Catholic, Anglican and United churches on his territory, throughout
Vancouver. They plan to return next Sunday to open up Holy Rosary church and others
to the hungry and homeless, and to release more evidence of mass murders in
Indian Residential Schools.
"I'm only doing what should have been done long ago" declared Chief
Kiapilano.
For more information:
_www.jointhefederation.com_ (http://www.jointhefederation.com/)
_www.hiddenfromhistory.org_ (http://www.hiddenfromhistory.org/)
..............................................................................
...................................
Public Declaration and Press Statement
On the Land of the Squamish Nation –
March 16, 2008
I am Kevin Annett Eagle Strong Voice, and I have been authorized by
Hereditary Squamish Chief Kiapilano to make the following Declaration.
As of today, March 16, 2008, the Roman Catholic, Anglican and United
Churches of Canada operating in the territory of the Squamish Nation have been
ordered permanently off that territory by Chief Kiapilano, under the authority of
his traditional tribal law.
Chief Kiapilano has evicted these churches from his territory because of
their illegal trespass and occupation of his land, their failure to pay his
Nation rent or acknowledgement for more than a century, their responsibility for
the deaths of thousands of children in their Indian Residential Schools, and
their refusal to return the bodies of these children and surrender those
responsible for their deaths.
This Eviction Notice gives these churches 72 hours to remove their
belongings from the nearly three hundred buildings owned and operated by them in
Squamish territory, which encompasses all of Vancouver and the north shore and
outlying territories. After this three day period, Chief Kiapilano and his
allies will peacefully occupy and take over these buildings, and open them as
sanctuaries for homeless and hungry people.
Therefore, as of 10:00 am, March 19, 2008, PST, the buildings of the three
corporations known as the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church of Canada,
and the United Church of Canada, will belong to the Squamish Nation, and
these church corporations will no longer be recognized by us.
This Eviction Notice also empowers me, Kevin Annett Eagle Strong Voice, and
bumociates, to take this measure of occupation and to conduct on Squamish
Nation territory an independent inquiry into crimes in Indian Residential
Schools, including by locating and returning the buried remains of children who
died in residential schools run by these church corporations.
As part of this inquiry, the church buildings that will be occupied by
Squamish Nation members will be opened to the public as a venue for the convening
of this independent inquiry, to which we will invite international observers
and the media in order to share our findings.
Finally, it is the aim of this campaign to bring to justice those persons
responsible for the crime against humanity known as the Indian Residential
School system, and therefore we will be establishing Indigenous Courts of Justice
on Squamish Nation territory where those accused of such crimes will be
brought for trial and sentencing.
We take these actions as a clear Declaration of our sovereignty as a Nation,
for the cause of final justice, and for the healing of all nations burdened
by the legacy of genocide. We therefore call upon all people of conscience to
join us in this struggle, under the guidance of a loving and just Creator,
to whom we commit our lives and our mutual honour.
Kevin Annett Eagle Strong Voice
Copies of this Declaration have been issued to the world media, governments,
and indigenous nations, and have been posted, alongside Chief Kiapilano’s
Declaration, at many Catholic, Anglican and United churches across Turtle
Island.
Information:
_www.jointhefederation.com_ (http://www.jointhefederation.com/)
_www.hiddenfromhistory.org_ (http://www.hiddenfromhistory.org/)
Read and Hear the truth of Genocide in Canada, past and present, at this
website: _www.hiddenfromhistory.org_ (http://www.hiddenfromhistory.org/)
“Kevin is more deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize than many who have
received it in the past.â€
- Dr. Noam Chomsky
Institute Professor Emeritus
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
“A courageous and inspiring man." (referring to Kevin Annett)
- Mairead Corrigan-Maguire
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
Belfast , Northern Ireland
The very lands we all along enjoyed
they ravished from the people they destroyed ...
All the long pretenses of descent
are shams of right to prop up government.
' Tis all invasion, usurpation all;
' Tis all by fraud and force that we possess,
and length of time can make no crime the less;
Religion's always on the strongest side.
Daniel Defoe, Jure Divino (England, 1706)
-----
web: _www.hiddenfromhistory.org_ (http://www.hiddenfromhistory.org/)