Seven Oaks Magazine.

Harjap Grewal is an organizer with the Land, Freedom and Decolonization Coalition in Vancouver, B.C. (Coast Salish territory). On August 29 th , he and hundreds of activists will be joining indigenous fighters in engaging the expansion of the Sun Peaks ski resort. Seven Oaks interviewed him via e-mail about the upcoming convergence in support of indigenous sovereignty.

1. What's the nature of the protest at Sun Peaks and the Delta Hotel at the end of this week?

The protest this coming weekend is a gathering of those standing in solidarity with the Secwepemc community as they continue to fight back against the development of the Sun Peaks Ski Resort on unceded territory. The original $70 million development that was proposed in 1997 has now been expanded to a $285 dollar development that will involve the clear cutting of five mountains. The community has never agreed to this development and continue to fight for rights to their land while demanding an immediate stop to any development that does not recognize Aboriginal title.

2. Who are the political forces -- Indigenous and non-Indigenous -- behind the convergence?

This convergence has really attempted to bring to the forefront of our anti-occupation and struggles for justice the fight for indigenous sovereignty as central to all movements in North America.

In Skwelkwek'welt, the Native Youth Movement and the Skwelkwek'welt Protecton Centre initiated this convergence. Several groups are involved in developing support for the Sun Peaks Convergence in Vancouver, many of them as a part of the Land, Freedom and Decolonization Coalition.

The Coalition is recently formed and brings together individuals and groups directly victimized by Canada's colonial border policies; from self-organized movements of immigrants and refugees, to struggles for indigenous sovereignty, we attempt to build genuine links between our diverse struggles for social justice and dignity.

Other groups and organizations in Vancouver, on the other hand, have for many years supported the Secwepemc struggle and are also involved in the organizing of the convergence, such as Redwire magazine, the youth organization at the Aboriginal Friendship Centre (KAYA), and the local Native Youth Movement Chapter.

We are expecting protestors from Vancouver area, Cheam, Sutikalh, Victoria, Calgary, Detroit, Kamloops, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Chase. We are expecting a few hundred people.

4. The BC Liberal government came to power on quite a wave of anti-Native sentiment; Gordon Campbell promised (and delivered on) a "referendum" on the Treaty Process and ploughed ahead with an Olympic bid that promised to affect Native communities adversely. Is this the first major collaboration between Indigenous and settler activists since his election?

While this certainly is not the first collaboration or solidarity work that has been done with indigenous communities, the Coalition and other organizers have worked to create solidarity with not only "settler" activists but also with migrant communities of colour fleeing colonial regimes in order to build a stronger network of alliances between colonized communities. The Native Youth Movement-Secwepemc Chapter, through constant campaigning over several years, has already developed a strong base of support with many communities around the world from Japan to Colombia that have and will continue to support their campaign.

5. We've heard of a very high toll paid by Greek workers in the run-up to this summer's Olympic games in Athens, in terms of work-related deaths and injuries. What kind of social and environmental problems might face Native communities in the run-up to the games in B.C.?

The social and environmental problems will be consistent with those that multinational and colonial projects cause around the world. Communities are displaced and denied access to their land, which provides contractors of the developments with a more hyper- exploitable labour force. This has been witnessed not only at the Olympics this year with members of immigrant and refugee communities, but also at Sun Peaks where work was offered to encourage support for the development. And as is the case with development projects in the global south, the work offered to these communities is often only temporary and often under poor conditions.

These social conditions are accompanied by the destruction of eco-systems, which most adversely and seriously impacts indigenous communities of the region who depend on the land for survival. Simultaneously, those opposing the development and fighting for their rights are branded as being anti-progress, as if the advancement of capitalist interests is at all related to the progress and well being of communities and the Earth.

6. The development of Sun Peaks is clearly part of a growing sports tourism industry that will only get bigger with the Olympics. Will this week's convergence serve as a springboard for further activism around the Olympics issue?

The Olympics affects not only indigenous communities in BC fighting expansion on unceded territories, but also anti-poverty organizations, immigrant/refugee communities and low-income workers will continue to unite in the fight against the Olympics. Although the hysteria of job-creation is prevalent, marginalized communities have consistently stated that devastation of land, exploitation of workers, austerity wages, lay-offs, privatizations, higher commodity prices, and gentrification of our communities is not acceptable in the name of economic power.

There are many ways to get involved- from donating to the legal defense fund and food donations to getting involved in the growing campaign to stop the Sun peaks expansion- send letters of endorsements to the Skwekwek'welt Protection Center, organize rallies at Delta Hotels and

Fairmont Hotels involved in the Sun Peaks Resort, write letters. The campaigns developing against the Olympics in and around Vancouver is also a great way to get involved.