British Columbia Indians Push for Forest Boycott
10/15/99
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Title: British Columbia Indians push for forest boycott
Source: Associated Press
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: October 15, 1999
KAMLOOPS, British Columbia (AP) -- British Columbia Interior First
Nations leaders have announced they will travel next month to New
York, Washington, D.C. and Geneva, Switzerland to push for a boycott
of forest products from the province.
Art Manuel, chief of the Neskonlith Indian Band and spokesman for the
Interior Alliance, told protesters he and other Indian leaders will
meet with groups in those locations who plan to support the boycott.
He said he hopes to deliver a convincing message to importers of
British Columbia forest products. Purchasing lumber when Indian land
claims remain outstanding amounts to buying stolen property, he said.
"The timber does not belong to them," Manuel said. "They (government
and forest companies) are stealing our land and resources. The
government needs to be clear -- we are taking this one step further."
The Indian bands first talked about launching an international
boycott about four weeks ago.
About 25 people met Thursday to protest the slow pace of land claim
settlements and show support for native loggers in the Shuswap and
the Okanagan.