Secwepemc Elk Tiny House rammed by truck in late night assault

Indigenous land defenders are at risk around the world for defending their territories and the environment from destructive extractivist megaprojects.

On April 20, Indigenous Secwepemc land defender Kanahus Manuel tweeted, “3 white drunk males bring violence to our home, smashed through front entrance barricades, stole my truck, smashed it into the Elk Tiny House and then smashed truck into light pole, assaulted Indigenous male and then fled.” 

She also tweeted, “This is a hate crime and crime scene, it is using a motor vehicle as a weapon and endangering lives with intent.”

On Instagram, she posted, “What happened last night is a very serious attack on my life.”

For an 11-minute video of Manuel describing what happened, please click here.

Manuel is opposed to the construction of the 890,000 barrel per day Trans Mountain tar sands pipeline. The pipeline would cross 518 kilometres of unceded Secwepemc territory in British Columbia without that nation’s free, prior and informed consent.

The Tiny House Warriors website explains their strategy to stop the pipeline: “In defence, we have built the Tiny House Warrior camp: six small homes to stop the construction of this pipeline and the workforce sent to build it.”

Elle Magazine has previously reported, “Each has an indoor composting toilet and a wood-burning stove. They’re eco-friendly, solar-powered and completely fossil fuel-free, decorated with intricate murals on the outside depicting indigenous culture. [One mural] involves an ancient tale about an elk chief and a swan.”

It was the Elk Tiny House that was attacked last night.

That tiny house is situated where “a 1000-worker Blue River Campsite is plotted to be built on 16 hectares of our lands for the construction of this pipeline.”

This man camp is of considerable concern.

The Secwepemc Women’s Declaration Against Kinder Morgan Man Camp states, “Wherever man camps are set up, we face exponential increases in sexual violence.”

And James Anaya, the former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, has noted, “Indigenous women have reported that the influx of workers into indigenous communities as a result of extractive projects also led to increased incidents of sexual harassment and violence, including rape and assault.”

This past December, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination expressed that it was, “Alarmed by escalating threat of violence against indigenous peoples, such as the reported violent arrest and detainment of a Secwepemc defender against the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion project, on 19th October 2019.”

That UN Committee further called “upon the State party to immediately cease construction of the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion project and cancel all permits, until free, prior and informed consent is obtained from all the Secwepemc people, following the full and adequate discharge of the duty to consult.”

Peace Brigades International-Canada is concerned by this situation of violence against Manuel and calls for an end to it so that she and other land defenders may continue to peacefully defend their unceded territory against a megaproject that lacks the free, prior and informed consent of the Secwepemc Nation.

Photos and videos from last night’s attack can be seen on Manuel’s Twitter feed here. She is looking for assistance from the public in identifying the three men who committed this attack and then fled with her keys.