Image Credit: Facebook / Tiny House Warriors

By James Peters

Trans Mountain Expansion

Secwepemc chiefs call on Tiny House Warrior pipeline protest to ‘stand down’

Jul 2, 2020 | 10:37 AM

SIMPCW TERRITORY B.C. — The chiefs of two Secwepemc bands are calling on an Indigenous group protesting construction on the Trans Mountain pipeline to stand down, saying the protest violates Secwepemc laws and customs.

Chief Rosanne Casimir of Tk’emlups te Secwepemc and Chief Shelly Loring of Simpcw issued a joint statement Thursday (July 2), addressing the Tiny House Warriors movement.

Chief Shelly Loring (left) and Chief Rosanne Casimir (right) (Image Credit: Contributed)

The Tiny House Warriors have set up villages near Blue River and Moonbeam Creek, along the Trans Mountain route. In particular, the group opposes “man camps” of pipeline workers and alleged violence against women perpetrated by workers.

In a statement emailed to CFJC Today, Casimir and Loring express opposition to the Tiny House Warrior presence and denounce its “threatening and aggressive conduct.”

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“Since the beginning of time, we have independently provided stewardship in our territory — Simpcwúl’ecw,” Loring is quoted in the statement. “In 2017, we gave our free, prior and informed consent to Trans Mountain to build and operate the new pipeline here.”

The joint statement calls the Tiny House Warrior presence an “occupation” that “constitutes an intrusion” into Simpcw territory and a threat to the community and the public, and says the protestors’ conduct has been “often disrespectful.”

“I share their concern for the safety of women and girls,” Loring continued, “but they won’t talk to us about the work we’re doing. “For example, we currently have 19 women working at Trans Mountain. They report positive experiences — and no serious incidents.”

Simpcw Councillor Martha Matthew says the Tiny House Warriors do not speak for the Simpcw community.

“The Tiny House Warriors are not from Simpcw, nor are they our guests in our territory,” said Matthew.

“It’s time for the Tiny House Warriors to stand down and step off of Simpcwúl’ecw,” added Simpcw Councillor Ron Lampreau Jr.

Meantime, the Tiny House Warriors say they have been subject to violence and intimidation at their villages.

In an April incident, a pair of men were captured on video allegedly damaging property and hurling racial slurs. RCMP are looking to identify the suspects.

Read the full statement from Chiefs Loring and Casimir: