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Saturday, February 04, 2012
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Media Advisory: July 6, 2009 9:45 am PST
Response of Stewart Family and The Friends and Relatives of the Disappeared to Statement by the United Church of Canada, Regarding the Death of Victoria Stewart
Vancouver, Canada:
We are saddened and concerned by the ongoing refusal of the United Church of Canada to respond to our demands upon them, and to take responsibility for the death of our sister Victoria Stewart at the hands of one of their employees.
This refusal was reiterated on June 26, when United Church General Secretary Nora Sanders issued a letter in response to our earlier Letter of Demand to that church. We did not receive a copy of this letter until being handed one on July 5 at a public protest.
Ms. Sanders' letter did not address or respond to any of our demands, nor indicate when or how the United Church and its officers would begin the necessary steps to resolve this matter, such as issuing reparations to our family, constructing a memorial site for Victoria, identifying the perpetrators and presenting themselves before an inquiry into the death of Victoria.
Instead, Ms. Sanders' statement simply acknowledged receiving our Letter and claimed that her church would cooperate with any "investigation" into Vicky's death: the kind of cautious and non-committal remarks that the church is infamous for when it comes to crimes they committed against native children.
Ms. Sanders' statement is glib and insulting. It has caused us more pain and suffering, and set back any efforts to hold the United Church and others accountable for their own criminal acts.
Since the United Church has formally and in writing not contested our claim that they are collectively responsible and liable for the death of our sister Victoria Stewart, and will not reply to our demands upon them, we are compelled to proceed with direct actions against those church officials, including Ms. Nora Sanders, to win justice for our sister.
These actions will include seeking commercial liens against United Church fiduciary officers and their personal assets and property, civil disobedience and protests, and bringing the United Church of Canada beforeinternational human rights courts.
We call again on all people of conscience to boycott the United Church of Canada and deny it all funding.
We also call upon all indigenous people and our supporters to be present at the United Church's next General Council meeting, in Kelowna, B.C., from August 9-16, 2009, where we will confront Nora Sanders and other church officers directly about their responsibility for murder and obstruction of justice.
Sincerely,
The family and relatives of of Victoria Stewart, in conjunction with Rev. Kevin Annett and The Friends and Relatives of the Disappeared (FRD)
cc: world media, Canadian government, international human rights agencies, RCMP
Information:
FRD
c/o 260 Kennedy St.
Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2H8
ph: 250-753-3345 or 1-888-265-1007
hiddenfromhistory@yahoo.ca
Media Advisory: July 6, 2009 9:45 am PST
Response of Stewart Family and The Friends and Relatives of the Disappeared to Statement by the United Church of Canada, Regarding the Death of Victoria Stewart
Vancouver, Canada:
We are saddened and concerned by the ongoing refusal of the United Church of Canada to respond to our demands upon them, and to take responsibility for the death of our sister Victoria Stewart at the hands of one of their employees.
This refusal was reiterated on June 26, when United Church General Secretary Nora Sanders issued a letter in response to our earlier Letter of Demand to that church. We did not receive a copy of this letter until being handed one on July 5 at a public protest.
Ms. Sanders' letter did not address or respond to any of our demands, nor indicate when or how the United Church and its officers would begin the necessary steps to resolve this matter, such as issuing reparations to our family, constructing a memorial site for Victoria, identifying the perpetrators and presenting themselves before an inquiry into the death of Victoria.
Instead, Ms. Sanders' statement simply acknowledged receiving our Letter and claimed that her church would cooperate with any "investigation" into Vicky's death: the kind of cautious and non-committal remarks that the church is infamous for when it comes to crimes they committed against native children.
Ms. Sanders' statement is glib and insulting. It has caused us more pain and suffering, and set back any efforts to hold the United Church and others accountable for their own criminal acts.
Since the United Church has formally and in writing not contested our claim that they are collectively responsible and liable for the death of our sister Victoria Stewart, and will not reply to our demands upon them, we are compelled to proceed with direct actions against those church officials, including Ms. Nora Sanders, to win justice for our sister.
These actions will include seeking commercial liens against United Church fiduciary officers and their personal assets and property, civil disobedience and protests, and bringing the United Church of Canada beforeinternational human rights courts.
We call again on all people of conscience to boycott the United Church of Canada and deny it all funding.
We also call upon all indigenous people and our supporters to be present at the United Church's next General Council meeting, in Kelowna, B.C., from August 9-16, 2009, where we will confront Nora Sanders and other church officers directly about their responsibility for murder and obstruction of justice.
Sincerely,
The family and relatives of of Victoria Stewart, in conjunction with Rev. Kevin Annett and The Friends and Relatives of the Disappeared (FRD)
cc: world media, Canadian government, international human rights agencies, RCMP
Information:
FRD
c/o 260 Kennedy St.
Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2H8
ph: 250-753-3345 or 1-888-265-1007
hiddenfromhistory@yahoo.ca
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