Respected Secwepemc First Nations leader Arthur Manuel died on Jan. 11. Manuel was born in Kamloops in 1951 and grew up on the Neskonlith reserve, where he later became chief. During his life Manuel advocated for self determination and indigenous human rights, founding two national networks, the Indigenous Network on Economies and Trade, and Defenders of the Land, as well as authoring several books including Unsettling Canada, A National Wake Up Call.
Manuel was also the elected chair of the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council from 1993-2003. The council is made up of bands from the southern Secwepemc area that reaches from Clinton to Enderby. The council works to advance aboriginal rights and deals with issues of self-government and aboriginal land title.
"We send our prayers, love and condolences to the Manuel family, Neskonlith and Secwepemc Nation," the Whispering Pines Clinton Indian Band, a member of the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council, said in a statement. "It is not an easy thing for many people to stand up and work for your people as Arthur has done. We all have a chance to make a mark on life, family and society. Arthur took that opportunity to be a leader.
"He will be long remembered and missed by many."
