An Overview of the Effects of Privatization on Secwepemc Land, Culture, Spirituality & Future Generations

Prepared by Dawn Morrison

“. . . the health and integrity of Secwepemc communities is inextricably linked to continued and improved access to the traditional resources that are needed to supply the Secwepemc with the means to practice healthy traditional lifestyles in the modern world. The driving economic force of capitalism in Secwepemcul’ecw has resulted in limited access and has infringed upon the collective nature of Secwepmec traditional resource rights. The process of privatization has also been a major contributing factor to the economic marginalization of the Secwepemc, as well as the over-exploitation of the land and collective sources of Secwepemc foods, medicines and technologies.”