Twelve members of the Native Youth Movement were forcibly removed from the 203-1155 West Pender St. Vancouver premises of the BC Treaty Commission. For five days up to 60 members of the NYM had been involved in an occupation of the BCTC to "oppose the fraud and embezzlement of our unceded Territories."

Vancouver police, armed with a court order arrived at 3:30 PM today (Tuesday, April 21, 1998) and removed those who refused to leave. Information at this time indicates the arrests and removal took several hours. Supporters outside the building were unable to observe the goings on or check on the condition of the arrestees. Police took the NYM members down to waiting vehicles in a basement garage.

At this time reports are that a total of 12 NYM members are being held in custody pending a court appearance at 9:30 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING in BC Supreme Court in Vancouver. They face charges arising out of the wilful breach of a Court order. Four juveniles are also being held. No further information is available although it is likely the NYM members are being held at the Vancouver Remand Center. In an article in the Globe and Mail today, NYM spokesperson David Dennis said his group's message to youth is that they should occupy their land. "And that is what Indigenous youth are preparing to do. The land is ours and we are not going to settle for anything else."