one month to the day after it began, the stand-off
between armed native activists and the royal canadian mounted
police came to an end, 400 kilometers northeast of vancouver.
craig mcculloch reports on the peaceful resolution.
text: it officially came to an end late sunday afternoon, when
police helicopters started to airlift the protesters out of the
armed encampment.
the breakthrough comes after the arrival of john stevens -- a
medicine man from alberta -- who entered the camp earlier in the
day. the activists previously looked to the native leader as a
spiritual guide and said they would leave peacefully, if he told
them to do so.
mounties say the 12 native and non-native protesters are under
arrest on charges of either trespassing or mischief.
they also say charges of attempted murder and shooting at police
officers could be filed against some of the individuals.
the armed stand-off started august 17th, when a police officer
was shot at while trying to evict the protesters from part of a
privately-owned ranch. they refused to leave the area, saying it
was sacred.
local and national native organizations disagreed and condemned
the gunfights that often erupted between the group and police.
the provincial attorney general vowed no immunity would be
offered and says no deal on the land was granted to the
protesters.