Mayuk Manuel, Snutetkwe Manuel and Isha Jules arrested

Kamloops RCMP arrested three people at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) on Monday morning and access to part of the campus was restricted as a result of a protest.

According to media reports, a Trans Mountain roundtable consultation meeting about the proposed pipeline expansion was taking place at TRU.

It is believed former Supreme Court of Canada Justice Frank Iacobucci and his team were meeting with local Indigenous groups when the protesters arrived.

Handprints in red paint could be seen outside TRU’s Campus Activity Centre, as well as splatters of paint on the pavement.

The RCMP confirmed the arrests but wouldn’t comment on what the protest was about.

However, those arrested have been identified in a social media post as Indigenous protesters opposed to the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project.

According to tweets by Kanahus Manuel, a spokesperson for the Tiny House Warriors, her twin sister Mayuk Manuel was one of those arrested along with Snutetkwe Manuel and Isha Jules.

My twin sister Mayuk Manuel arrested at #transmountain pipeline roundtable meeting in Kamloops bc … meeting was organized by feds to push through fraudulent “phase III” Indigenous consultation! They is NO SECWEPEMC CONSENT for this bitumen pipeline BLOCKADE TRANS MOUNTAIN pic.twitter.com/HZIR48UlXO — Kanahus Manuel (@KanahusFreedom) December 10, 2018

My mother Beverly Manuel demanding release of her daughters Snutetkwe and Mayuk Manuel and son in law Isha Jules arrested at Trans Mountain ROUNDTABLE meeting hosted by Justice Frank Iacobucci!!! This meeting faced major opposition by Secwepemc & Tiny House Warriors #stopTMX pic.twitter.com/QUroF8Wmr1 — Kanahus Manuel (@KanahusFreedom) December 10, 2018

An RCMP investigation into mischief and assault is underway.

In an statement, a TRU spokesperson said “the incident (and the protest) was related to a private event.”

As a precaution the university restricted access to the Campus Activity Centre until 4:30 p.m.

TRU is restricting access to the Campus Activity Centre until 4:30 p.m. today due to an incident that occurred this morning involving a private event. While police assistance was required, there are no safety concerns and access is being restricted simply as a precaution. — Thompson Rivers U (@thompsonriversu) December 10, 2018

Cpl. Jodi Shelkie said the Kamloops RCMP detachment was aware of the consultation meeting in advance and had formulated a plan for dealing with demonstrations if they took place.

The roundtable meetings are designed to determine how the consultation process will unfold.

To see the demonstration, check out the video below.

Video posted to Facebook by Snutetkwe Manuel

By Black Powder, RPM Staff