To all our Relations and Supporters, We are the Mapuche Nation Collective-Auki Nawel based here in Traditional Coast Salish Territory otherwise known as Vancouver, BC Canada. As we prepare for the 2nd international indigenous youth conference we recieved news today that at approximately 8:30 am Eastern Time, one of the delegates that was to represent the Mapuche Nation, Pedro Cayqueo Millaqueo, at the Conference was unbelievably and questionably arrested and jailed as he left his home town of Nueva Imperial in the South of Chile. We have been informed that order of arrest warranted it on the basis that the had not paid a fine imposed on him in the year 2003 by the Chilean Courts which emanted from a territorial dispute between Mapuche communities attempting to recover ancestral lands and large landowners in the South of Chile. Incredibly and ironicaly he was charged with "usurping lands" and "cover-up of information". Recently the Chilean government has been applying a series of so-called anti-terrorist laws (the Internal Securiy Law of the State as it is known) against any Mapuche communities or individuals that became in volved in the occupation of ancestral lands without so-called goverment "permission". His legal aid has informed us that he will be in jail for 40 days. To add insult to injury his arrest comes only hours after the birth of his first daughter -Amankay. We are shocked, upset and at the same time disgusted, angry and enraged. Pedro's arrest as stated by his cousin who informed us of the event, was not simply related to a "fine". Pedro is the director of the most widely read Mapuche run newspaper and electronic news service and the only such service providing up-to-date infomation, around the clock news on the situation of Mapuche peoples in modern day Chile and Argentina http://www.nodo50.org/azkintuwe . His arrest is tactical and political. A low blow, something to be expected from the colonial powers. Colonial powers that until this very minute have complete and total control of our lives. We are desparately attemtping to bring someone who will replace him but the situation is such that the Chilean police has the power to stop that person from coming even seconds before they get on a plane. The Mapuche nation is a nation of fighters and as history itself shows we will continue to fight against all odds and against all that attempt to imprison us and remove us from our lands. Amongst the indigenous nations of the Americas, the Mapuche Nation was the only nation to retain it's complete and total soverignty for over 400 years of military, social and political conflict with outside powers. And even after our last military defeat in battle, this disgusting war against the people, unfortunately still continues. These words must be utterred no matter how cliche, no matter how many times they have been repeated in the past. These words reflect our reality right now. The silencing of our brother will not impede us, nor the flow of information to you. We will do everything to keep those interested up to date. We will also ensure that the Chilean government, police, and those sectors of Chilean society responsible for this get an earfull. The least we can do 15 000 km away. The history of indigenous peoples in North AMerica and their struggles needs to be heard as well, and Pedro's coming was to be yet another channel for your stories to be told elsewhere. This will go on. The Mapuche peoples also want to hear the truth about the reality of indigenous peoples history in Canada, North AMerica and the rest of the World for that matter. We will do all in our power to make sure this happens. In memory of our most recent young warrior taken in the battle: Senen Necul, 17. Killed the 10th of May, 2005 Jair Machado / Ida Reiman Huilcaman. On June 4, 2005, at 3:21 AM