Kanahus Manuel


Kanahus Manuel, or Kanahus Freedom, is an indigenous activist, birth keeper, and a member of the activist group Tiny House Warriors. Manuel is a Secwepemc and Ktunaxa mother of four Freedom Babies, children raised in the spirit of decolonization and free from the regulations of the Canadian federal and provincial governments. Manuel decided to do this as an indigenous woman to raise questions about the inherent rights of indigenous peoples of Canada.

Family life

Manuel is a member of the Neskonlith band of the Secwepemc community in British Columbia. Manuel is the daughter of Beverly Manuel and well known Indigenous activist Arthur Manuel. Her grandfather is National Indian Brotherhood chief George Manuel. Her twin sister is Mayuk Manuel and her aunt is filmmaker Doreen Manuel.

Activism

Manuel is well known for her activism against corporate development projects in British Columbia, Canada. She has been involved in activist movements against Sun Peaks Resort, Imperial Metals, and the Mount Polley mine spill. As a result of her activism and community organizing, Manuel was named in a court injunction to stop blockades by Imperial Metals as a defendant. Beginning in 2017, Manuel was part of the Tiny House Warriors movement to construct ten tiny houses to be placed in the path of the Trans Mountain pipeline. This action was a way of asserting control over the traditional Secwepemc territory on which the pipeline was proposed. On July 15, 2018 Manuel was arrested by the RCMP for her participation in the Tiny House Warrior resistance.
Manuel is the radio host and producer of the "Creating A Culture of Resistance" radio show which interviews activists from different cultures.
She appeared in Freedom Babies, a documentary film made by Doreen Manuel; the film documents Manuel's decision not to register the children with provincial or federal Canadian governments. Manuel was also featured in Cody Lucich's film Akicita: The Battle of Standing Rock, which focuses on pipeline protests.
In October 2019, Manuel was arrested by the RCMP as part of a Tiny House Warrior protest against the Trans Mountain pipeline.

Writing