I'm cross-posting this from the blog of Freek Factory's resident Monk:
originally printed in Now Magazine
nowtoronto.com
Dispatch from Caledonia
Six Nations protestors at Caledonia took down their barricades on Tuesday, June 13, following the issuing of arrest warrants by the OPP against seven native activists for three alleged incidents of violence and harassment on the weekend. It was these incidents that occasioned a threat by Premier Dalton McGuinty to stop negotiations until the roads were cleared. Talks are expected to resume today, and Six Nations activists maintain a presence at the disputed development site.
The following is excerpted from a dispatch by blockader Hazel Hill as things turned nasty on Saturday, June 10. grand river – today has been a day of unrest at the land reclamation site.
Intimidation tactics and pressure from the outside have worked, to the point that a thousand OPP officers are being dispatched to the area. The Caledonia residents are up in arms, demanding the removal of our people from the site, even going so far as to set up a barricade on the recently opened plank road leading into Caledonia.
It is important for all of you to understand that the intimidation is constant. This includes army helicopters and others flying overhead at all hours of the day and night, hovering between 2 and 4 in the morning with their lights off, and on occasion shining high-powered lights onto the people on the site.
We are faced daily with people driving by, hollering racial remarks including "Go home, you fuckin' Indians," "Get a job," "You're gonna die," etc. Garbage is thrown at us, as are firecrackers, from car windows.
Today a U.S. vehicle was retrieved [by protestors] with high-powered surveillance equipment in it. [The OPP alleges the vehicle was stolen by activists and driven toward an officer.] The OPP's first story was that the American Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms officer [who was inside] was just visiting friends in the neighbourhood and taking pictures, "kinda like a tourist."
Later, when we questioned further what the U.S. ATF was doing snooping, with the OPP, they changed the story, saying ATF had been invited in by the OPP.
[This led to an altercation] and an OPP officer was hospitalized. A CHTV newsperson, as well, had to get stitches as a result of a run-in with our people. This situation is not good. What needs to be understood is that today's incidents are a direct result of the OPP's and the military's intimidation tactics and the racial discrimination shown not by us, but by the Caledonia people.
These include the recent blocking of our children from using the arena for lacrosse games and the backtracking by the provincial government at the negotiating table, all of which lead up to the ultimate goal of justifying stopping the talks.
Canada does not want to deal with the Onkwehonweh people, because they know we are absolutely right in our position with respect to the land, our sovereignty and upholding our law. And with the help of corporate media, Canada is making sure the mental brainwashing of its citizens against the Onkwehonweh people continues.
The violence that occurred is not something we are proud of. But we completely understand it, knowing these are attempts to incite us, to justify another police attack against our people. They want to make it look like we are uncontrollable. The reality is, unless you are in the situation, dealing with the constant mental, emotional and physical intimidation and racial violence, none of you can truly say how you would have responded.
Our people need to be on alert. We are on the site unarmed. We are trying to maintain the peace. Stay strong.
THE STANDOFF--BREAKING IT DOWN...
ON THE SEVEN SIX NATIONS PROTESTORS WANTED BY THE OPP
"The Haudenosaunee [people of the Longhouse] are a people of peace and do not condone violence of any form. Our prayers and concern are with those who were injured [in last weekend's melee.] An investigation of [those alleged to have committed offences] has been launched and the Six Nations police have been asked to assist in this process. The weekend's incidents are reflective of the misjudgment and reactions of a limited few. Those individuals will be dealt with in a manner harmonious with the Great Law of Peace."
Six Nations Confederacy statement
ON WHY U.S. LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS WERE ALLOWED IN THE AREA
"The reason [American officials with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms] were in Caledonia was because we invited them to observe as a learning opportunity. Police departments throughout North America and the world always assist each other in situations where they can learn from each other. We're never worried about confrontation. Our sole goal and purpose here is to ensure public safety."
JEFF WARAVEN , OPP spokesperson
ON THE BARRICADES COMING DOWN
"It was kind of aggravating to hear [McGuinty pull out of negotiations until barricades were removed]. The province knew we were working on this. We had a plan [to take them down] in the first place. The chiefs and clan mothers of the Confederacy recognize that public safety is a significant concern. We recognized that barricades weren't helping negotiations. We hope the removal of the barricades will reduce the possibilities of future incidents. Negotiations were going well. At this point we've got parameters about how we're going to do things and what's on the table and what's not.''
ALLEN MacNAUGHTON , Six Nations Confederacy chief
ON THE PREMIER'S HANDLING OF THE SITUATION
"The government completely ignored the situation until the barricades went up. What the premier is trying to do is bring the situation to a head by exerting a semblance of leadership [in demanding the blockade come down.] You've got to hope the situation doesn't escalate. The Tories are playing a very dangerous game on this one, trying to be seen as helpful, but 'Send in the cops, send in the army' is what's underneath their message. You saw what happened at Ipperwash. For god's sake, we don't need to be taking lessons from the Tories.''
GILLES BISSON , MPP Timmins, NDP native affairs critic
WHAT THE FEDS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS
"This table has been active, and progress has been made.
As the federal special representative, Barbara McDougall has the mandate to look at these broader issues relating to the Six Nations.
Even prior to the barricades going up progress was being made with the government of Canada working with the community and the province of Ontario.
MARGOT GEDULD , spokesperson, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
WHAT THE PROVINCE HAS TO SAY ABOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS
"No comment.''
JINETTE ALBERT , office of the minister of Aboriginal Affairs, David Ramsey
news@nowtoronto.com
originally printed in Now Magazine
nowtoronto.com
Dispatch from Caledonia
Six Nations protestors at Caledonia took down their barricades on Tuesday, June 13, following the issuing of arrest warrants by the OPP against seven native activists for three alleged incidents of violence and harassment on the weekend. It was these incidents that occasioned a threat by Premier Dalton McGuinty to stop negotiations until the roads were cleared. Talks are expected to resume today, and Six Nations activists maintain a presence at the disputed development site.
The following is excerpted from a dispatch by blockader Hazel Hill as things turned nasty on Saturday, June 10. grand river – today has been a day of unrest at the land reclamation site.
Intimidation tactics and pressure from the outside have worked, to the point that a thousand OPP officers are being dispatched to the area. The Caledonia residents are up in arms, demanding the removal of our people from the site, even going so far as to set up a barricade on the recently opened plank road leading into Caledonia.
It is important for all of you to understand that the intimidation is constant. This includes army helicopters and others flying overhead at all hours of the day and night, hovering between 2 and 4 in the morning with their lights off, and on occasion shining high-powered lights onto the people on the site.
We are faced daily with people driving by, hollering racial remarks including "Go home, you fuckin' Indians," "Get a job," "You're gonna die," etc. Garbage is thrown at us, as are firecrackers, from car windows.
Today a U.S. vehicle was retrieved [by protestors] with high-powered surveillance equipment in it. [The OPP alleges the vehicle was stolen by activists and driven toward an officer.] The OPP's first story was that the American Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms officer [who was inside] was just visiting friends in the neighbourhood and taking pictures, "kinda like a tourist."
Later, when we questioned further what the U.S. ATF was doing snooping, with the OPP, they changed the story, saying ATF had been invited in by the OPP.
[This led to an altercation] and an OPP officer was hospitalized. A CHTV newsperson, as well, had to get stitches as a result of a run-in with our people. This situation is not good. What needs to be understood is that today's incidents are a direct result of the OPP's and the military's intimidation tactics and the racial discrimination shown not by us, but by the Caledonia people.
These include the recent blocking of our children from using the arena for lacrosse games and the backtracking by the provincial government at the negotiating table, all of which lead up to the ultimate goal of justifying stopping the talks.
Canada does not want to deal with the Onkwehonweh people, because they know we are absolutely right in our position with respect to the land, our sovereignty and upholding our law. And with the help of corporate media, Canada is making sure the mental brainwashing of its citizens against the Onkwehonweh people continues.
The violence that occurred is not something we are proud of. But we completely understand it, knowing these are attempts to incite us, to justify another police attack against our people. They want to make it look like we are uncontrollable. The reality is, unless you are in the situation, dealing with the constant mental, emotional and physical intimidation and racial violence, none of you can truly say how you would have responded.
Our people need to be on alert. We are on the site unarmed. We are trying to maintain the peace. Stay strong.
THE STANDOFF--BREAKING IT DOWN...
ON THE SEVEN SIX NATIONS PROTESTORS WANTED BY THE OPP
"The Haudenosaunee [people of the Longhouse] are a people of peace and do not condone violence of any form. Our prayers and concern are with those who were injured [in last weekend's melee.] An investigation of [those alleged to have committed offences] has been launched and the Six Nations police have been asked to assist in this process. The weekend's incidents are reflective of the misjudgment and reactions of a limited few. Those individuals will be dealt with in a manner harmonious with the Great Law of Peace."
Six Nations Confederacy statement
ON WHY U.S. LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS WERE ALLOWED IN THE AREA
"The reason [American officials with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms] were in Caledonia was because we invited them to observe as a learning opportunity. Police departments throughout North America and the world always assist each other in situations where they can learn from each other. We're never worried about confrontation. Our sole goal and purpose here is to ensure public safety."
JEFF WARAVEN , OPP spokesperson
ON THE BARRICADES COMING DOWN
"It was kind of aggravating to hear [McGuinty pull out of negotiations until barricades were removed]. The province knew we were working on this. We had a plan [to take them down] in the first place. The chiefs and clan mothers of the Confederacy recognize that public safety is a significant concern. We recognized that barricades weren't helping negotiations. We hope the removal of the barricades will reduce the possibilities of future incidents. Negotiations were going well. At this point we've got parameters about how we're going to do things and what's on the table and what's not.''
ALLEN MacNAUGHTON , Six Nations Confederacy chief
ON THE PREMIER'S HANDLING OF THE SITUATION
"The government completely ignored the situation until the barricades went up. What the premier is trying to do is bring the situation to a head by exerting a semblance of leadership [in demanding the blockade come down.] You've got to hope the situation doesn't escalate. The Tories are playing a very dangerous game on this one, trying to be seen as helpful, but 'Send in the cops, send in the army' is what's underneath their message. You saw what happened at Ipperwash. For god's sake, we don't need to be taking lessons from the Tories.''
GILLES BISSON , MPP Timmins, NDP native affairs critic
WHAT THE FEDS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS
"This table has been active, and progress has been made.
As the federal special representative, Barbara McDougall has the mandate to look at these broader issues relating to the Six Nations.
Even prior to the barricades going up progress was being made with the government of Canada working with the community and the province of Ontario.
MARGOT GEDULD , spokesperson, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
WHAT THE PROVINCE HAS TO SAY ABOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS
"No comment.''
JINETTE ALBERT , office of the minister of Aboriginal Affairs, David Ramsey
news@nowtoronto.com
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