| ACTION - Beltane 2006 - Article 3 |
Action is the official newsletter of the Alternative Religions Educational Network
TROUBLE IN ONTARIO, CANADA |
On Mar. 17 Roger Lymburner, AREN’s Vice President of Canadian Affairs alerted us and several dozen activists, activists groups and news organizations to trouble in Ontario Province. The Six Nations Confederacy had blockaded a housing development, Douglas Creeks Estates near Caledonia, Ontario, which was built on disputed land and facing a possible forceful eviction by the Ontario Province police. The big worry is that like in an earlier dispute in 1995 where an Indian activist was killed by a police sniper, protesters might once again come under police fire. In Lymburner’s alert asked more peaceful protesters to join the natives, and bring cameras to document mistreatment by the police. It was hoped that more witnesses might keep violence against the unarmed natives from happening. After the original plea Lymburner continued to update us as demonstration continued. The Six Nations Confederation moved onto the land on Feb. 28. They had blockaded the 200-home subdivision in Caledonia on Mar. 2. On Mar. 6th developer Don Henning of Henco Industries got an injunction against the Six Nation Confederacy and with a court order telling the activists to leave or be forcibly ejected by the Ontario Province Police. The natives listened quietly to the injunction that ordered them to remove all barricades and vehicles by 10 a. m. Thursday and no longer hinder construction of the subdivision. After the sheriff left, the native burned a copy of the injunction. The dispute covers land ceded to the Mohawk by a grateful British government for being allies of the British in the American War of Independence. The original title to the land was signed by Frederick Halimand, Captain General and Governor-in-Chief of the Province of Quebec and Territories, dated March 20th 1795. This was certified as late as June 25, 1931 by the registrar at the Department of Public Archives of Canada in Ottawa. The legal fight has been going on since they were forced off the land in 1920s by the the Canadian Government while refusing to allow the Canadian Supreme Court to hear the land dispute case. The natives allege that the courts routinely rule against native groups and favor those settling on disputed land. There is also a constitutional issue. The natives allege they were allies and never conquered and treaty law recognized them as independent nations with their own constitution, the Rotinoshon'non:we. What they ask for is government to government negotiation as required by treaty law. On their own land , it is this Rotinoshon'non:we that they live under, not Canadian law. So in their eyes the use of the Ontario Province Police is illegal interference by the Canadian government outside its legal jurisdiction Meanwhile there appears to have been a news blackout on the native side of the story forcing the the Six Nations to have to use alternate news organizations and activist groups to get their message out. Cellphone service is routinely shut off in the area of protest making it hard for the natives to get news out. The government has put out stories suggesting that the natives are lawbreakers, possibly armed and using people with criminal records. On Apr. 27, there are large numbers of Royal Canadian Police reportedly being held in reserve in the nearby towns, and troops staged in a local airport hanger. At night helicopters fly low over the territory with spotlights and in the daytime fighter jets buzzed the area. On Apr. 28 rally is being held at noon at War Memorial (Elgin @ Wellington, next to the PM's Office), Ontario to support the cause the Six Nations. Other rallies are being held elsewhere in Canada on Apr 28 and May 1. The Six Nations are asking for help. Volunteers are asked to be witnesses to whatever will take place at the Douglas Creeks Estates development and to bring cameras and cell phones. They should be prepared for tear gas, pepper spray and the possibility of being beaten. The police have used tasers, even against children. Many false reports of impending police attacks have been made to keep the natives worried. Nine people have been arrested so far. There are reports that schools and hospitals and jails have been cleared for space in the nearby towns, suggesting the possibility of police violence. No negotiations have been scheduled by the government, leaving only the remaining standoff between the native demonstrators and the police. The RCMP and troops remain on standby . Donations to help with the struggle can be sent to Bill Kilborn, AREN Treasurer, P.O. Box 1893 Trenton, FL 32693. Or go to www.paypal.com and make a payment to treasurer@aren.org using a credit card. Please indicate that your donation is for the Six Nation struggle. Anything you can give will help. Background news video Also, do a search on “Oka Crisis” and this link should show up. |