Violence erupts at blockade

[CHIMO]

CALEDONIA, Ont. — Simmering tensions between aboriginal demonstrators and frustrated residents of Caledonia, Ont., came to blows Monday after a contentious blockade was taken down and then reconstructed hours later.

It was thought taking down the barricade would calm tensions, since it had stopped traffic on the town's main road for more than a month.

Former Ontario premier and provincial negotiator David Peterson arrived at the site of the tense standoff Monday afternoon. Peterson had said earlier he hoped the entire dispute would soon be resolved peacefully, despite ongoing tensions between the aboriginals and local residents.

Six Nations members occupied the site arguing that the land belongs to them. They say they agreed to lease the property for a road in 1835, and dispute arguments that it was later sold to the Crown.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1148335813376&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154




http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/05/22/caledonia-blockade.html

[SpiralHawk]

1. link to a DU thread with more info and discussion

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1258145

N.B. The article in that thread "The Return of the Native" -- with a focus on the southwest.

'nuf said.

[ConcernedCanuk]

2. I've been watching this with concern for a few days now

.
.
.

I still can't get Ipperwash and the killing of Dudley George by an O.P.P sniper out of my head

How we DARE to assassinate the people that BELONG on this continent never fails to distress me

WHY are alot of natives "fat"?

cuz we destroyed their compatible foods of fish and wild game, replacing them with our sodium/chemical/ fat laden foods like Mc Ducks and so on

I am not proud to be here - my grandparents came over in 1910 from Scotland during the famine

So I have some minimal solace in the knowledge that my heritage does not involve the slaughter of the natives, or the abuse of them.

But that's not enough

I don't know how to make peace with myself for even being here . . .

This is THEIR country

we all stole it , and destroyed it, bit by bit

and yet our governments persecute them for just wanting a wee portion of it back

(sigh)

[CHIMO]

3. On Land

Claims, one would expect the Crown to help. Well there doesn't seem to be any urgency here..

http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ai/minist_e.html

More photo ops and just political crap.
http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ai/minist_e.html

http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/index_e.html

[CHIMO]

4. Aboriginal protesters remove Caledonia blockade

Aboriginal protesters remove Caledonia blockade
Last Updated Tue, 23 May 2006 15:11:51 EDT
CBC News

The blockade came down shortly after two demonstrators – an aboriginal and a non-native – crossed the 300-metre span between the two blockades.

The men, who carried a lilac branch symbolizing an olive branch, told police and the non-native group that their blockade would come down immediately and that the road would be opened.

"I can understand the frustration. We've got to start loving our neighbours," said the unidentified non-native man

Sandra Muse, editor of the Tekawennake News, a Six Nations reserve newspaper, said aboriginal demonstrators made the move to dampen down the tension that has boiled over in the land claim dispute.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/05/23/caledonia-monday.html

Sometimes reason and hope prevail.