Native protesters dig in: 'This is our land'

John Miner and news services
The London Free Press - CALEDONIA (Apr 22, 2006)

Native protesters reinforced their highway blockade yesterday, digging in one day after police tried to end their occupation of a disputed housing development in a pre-dawn raid.

The protesters, some wearing bandannas and waving flags, tightened their control over the area, restricting media from the housing development and dumping piles of gravel across the main road into town.

"This is our land. We know it," said native spokesperson Clyde Powless.

About 100 metres from the native lines, Ontario Provincial Police maintained a roadblock, refusing to let people through and checking reporters for identification.

Talks meant to settle the dispute -- the occupiers claim they're the rightful owners of a 40-hectare patch of land at the centre of the unfinished subdivision -- continued yesterday between police, provincial and federal officials and aboriginal representatives.

"Talks are still going on," said Powless. "We haven't heard (anything) back."

But 350 kilometres away, a new dispute was brewing.

About 50 Mohawks from the Tyendinaga reserve near the town of Marysville, about 200 kilometres east of Toronto, used old school buses and bonfires to block a small road near a main CN train track in a show of support for the Caledonia cause.

Late last night, protesters were reportedly voluntarily taking down their barricades.

The blockade disrupted freight trains and forced Via Rail to stop taking bookings for weekend travel on the line, linking Toronto and southern Ontario with Ottawa and Montreal. Passengers were bused to their destinations.

Canadian National Railway Inc. obtained a court injunction yesterday to compel the protesters to remove the obstruction.

Meanwhile, members of the Akwesasne reserve near Cornwall staged a small protest near the Canada-U.S. border crossing, holding picket signs and drawing honks of support from passing motorists.

Natives at the Caledonia blockade said there could be no peaceful resolution to the standoff as long as police were prepared to point guns at them.

A native spokesperson declined to say how his group would react if police tried to move in again.

"We're prepared. That's all I will say," said Janie Jamieson.

Natives occupied the development Feb. 28, claiming the land belonged to them.

The developer, Henco Industries, said it had bought the parcel from the federal government and obtained a court order to have the natives removed.

Police moved into the subdivision at 4:30 a.m Thursday, arresting 16 protesters. But about four hours later, natives carrying clubs forced police to pull out.

Fifteen of the 16 protesters have now been released, said Toronto lawyer Christopher Reid, who represented the men in court.

The protesters, ranging in age from 20 to 45, have agreed not to return to the subdivision site as part of the condition of their release , he said.

Charges against the individuals include mischief, intimidation, dangerous operation of a vehicle, obstructing peace officers, assaulting police officers, assault with a weapon and causing a disturbance.

No pleas have been entered.

Reid said the men were upset and angry, but encouraged by the fact the OPP failed to shut down the protest.

Jamieson said the natives at the Caledonia blockade are thankful for the other protests that have sprung up, including the move by Mohawks from the Tyendinaga reserve.

Speaking in Ottawa, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty held out hope talks could defuse the situation, pleading for patience from all sides.

"We are not going to resolve this . . . unless and until everybody comes to the table and we agree to continue discussions until we've found an acceptable solution."

The brother of native protester Dudley George -- killed by an OPP officer at Ipperwash Provincial Park-- is urging police and government authorities to show restraint in Caledonia.

Sam George said he wants the province to hand control of the disputed land back to the Six Nations, and ensure other outstanding native land claims are respected.