Re: Caledonia
People wonder why the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) protect the natives in the Caledonia situation. It's quite simple -- the natives are the only ones who need protection. Except for one unfortunate incident, the natives have kept the protest on their land.
On numerous occasions, non-natives have tried to invade the site with their mob mentality and vigilante attitude that have nearly incited race riots. These people now have the feeling it is their right to go to the site and hurl racial insults. It's like poking a caged animal with a stick -- they should be careful they don't get bitten or worse.
With Justice David Marshall's recent ruling, these people are even bolder. I do not understand why Marshall remains on this case as he owns properties on the disputed Haldimand Tract and appears to me to have a conflict of interest. This is like Canada acting as judge and jury against itself on native land claims. And we wonder why nothing is ever accomplished on these matters.
As a lifelong resident of Six Nations, I have never experienced or even heard of such racism and hatred from the people of Caledonia. I believe there are antagonists and people planted to incite these feeling who are probably not even from Caledonia. Could these people have been planted by the RCMP, who didn't even acknowledge they were in Caledonia until they were outed by The Spectator.
It has become a propaganda battle and the media seems willing to participate by publicizing unsubstantiated reports of anything to boost their profits. It's become tabloid reporting at its worst.
The Spectator is the only media to do any investigative reporting on this issue by revealing the RCMP presence in Caledonia.
I think the new suburbs being developed are drawing new people who do not know the natives on a personal level and find it easy to fall in line with the antagonists. Any longtime resident of Caledonia will tell you of a peaceful and friendly coexistence with Six Nations for many decades. I would also bet that most longtime residents have many friends on Six Nations. To those people I say you and your town are and always will be a friend of the Six Nations.