A Sunday rally against First Nations protesters at a former housing development site in Caledonia, Ont., will go ahead as planned, the rally's Toronto-based organizer said, despite concerns it may threaten the fragile peace in the community.
"Until the people themselves rise up, these problems will not be resolved," rally organizer Gary McHale said Saturday.
McHale lives more than 100 kilometres away from the embattled southern Ontario community that has been the site of a Six Nations protest for more than seven months and marred by numerous violent clashes between residents and protesters.
McHale said provincial police are giving the native protesters favourable treatment by allowing them to stay on the land, but telling non-natives to stay away.
The rally is expected to include a march on the disputed land, which is now owned by the province.
David Ramsay, the minister responsible for aboriginal affairs, said the government has asked them to stay away from the disputed site.
Native protesters and Caledonia residents have expressed fear the unwelcome rally will disrupt a recent calm and incite more violence.
Provincial police on the site could be facing thousands of protesters if McHale's estimates prove accurate.
Sgt. Dave Rektor told CBC News Saturday that officers will take "appropriate precautions" to keep the peace.
"We don’t want to be seen as aggressive," Sgt. Rektor told CBC News on Saturday. "We want people to protest peacefully. They have a right to do that. However, having said that, if there are criminal acts being committed, we'll act accordingly."
The Six Nations protesters say the rally will not have any effect on their presence at the site.
"We're remaining on the site," Six Nations spokeswoman Hazel Hill said Saturday. "We're just gathering together in a peaceful way."
Caledonia resident Jan Watson is organizing a group of residents to stand in solidarity with the protesters against the rally to promote peace.
"We're hoping that some of the vigilante-type people in Caledonia will stay home and will keep their tempers under hat," she said.
The Six Nations protesters have been occupying the site since Feb. 28, claiming the land was wrongfully taken from them.