Caledonia braces for showdown

Chinta Puxley
Brantford Expositor
October 14, 2006 - 01:00

A southern Ontario community embroiled in an aboriginal land dispute is bracing for a potentially violent showdown Sunday amid plans for a march on the occupation site by non-aboriginals.

The controversial weekend rally in Caledonia has forced the cancellation of sports games, the closure of the town's arena, and has left many business owners contemplating closing their doors on Sunday.

Haldimand Mayor Marie Trainer said she is on standby, ready to declare a state of emergency.

Rally organizer Gary McHale claims the ongoing occupation, which began in February on the outskirts of the town located some 25 kilometres south of Hamilton, shows aboriginals are being treated differently and are above the law.

McHale says he's determined to hold the march to the Six Nations occupation site despite phone calls from both Ontario's Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Ramsay and Opposition Leader John Tory bidding him to cancel.

Meanwhile, aboriginal protesters said they will hold a "potluck for peace" at the occupation site at the same time as the rally - 1 p.m. Sunday - and plan to "secure" the boundaries of their occupation.

Many fear it's a perfect storm that will lead to violent clashes between aboriginals and residents, and even bloodshed.

"I'm very concerned," said Ramsay.

"It's the exact opposite thing that we've been hoping for . . . . This now brings conflicting parties back together again in a physical way."

Despite describing the rally as extremely dangerous and life-threatening, the province chose not to pursue an injunction to stop the event, instead insisting it will be up to police to keep the peace.

Hazel Hill, spokeswoman for the Six Nations protesters, said they asked the Ontario government to step in and stop the rally weeks ago.

Hill said the fact that the government decided not to makes her question whether the Liberals are privately supportive of the rally. Regardless, she said Six Nations residents are all the more resolved to stay put - through winter if they have to - until the land is returned to them.

The protesters say the former housing development site, which the province bought in the summer, was taken illegally from them over 200 years ago by the Crown.

"We have to stay focused on why we're here," said Hill.

"We are a survival people. We've been here for thousands of years . . . We've survived genocide practices. We've survived assimilation practices. We're not going to disappear."

The situation in Caledonia, which erupted into violence last May following a similar rally held by non-aboriginal community members, had been relatively quiet before talk of this new rally.

Negotiations between the aboriginals, the province and the federal government were continuing, albeit slowly.

The barricades which once cut the town in half were taken down.

A 30-metre "no-go zone" has been created separating the occupied site from neighbouring houses.

"I know it's a fragile peace but, still, it's peace," said provincial police Sgt. Dave Rektor. "The alternative is unacceptable."

The police will do everything they can to balance people's right to protest peacefully with public safety, said Rektor, but refused to say how they will prevent violence.

Rally necessary

McHale, who lives in Richmond Hill, some 110 kilometres away from the occupation site, said he's not being deliberately provocative by calling for a march on the occupied land.

Although he has personally spoken to Ramsay and Tory about his concerns, McHale said the rally is still necessary to underline his point.

"These people don't pay attention until you do something," he said.

The rally has divided the community - many support the premise of the gathering but are wary about venturing onto the occupied site.

Ken Hewitt of the Caledonia Citizens Alliance said residents are upset about the lack of information about the negotiations, and with the police who they feel enforce the rights of aboriginals over those of town residents.

"Most people from the community are really torn," Hewitt said.

"The community is concerned with the image of Caledonia, its future and it's relationship with its neighbours. We don't want to see any of that be affected negatively by this protest."