Caledonia organizer not done with activism

The Liberal - Richmond Hill
October 19, 2006
By Michael Power - Staff Writer

Although he dubs a weekend march in the embattled town of Caledonia a success, Gary McHale isn't hanging up his activist's hat yet.

"We've got a whole slew of things planned," said Mr. McHale from his Richmond Hill home.

Mr. McHale and his wife, Christine, organized the rally in Caledonia Oct. 15 to protest the federal and provincial governments' – as well as the OPP's – handling of the occupation by natives of a 40-hectare housing development near Hamilton.

Some media reported about 400 people showed up to the peaceful weekend protest, although Mr. McHale said the number was more than 1,000.

Native protesters say the land, which they have occupied for eight5 months and which is now owned by the province, belongs to them.

According to an Oct. 10 press release issued on the CaledoniaWakeUpCall.com website, a $1-billion class-action lawsuit could be pursued in the United States court system against the Mohawk Warrior Society and its associates, on behalf of Caledonia and Ipperwash residents.

The release also states an unnamed U.S. lawyer said damages may prove that U.S. laws have been broken by the society and its associates "by funneling illegal money to destroy businesses, infrastructure and quality of life in Caledonia and Ipperwash".

Many of the native protesters are from the United States rather than around Caledonia, which means they can be sued south of the border, said Mr. McHale.

"They talk about me being an outsider, but most of these people have been bused in," he said.

Other actions related to the occupation are planned fro the new year, he added.

The issue isn't about land claims but law and order, said Mr. McHale, who has no direct tie to either the issue or the region.

The protest he and his wife organized was designed to draw attention to what he called a "two-tiered system," in which native protesters are treated differently from the rest of the population.

Despite an Ontario judge's order this summer ordering native protesters off the disputed land, they remain to this day.

"I'm not interested one way or the other (in the land claim) – if it's their land, give it to them," he said.

But those occupying the property must protest peacefully and within the law, he added.

Mr. McHale also rejected criticism that as a Richmond Hill resident he shouldn't get involved in a conflict 110 kilometres away.

Rather, since the issue was a general one of law and order, all citizens had the right to participate.

"I don't see why people should be surprised when Canadians help Canadians," he said.

"These families live in fear and that's their words. To say other Canadians can't come and help them is absolutely ridiculous."