By Karen Best
Haldmand Review
February 01, 2007
On the morning of January 25, flags were stolen from a Caledonia man’s property and from a Six Nations display on Argyle Street South.
Around 8 a.m. a passerby saw a Six Nations man taking down Canadian flags on Chris and Lisa Syrie’s property, which abuts into Douglas Creek Estates on the Argyle Street South side. Two No Trespassing signs were untouched.
The person who did this is disrespecting Canada, those who believe in Canada and the military, said Lisa.
The passerby called Chris to tell him a vehicle pulled up to his property and a native got out of it and grabbed all four flags. The vehicle proceeded into DCE, he said.
“I’d like them returned and I will put them back up,” said Chris. If they are not returned, the Syries will buy new flags.
In 2005, the Syries purchased the property as the future site of the Caledonia Music Centre. Since the school opened in a commercial location in 2004, enrolment leapt from 45 to 400. To accommodate a growing waiting list, the Syries planned to open an 8,000 square foot music school beside DCE.
After Six Nations persons began to occupy DCE on Feb. 28, their future changed. In the summer, the Ontario government bought out the developer and builders but the Syries’s request to be bought out was rejected.
The Syries said it is impossible to build on the lot because of flooding caused by changes to the Ontario owned property. Chris also said it was not possible to bring students to a school at this location.
Determined to move ahead with their dream of a new school, the Syries are looking for another piece of property.
Many native and non-native students play together, creating music at the Caledonia school. “We know we bring a lot of joy to these people,” said Chris.
“We made musicians out of them,” he said of some very talented Six Nations and non-native children and youths.
Many native clients chose to ignore statements made in a local paper that suggested shunning the centre, said Syrie. “We thank them dearly for their continued support and encouragement,” he said.
Along with access to 14 lessons rooms and a recording studio, students in the new school can perform for free on a stage with a professional sound system and lights. The venue will be rented out for birthday parties, where eager musicians will be videotaped. They’ll take home a DVD of their ‘show’.
On weekends, the Syries plan to bring in touring bands and to host banquets. “It was a venue that this town so badly needs,” said Chris.
On Jan. 25, someone yanked down a pole with native unity, Haudenosaunee and Two Row Wampum flags on it. This pole was erected on Jan. 20 with a Canadian and American flag on either side to symbolize the relationship between First Nations and the two countries.
Six Nations spokesperson Hazel Hill denounced the flag pole theft as a childish tactic. Flag antics like this detract from the real issue which is her people’s relationship with the Crown and the land, she said.
Ontario Provincial Police are investigating the theft of four Canadian flags and three Confederacy flags. OPP Constable Paula Wright asked people with any information to come forward or to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Because of the ongoing investigation, she could not comment on a conversation between Chris and an OPP officer or what OPP officers, who stationed down the street, saw.