By KATIE DAWSON
The Sachem
(February 22, 2007)
It was on February 28th of 2006 that Aboriginals of Six Nations made their voices heard over a 200-year-old land claim dispute. On a land development site where 600 homes were being built, and only weeks away from residents moving in, a group of natives, backed by the Six Nations Confederacy, set up a small road block at the entrance to the site, tents, teepees, a wooden hut and flags, to acknowledge to all of Caledonia, and eventually Canada, that they would no longer watch their lands be taken from them.
In numerous interviews, protesters say the land was granted to Six Nations more than 200 years ago and was never officially transferred to non-natives. As the winter faded and spring came into bloom, more and more protesters were gathering at the site. It was quiet on the site until April 20th when, at 4:30 a.m., OPP officers conducted a raid, arrested 16 people. Within hours hundreds of protesters gathered at the site. Piles of burning tires were lit along the highway six by-pass and on Argyle St. at Sixth Line. A dump truck was used to block the road. Residents looked on as Argyle St. began to look like a war zone with warrior flags flying high.
Talks began the next morning with Six Nations and the federal and provincial government to settle the land claim. During the year, tensions have risen to frightening levels, with parties on both sides becoming angry and emotional. May 22 saw blockades come down as a Ògesture of goodwillÓ by the Natives, according to spokesperson Janie Jamieson. Hours later non-natives form a human barricade, not allowing Natives through. This caused a re-establishment of native barricades, with more chaos to follow. Fistfights broke out, and a transformer station in Caledonia was vandalized, leaving thousands in the dark, some for as long as 72 hours. There have also been quiet times.
The months of October, November, December, January and February have been calm. When asked what the future holds, government officials say talks are going well. Will there be an end to this situation soon? Caledonia councillor Craig Grice says he is optimistically hopeful that there will be, but worries that the land claim could continue for a while yet. It has almost been one year, and looks as though the occupation will continue.