Friday, April 20, 2007
The Belleville Intelligencer
Mohawk demonstrators make no apologies about trucking gravel out of the Thurlow Aggregates site for use on driveways and potholes on the Tyendinaga reserve, says one protester.
Demonstrators have been using their own equipment to truck some of the existing gravel to benefit people on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, said Jason Maracle, who has been on the scene since the occupation began March 22.
"The gravel that's there that has already been crushed is being hauled away," Maracle said Thursday. "The damage has already been done. The resource is here and we're going to use it."
After all, it is gravel on their land, he said.
The quarry is located on the Culbertson land tract, 923.5 acres the Mohawks say was illegally taken from them in 1832. A land claim was filed in 1995 and accepted as valid in 2003. Negotiations regarding compensation are ongoing, with two officials appointed by the federal government.
The demonstrators targeted Thurlow Aggregates because they say it is an affront to their community that their land is hauled away for profit. The Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte have requested a meeting with Natural Resources Minister David Ramsay to have the quarry's licence revoked. Ramsay maintained it cannot be revoked unless the operation contravenes the Aggregate Resources Act.
The demonstrators will remain until operations are permanently stopped, Maracle said.
"We came in here with a mandate to stop the hauling away of our lands and we're here to stay until the licence is revoked," he said. The demonstrators are using the gravel for driveways, or "people will say 'I need a few shovels full to fill some potholes,'" Maracle said.
Gravel has also been laid at the entrance to the site, where there is one large covered tent and a second with chairs, a table and a barbecue.
They have not been using existing equipment at the site, Maracle said.
The property is owned by Terry Kimmett of Deseronto and the quarry is operated by the Cooney brothers. The Cooneys approached the protesters asking to retrieve their equipment, but Maracle said the company had plenty of time to remove it before. The group warned in January they would be back in 60 days to shut down the business.
Two Tyendinaga police officers are on site 24-hours-a-day. Should the gravel issue be dealt with by law enforcement, it would likely be done by the OPP, said Const. Ron Maracle, acting officer in charge with Tyendinaga police.
Those inhabiting the site feel it is their resource, he said.
"Obviously they feel they're entitled to this because it's Mohawk land."
Jason Maracle said the protest is going smoothly, with people from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory donating and helping out with the cause. He had strong words regarding the suspension of Tyendinaga Police Chief Larry Hay, who is under investigation after making comments about racism in the OPP and RCMP.
"It just goes to show what a racist organization the OPP are," he said. "My personal feelings are that he was put under a gag order for speaking the truth. If you're not going to toe the company line, you're not going to be on the company line."
Pit operator Chris Cooney could not be reached for comment.