Ontario Provincial Police said First Nations protesters set up two blockades Monday - one on the outskirts of the south side of the town of Caledonia and a second one on a nearby highway bypass.
"We are aware of two protests, one on Argyle St. South, adjacent to what we would normally call the Douglas Creek Estates and one on the Highway 6 bypass," OPP Insp. Dave Ross said Monday. "So we've rerouted traffic around those areas. We are working actively with Six Nations leadership and stakeholders to resolve the matter, and we are calling on everyone to be patient, to abide by the directions given at the scene for the rerouting of traffic."
Caledonia has been the site of protests and blockades by Six Nations members over unsettled land claims, including a heated dispute over a housing development known as Douglas Creek along the Grand River.
Protesters contend the land was given to the Six Nations by the British Crown in 1784, while the federal government claims it was sold back or surrendered more than 150 years ago.
Const. Paula Wright said the blockade went up Monday morning, but she was unable to give reasons for the blockade. Nor was she able to say how many protesters were involved.
"I don't know the details of the what and why, other than that we are dealing with a blockade. Establishing barricades on our highways is unacceptable and the OPP does not condone this action," she said.
OPP would not confirm that the blockade is related to the ongoing land claim dispute involving Douglas Creek Estates.
"Our priority continues to be to maintain the public peace, safety and good order. We're calling on people to act in a responsible and peaceful manner so that we can effectively resolve that situation," Ross said. "We would like to reinforce the fact that our role here is to maintain the peace. Our role is not to resolve land claims issues."
Caledonia is about 27 kilometres south of Hamilton, Ont.