Protesters made a last-minute decision to back off on a public demonstration at the Olympic torch relay outside the Six Nations Bingo Hall tonight after they saw the torches from Caledonia rerouted around the heart of the reserve and arrive at the venue in a “back way” fashion.
“All the demands were met in not bringing the caravan through (Six Nations) and that’s why there was no big demonstration at the relay,” said Skye Williams, 26.
Demonstrators were waiting on Highway 54 ready to block the torch from entering Six Nations, but when the Olympic caravan reached the river bend on the highway, it turned north and rerouted.
Torchbearers and Six Nations spectators were told this morning the runners would run the relay outside the bingo hall instead of the initial plan, which had them run through the centre of the reserve.
The change in venue is a small victory, said Melissa Elliott, who led protestors outside the Six Nations Community Centre on Fourth Line after a press conference with the 25 torchbearers earlier today.
There was no consensus among the Haudenosaunee Confederacy to bring the Olympic torch to their territory, Elliott said. “The main reason is 2010 Olympics and the torch relay do not support the values of the Great Law of Peace of our people. For example, the Great Law tells us that we’re supposed to represent and stand for land and life and this torch does not represent that. This torch represents homelessness, industrial profits, inequality, violence against women … especially the women out west with the sex trade industry.”
While everyone is entitled to their right to protest, the relay was not a political event, said band council chief Bill Montour. “This is for the community … It’s a celebration of (its) accomplishments.”
Torchbearers ran several laps around the front of the bingo hall without incident tonight.