Well-known native activist Shawn Brant is one of three Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory men charged in connection with the construction of a building on a property near a disputed Deseronto quarry.
"A temporary building was erected" on private land adjacent to the quarry, OPP Sgt. Kristine Rae said. "It was brought to our attention in early January."
Rae would not comment further on the exact location of the property in relation to the quarry. She said elaborating would identify the victim -- the owner of the private land.
Napanee OPP began an investigation last month and issued arrest warrants for three men. Two men surrendered Tuesday to police, Rae said.
Brant, 45, and Steven William Chartrand, 34, are each charged with mischief under $5,000. Brant is further charged with breach of probation. Chartrand is charged with breach of a recognizance.
They were held for a bail hearing and released on a recognizance. Each is to appear in Napanee court Feb. 23.
Charles Edward Kloetstra, 38, is wanted on charges of mischief and breach of probation.
Rae said she didn't know if the building was still standing. She said no further information on the case was available by press time Wednesday.
The quarry has been the scene of frequent disputes since 2006. It sits on the Culbertson Land Tract, a 925-acre property claimed by the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte. Talks with the federal government have yet to yield a resolution of the claim.
A series of protests by activists in the reserve began that year. One, in November 2006, resulted in a confrontation with soldiers who, a Napanee court later heard, were on a driver-training course when they passed through Deseronto, only to be stopped by protesters who were busy covering signs advertising the tract's proposed development.
In January 2007, Brant was arrested for uttering death threats to members of the military in connection with the November protest. On April 14, 2008, Brant was acquitted of all charges.
Protesters began occupying the quarry in March 2007 and, since then, Brant has been charged a number of times.
He was charged with nine counts of mischief and breaching his bail conditions after a group of protesters illegally blocked CN lines and highways in Deseronto in July 2007.
On April 25, Brant was again arrested and detained for assault and weapons charges in relation to a confrontation between two men from Deseronto and several aboriginal protesters.
Brant spent 62 days in custody awaiting the trial. He was found guilty in court and was sentenced to time already served.
In October 2008, protesters blockaded York Road in protest of a prefabricated police headquarters building being brought in.
On June 7, 2009, Brant helped organize a blockade of the Skyway bridge which connects Tyendinaga with Prince Edward County and was charged with mischief and breaching a previous conditional sentence.
Standing in court later that month, Brant chastised the criminal justice system and vowed he would "be happy to go home when this is over and I've served my time."
"I'll never ask for nothing from nobody again -- I'm sick of it," he shouted during an emotional 10- minute tirade before Justice Stephen Hunter.
Brant was sentenced to five months behind bars from the blockade on York Road in October 2008, and the blockade of the Skyway Bridge.