Subject: Update from Hazel Hill, camp spokesperson
Update from Hazel Hill, camp spokesperson
From: TheBasketCase
Saturday, June 10, 2006
First of all I have to tell you that I am experiencing a great deal of interference with getting this e-mail out. I am sending it directly to MNN first, and I will try to send out individually because every time I attempt to send it out to all, it comes back undeliverable. Sorry for the delay.
Update from Grand River
Today has been a day of unrest at the land reclamation site. While I won't go into great detail on what has happened today as a press release is being prepared, it is suffice to say that the intimidation tactics and pressure from the outside has worked to the point that 1000 opp officers are being dispatched to the area surrounding the reclamation site, and the Caledonia residents are up in arms, demanding the removal of our people from the site, and even going so far as to setting up a barricade on the recently opened plank road (argyle street) leading into Caledonia. It is important for all of you to understand that the intimidation tactics leading up to day were constant..... including army helicopters and others flying overhead all hours of the day and night; including hovering overhead between 2 and 4 in the morning with their lights off, and then on occasion, shining high powered lights down onto the people on the site. This has been going on constantly. Our people are being faced daily with people driving by, hollering racial remarks including "go home you f'n Indians", "get a job", "you're gonna die" etc. Garbage is constantly being thrown at us, and besides the "flipping of the bird" there have been times where firecrackers are being thrown out the window toward us. These incidents however, are not followed up on by the opp because they are not breaking any laws.
today a united states border patrol vehicle was retrieved with high powered surveillance equipment in it. The first story from the opp was that the "A.T.F. Officer" was just visiting friends in the neighbourhood and was taking pictures "kinda like a tourist", when spotted just down from the the front line barricade and then followed to the back door of the reclamation site. then later when we questioned further what the United States ATF was doing snooping around taking pictures of our people with the opp riding in the back with them, they changed the story saying that they had been invited in by the opp. Our question as to what they were doing there, what is their mandate, and the fact that obviously these people have gotten high government official clearance to be so far out of their jurisdiction was unanswered by the opp representatives. an opp officer was hospitalized as a result of this incident, and a ch tv. Newsperson/cameraman had to get stitches as a result of a previous run in with our people. This situation is not good.
What needs to be understood is that the incidents of today, are a direct result of the constant intimidation tactics of the opp and others of the military, the continued racial discrimination being shown, not by us, but by the Caledonia people, including the recent blocking of our children from using the arena for lacrosse games; the back tracking by the provincial government at the negotiating table; all of which lead up to the ultimate goal of the government. To justify stopping the talks at the negotiating table. From what we have been told at the fire tonight, this is the position of the government at this point. Canada does not want to deal with the Onkwehonweh people because they know we are absolutely right in our position with respect to the land, our sovereignty and upholding our Law. The violence that occurred is not something that we are proud of, but it is something that we completely understand knowing and understanding the underhanded and direct attempts at inciting the action required to justify another attack against our people, and to make it look like we are uncontrollable. Why else have they been playing the "terrorists in Canada in court in Brampton" back to back with the "six nations land reclamation in Caledonia" on all of the news stations Canada with the help of corporate media, is making sure the mental brainwashing of its citizens against the Onkwehonweh people continues. How convenient that CHTV 11 was there even before this all started. How coincidently that the couple who sparked the violence with their racial attacks drove straight to the Canadian Tire parking lot, and how convenient that a "by-stander" happened to have a video camera across the road at tim hortons video taping the whole scene and directly reporting to CHML radio who happens to be co-owned by chtv 11. Was it a co-incidence! or were these people already on standby knowing that a story was about to break. It is unfortunate that our people fell for it, and in hindsight we can all wish it didn't happen, but the reality is, unless you are in the situation, dealing with the constant mental emotional and physical intimidation of the corrupt bureaucRATS; and the racial violence that has been directed at our people on a constant basis, none of us can truly say how we would have responded if in the situation ourselves.
The potential for violence occurring on the site in the next little while is tremendous. The Caledonia people are wanting to come in to take us out. The opp are maintaining a line between the Caledonia residents and the reclamation site. It is unknown how long this is going to continue. Our people need to be on alert. Again, we are on the site unarmed, we are trying to maintain the peace, and we are keeping the people toward the inner perimeter of the site. I will forward further updates as soon as I get them. Please forward to others. Stay Strong and keep the Peace.
Hazel
Subject: Joint Statement by Minister Jim Prentice and Minister David Ramsay
CNW Group Portfolio E-Mail
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Transmitted by CNW Group on : June 11, 2006 21:30
Joint Statement by Minister Jim Prentice and Minister David Ramsay
OTTAWA AND TORONTO, June 11 /CNW Telbec/ - The following statement was
released by the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Indian Affairs and
Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Metis and Non-Status
Indians, and the Honourable David Ramsay, Ontario Minister Responsible for
Aboriginal Affairs:
"Events over the past months in Caledonia Ontario have caused great
strain within that community and neighbouring Six Nations. While the vast
majority have demonstrated a great deal of restraint, perseverance,
determination and goodwill, there are some who have not.
We remain deeply concerned about the tensions and join the condemnation
of the recent acts of violence in Caledonia. These acts of aggression and
intimidation on the part of a small few, are aimed at disrupting the
significant progress that has been made by the governments of Canada, Six
Nations and Ontario.
Six Nations leadership has joined us and local council in speaking out
clearly against this behaviour and have called for peace and reconciliation by
pledging to work with various authorities to ensure those responsible are
brought to justice.
We find the recent acts of violence particularly discouraging because
many of the issues at the root of these tensions have been resolved. For
example, since the federal-provincial joint offer was presented to Six Nations
leaders on April 17, 2006:
<<
- Barbara McDougall and Jane Stewart have been appointed to work with
Six Nations negotiators on land grievances and this table has been
active, with progress being made.
- There is now a moratorium on development at the Douglas Creek Estates
with its ownership and use to be determined at the negotiating table.
- Provincially owned lands in the Haldimand tract have been identified
for consideration as part of the land grievance process.
- Real progress has been made and there has been a commitment
throughout that these talks will accelerate further as peace returns
to the community.
>>
The remaining blockades have had a severe impact on the surrounding
community and continue to disrupt community activities, social life, the local
economy and pose a continued threat to public safety.
We are asking that these blockades be removed as a matter of urgency in
order that the source of tensions in the communities be eliminated. This will
mean that all involved can focus their resources and efforts to the task of
resolving the outstanding issues at the table.
Just as importantly, removal of the blockades will give everyone in the
Caledonia community and Six Nations the opportunity to re-establish and
further develop healthy community relationships which they have developed
together over many years of living side-by-side as friends and neighbours.
This is what all responsible community members want and what they deserve to
have.
Common to all of us who live in this wonderful country and province are
the underlying and important values of peace and justice. We cannot and will
not be intimidated by the activities of the violent few who will sometimes
seek to disrupt these cherished human values."
-30-
/For further information: INAC media relations, (819) 953-1160,
Anne-Marie Flanagan, Press Secretary to Minister Ramsay, (416) 268-3690/
UBCIC Chiefs Council Supports Six Nations
Chiefs Council Unanimously Passes Haldimand Tract Lands Resolution
For more information contact Chief Stewart Phillip, President at (250) 490-5314
=====================
Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs
Chiefs Council
June 7th 8th, 2006
Vancouver, B.C.
Resolution no. 2006-15
Re: Six Nations: Haldimand Tract Lands
WHEREAS the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island enjoy undiminished traditional, inherent, judicial and Constitutional rights to their Indigenous homelands and territories;
WHEREAS the Government of Canada has consistently refused over the course of history and deliberately refused to recognize and reconcile the unresolved land rights issues of the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island;
WHEREAS the outstanding issues associated with the conveyance of the Haldimand Tract Lands in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Haldimand Proclamation of 1850 need to be resolved to the satisfaction of the Six nations of the Grand River Territory;
WHEREAS the unresolved land rights issues of the Haldimand Tract Lands have resulted in a 100 day ongoing violent standoff in relation to a proposed commercial housing development known as the Douglas Creek Estates;
WHEREAS as tensions and frustrations escalate, the potential for violence continues to increase on a daily basis;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs fully supports the ongoing efforts of the Clan Mothers and Traditional Chiefs of the Iroquois Confederacy to achieve a peaceful resolution of the violent land rights dispute at the Douglas Creek estates subdivision site at Caledonia, Ontario; and
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs call upon Prime Minister Steven Harper and Minister of Indian Affairs Jim Prentice to personally intervene in this violent land rights dispute and fully assume and immediately act upon the Government of Canadas constitutional, judicial and fiduciary responsibility to peacefully resolve this outstanding land rights issue and subsequent escalation of violence in Caledonia, Ontario.
THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED THAT in the event that the Government of Canada, through the Prime Minister Steven Harper, fails to uphold its responsibility the UBCIC shall support the intervention of Rodolpho Stavenhagen in his role as the United Nations Special Rapporteur, Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous Peoples.
Moved: Chief Fred Sampson, Siska Indian Band
Seconded: Chief Archie Pootlass, Nuxalk Nation
Disposition: Carried
Date: June 8, 2006
The UBCIC is a NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations
Marika Swan
Tla-o-qui-aht
Manager, Redwire Native Media Society
#523-119 West Pender St
Vancouver, BC V6B 1S5
Ph: 604-602-7226
Fax: 604-602-7276
www.redwiremag.com
[email protected]
Update from Hazel Hill, camp spokesperson
From: TheBasketCase
Saturday, June 10, 2006
First of all I have to tell you that I am experiencing a great deal of interference with getting this e-mail out. I am sending it directly to MNN first, and I will try to send out individually because every time I attempt to send it out to all, it comes back undeliverable. Sorry for the delay.
Update from Grand River
Today has been a day of unrest at the land reclamation site. While I won't go into great detail on what has happened today as a press release is being prepared, it is suffice to say that the intimidation tactics and pressure from the outside has worked to the point that 1000 opp officers are being dispatched to the area surrounding the reclamation site, and the Caledonia residents are up in arms, demanding the removal of our people from the site, and even going so far as to setting up a barricade on the recently opened plank road (argyle street) leading into Caledonia. It is important for all of you to understand that the intimidation tactics leading up to day were constant..... including army helicopters and others flying overhead all hours of the day and night; including hovering overhead between 2 and 4 in the morning with their lights off, and then on occasion, shining high powered lights down onto the people on the site. This has been going on constantly. Our people are being faced daily with people driving by, hollering racial remarks including "go home you f'n Indians", "get a job", "you're gonna die" etc. Garbage is constantly being thrown at us, and besides the "flipping of the bird" there have been times where firecrackers are being thrown out the window toward us. These incidents however, are not followed up on by the opp because they are not breaking any laws.
today a united states border patrol vehicle was retrieved with high powered surveillance equipment in it. The first story from the opp was that the "A.T.F. Officer" was just visiting friends in the neighbourhood and was taking pictures "kinda like a tourist", when spotted just down from the the front line barricade and then followed to the back door of the reclamation site. then later when we questioned further what the United States ATF was doing snooping around taking pictures of our people with the opp riding in the back with them, they changed the story saying that they had been invited in by the opp. Our question as to what they were doing there, what is their mandate, and the fact that obviously these people have gotten high government official clearance to be so far out of their jurisdiction was unanswered by the opp representatives. an opp officer was hospitalized as a result of this incident, and a ch tv. Newsperson/cameraman had to get stitches as a result of a previous run in with our people. This situation is not good.
What needs to be understood is that the incidents of today, are a direct result of the constant intimidation tactics of the opp and others of the military, the continued racial discrimination being shown, not by us, but by the Caledonia people, including the recent blocking of our children from using the arena for lacrosse games; the back tracking by the provincial government at the negotiating table; all of which lead up to the ultimate goal of the government. To justify stopping the talks at the negotiating table. From what we have been told at the fire tonight, this is the position of the government at this point. Canada does not want to deal with the Onkwehonweh people because they know we are absolutely right in our position with respect to the land, our sovereignty and upholding our Law. The violence that occurred is not something that we are proud of, but it is something that we completely understand knowing and understanding the underhanded and direct attempts at inciting the action required to justify another attack against our people, and to make it look like we are uncontrollable. Why else have they been playing the "terrorists in Canada in court in Brampton" back to back with the "six nations land reclamation in Caledonia" on all of the news stations Canada with the help of corporate media, is making sure the mental brainwashing of its citizens against the Onkwehonweh people continues. How convenient that CHTV 11 was there even before this all started. How coincidently that the couple who sparked the violence with their racial attacks drove straight to the Canadian Tire parking lot, and how convenient that a "by-stander" happened to have a video camera across the road at tim hortons video taping the whole scene and directly reporting to CHML radio who happens to be co-owned by chtv 11. Was it a co-incidence! or were these people already on standby knowing that a story was about to break. It is unfortunate that our people fell for it, and in hindsight we can all wish it didn't happen, but the reality is, unless you are in the situation, dealing with the constant mental emotional and physical intimidation of the corrupt bureaucRATS; and the racial violence that has been directed at our people on a constant basis, none of us can truly say how we would have responded if in the situation ourselves.
The potential for violence occurring on the site in the next little while is tremendous. The Caledonia people are wanting to come in to take us out. The opp are maintaining a line between the Caledonia residents and the reclamation site. It is unknown how long this is going to continue. Our people need to be on alert. Again, we are on the site unarmed, we are trying to maintain the peace, and we are keeping the people toward the inner perimeter of the site. I will forward further updates as soon as I get them. Please forward to others. Stay Strong and keep the Peace.
Hazel
Subject: Joint Statement by Minister Jim Prentice and Minister David Ramsay
CNW Group Portfolio E-Mail
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Transmitted by CNW Group on : June 11, 2006 21:30
Joint Statement by Minister Jim Prentice and Minister David Ramsay
OTTAWA AND TORONTO, June 11 /CNW Telbec/ - The following statement was
released by the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Indian Affairs and
Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Metis and Non-Status
Indians, and the Honourable David Ramsay, Ontario Minister Responsible for
Aboriginal Affairs:
"Events over the past months in Caledonia Ontario have caused great
strain within that community and neighbouring Six Nations. While the vast
majority have demonstrated a great deal of restraint, perseverance,
determination and goodwill, there are some who have not.
We remain deeply concerned about the tensions and join the condemnation
of the recent acts of violence in Caledonia. These acts of aggression and
intimidation on the part of a small few, are aimed at disrupting the
significant progress that has been made by the governments of Canada, Six
Nations and Ontario.
Six Nations leadership has joined us and local council in speaking out
clearly against this behaviour and have called for peace and reconciliation by
pledging to work with various authorities to ensure those responsible are
brought to justice.
We find the recent acts of violence particularly discouraging because
many of the issues at the root of these tensions have been resolved. For
example, since the federal-provincial joint offer was presented to Six Nations
leaders on April 17, 2006:
<<
- Barbara McDougall and Jane Stewart have been appointed to work with
Six Nations negotiators on land grievances and this table has been
active, with progress being made.
- There is now a moratorium on development at the Douglas Creek Estates
with its ownership and use to be determined at the negotiating table.
- Provincially owned lands in the Haldimand tract have been identified
for consideration as part of the land grievance process.
- Real progress has been made and there has been a commitment
throughout that these talks will accelerate further as peace returns
to the community.
>>
The remaining blockades have had a severe impact on the surrounding
community and continue to disrupt community activities, social life, the local
economy and pose a continued threat to public safety.
We are asking that these blockades be removed as a matter of urgency in
order that the source of tensions in the communities be eliminated. This will
mean that all involved can focus their resources and efforts to the task of
resolving the outstanding issues at the table.
Just as importantly, removal of the blockades will give everyone in the
Caledonia community and Six Nations the opportunity to re-establish and
further develop healthy community relationships which they have developed
together over many years of living side-by-side as friends and neighbours.
This is what all responsible community members want and what they deserve to
have.
Common to all of us who live in this wonderful country and province are
the underlying and important values of peace and justice. We cannot and will
not be intimidated by the activities of the violent few who will sometimes
seek to disrupt these cherished human values."
-30-
/For further information: INAC media relations, (819) 953-1160,
Anne-Marie Flanagan, Press Secretary to Minister Ramsay, (416) 268-3690/
UBCIC Chiefs Council Supports Six Nations
Chiefs Council Unanimously Passes Haldimand Tract Lands Resolution
For more information contact Chief Stewart Phillip, President at (250) 490-5314
=====================
Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs
Chiefs Council
June 7th 8th, 2006
Vancouver, B.C.
Resolution no. 2006-15
Re: Six Nations: Haldimand Tract Lands
WHEREAS the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island enjoy undiminished traditional, inherent, judicial and Constitutional rights to their Indigenous homelands and territories;
WHEREAS the Government of Canada has consistently refused over the course of history and deliberately refused to recognize and reconcile the unresolved land rights issues of the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island;
WHEREAS the outstanding issues associated with the conveyance of the Haldimand Tract Lands in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Haldimand Proclamation of 1850 need to be resolved to the satisfaction of the Six nations of the Grand River Territory;
WHEREAS the unresolved land rights issues of the Haldimand Tract Lands have resulted in a 100 day ongoing violent standoff in relation to a proposed commercial housing development known as the Douglas Creek Estates;
WHEREAS as tensions and frustrations escalate, the potential for violence continues to increase on a daily basis;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs fully supports the ongoing efforts of the Clan Mothers and Traditional Chiefs of the Iroquois Confederacy to achieve a peaceful resolution of the violent land rights dispute at the Douglas Creek estates subdivision site at Caledonia, Ontario; and
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs call upon Prime Minister Steven Harper and Minister of Indian Affairs Jim Prentice to personally intervene in this violent land rights dispute and fully assume and immediately act upon the Government of Canadas constitutional, judicial and fiduciary responsibility to peacefully resolve this outstanding land rights issue and subsequent escalation of violence in Caledonia, Ontario.
THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED THAT in the event that the Government of Canada, through the Prime Minister Steven Harper, fails to uphold its responsibility the UBCIC shall support the intervention of Rodolpho Stavenhagen in his role as the United Nations Special Rapporteur, Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous Peoples.
Moved: Chief Fred Sampson, Siska Indian Band
Seconded: Chief Archie Pootlass, Nuxalk Nation
Disposition: Carried
Date: June 8, 2006
The UBCIC is a NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations
Marika Swan
Tla-o-qui-aht
Manager, Redwire Native Media Society
#523-119 West Pender St
Vancouver, BC V6B 1S5
Ph: 604-602-7226
Fax: 604-602-7276
www.redwiremag.com
[email protected]