Six Nations fight for their lands in Canada

A seven-week Native occupation of reclaimed lands in Caledonia, Ont., was attacked at 4:30 a.m. on April 20 by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

During the invasion, according to Native sources, the OPP and RCMP used pepper spray, kicks and punches, attemp ting to terrorize the unarmed Hau de nosaunee (Six Nations/Iroquois) protesters, many of whom were women and their children. The protesters fought back with every means at their disposal and were able to repel the police attack.

In response to the initial attack, hundreds of reinforcements arrived to join the initial protesters and blocked a highway.

On March 3, Rotinoshon’non:we (Haude nosaunee or Iroquois) people had set up camp on a piece of land near Caledonia known as the “Halimand Tract” to protest the illegal giveaway by the Canadian government of Six Nations land for a large suburban housing development. This land was stolen from the Six Nations in 1841, in violation of all Canadian laws affecting First Nations. Caledonia is close to the Six Nations of Grand River Reserve.

The OPP and the Ontario provincial government have responded to the Haudenosaunee encampment with incursions, arrests and brutality against the peaceful occupation of unarmed Indi genous people. Threats by the OPP have continued for weeks, accompanied by a build-up of repressive force.

The OPP and RCMP made 16 arrests in the April 20 raid. But lawyer Chris Reid says, “Not only did they not shut down the protest, but it’s grown larger and stronger. They feel vindicated, that they’ve done the right thing.” Reid said his clients face mischief and assault charges.

Many Native people and supporters have called upon the provincial and federal governments to avoid another “Ipper wash.” In 1995, an unarmed Anish nabe protester, Dudley George, was killed by an OPP sniper at a land occupation at Ipperwash Provincial Park, Ont.

His brother, Sam George, spoke out recently on the land issue at a press conference in Toronto. “Our land is disappearing too fast. We feel like if we don’t take a stand and the government doesn’t wake up, pretty soon we’re not going to have what we have.”

Support rolls across Canada

Once again, the tinderbox that is Canada has begun to ignite as a result of the Native struggle for land and sovereignty. Once again, Native peoples and their supporters have shown that they will stand as one in a crisis.

Numerous support protests have broken out in support of the cause. Mohawks from the Akwesasne Reserve protested near a Canada-U.S. border crossing with picket signs. Support from passing motorists was reported.

Mohawks from the Tyendinaga Reserve near Marysville, east of Toronto, blockaded a road with old school buses and bonfires. The blockade held up freight and passenger trains and the Canadian National Railway obtained a court injunction to bring force down upon the protesters.

Tyendinega Mohawk spokesperson Shawn Brant said about 30 Mohawks would maintain the bonfires near Marysville, Ont., “until proper, dignified and respectful talks” are held to resolve the Caledonia dispute.

On April 21, Mohawks of Kahnawake stopped traffic on the Mercier Bridge, near Montreal. This bridge was also a focal point of a crisis in 1990.

Trade unions and other organizations in Canada, including the Canadian Auto Workers and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, have condemned the OPP attacks at Caledonia and have called upon the government to negotiate and reach an equitable solution to the land claim issue with the Haudenosaunee.

For the time being, the OPP has been forced to stand down at Caledonia, but protesters and their supporters remain vigilant, as a force of more than 1,000 OPP, RCMP and Canadian Army troops has been reported in the area.

Sources include BBC, canoe.com, The Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, WBAI’s Indigenous First Voices and Mohawk Nation News (based in Kahnawake).