Mainstream Media March 2006

The following are media summaries relevant to the conflict in Caledonia from March 2006.
** Please note that all acronyms for media outlets cited below are identified in the post entitled "Media Acronyms".

March, 2006

Wednesday, March 15^th: Federal officials have no plans to intervene in the Six Nations occupation of Douglas Creek Estates. A spokesperson for the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Susan Bertrand, said Minister Jim Prentice and his office have been watching the situation. However, she asserted the protest will have to be resolved locally between the developer and the occupiers (Paul Legall: HS A3).

Saturday, March 18^th: First Nations occupiers of Douglas Creek Estates, were given until 2 PM on Wednesday to leave before facing possible 30-day sentences for contempt of court. Ontario Superior Court Justice David Marshall said he wants to give the occupiers every opportunity to avoid being charged. Six Nations spokesperson Dawn Smith again asserted that the group would not submit to local courts because as allies of the British Crown the land issue would have to be dealt with on a nation-to-nation basis with the federal government. Some of the occupiers said that is too much at stake to walk away from the occupation (Paul Legall: HS A4).

Wednesday, March 22^nd: The court-imposed deadline for First Nations occupiers to leave the Douglas Creek Estates construction site is today at 2 p.m. Those who do not leave face a 30-day sentence for contempt of court (HS A6).

Thursday, March 23^rd: More than 200 people joined the Six Nations occupation at Douglas Creek Estates in order to stop the OPP from arresting anyone. More than a hundred Aboriginal women linked arms to serve as a shield. Clan mothers from the Six Nations put out a press release addressed to the developer of the subdivision, provincial and federal authorities and “Her Majesty the Queen.” It stated: “We, the clan mothers, command the agents, representatives and officers of the said British corporation to be at peace and refrain from any acts of violence to spill blood or interfere with the rights of the Onkwe'hon:we.” A spokesman for Douglas Creek developer Henco Industries complained: “We are being held hostage between a splinter group and the federal government, a situation over which we have no control.” The police did not arrive to make the arrests. However, organizer Janie Jamieson said the group has no illusion police have forgotten about them (Paul Legall: HS A3; CP: Gregory Bonnell: TStar A17; TSun 11).

Wednesday, March 29^th: A court order dismissed the contempt of court order against the Six Nations occupiers of the planned Douglas Creek Estates site after the Crown suggested it was too vague for the OPP to enforce. The lawyer for the developer now hopes police will quickly remove the occupiers. Six Nations spokesperson Janie Jamieson said the change will not weaken protesters' resolve or create fear of imminent arrests (Paul Legall: HS A3).
Six Nations occupiers have no plans to leave, despite two injunctions and an envoy from Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice (Kate Harries: G&M A13).

Thursday, March 30^th: Six Nations spokeswoman Janie Jamieson said she hoped there for a peaceful resolution to the occupation. A spokesperson for the OPP, Paula Wright, said the occupiers continue to be in contempt of court and that the police will respect the court order. It was noted that Michael Coyle, appointed by Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice as a fact-finder, met with some of the involved parties, but spokespersons said the women who are directing the occupation did not speak to him. Diane Laursen, a spokesperson for Mr. Prentice, stressed that Mr. Coyle is not a mediator, but rather is exploring the possibility of mediation. Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty called for a peaceful end to the standoff. Tory MPP Toby Barrett said he has delivered materials from the protesters to Governor-General Michaëlle Jean (Kate Harries: G&M A11; Paul Legall: HS A8; TSun 44).
Ms. Jamieson asserted that the revised court order has no bearing on their actions (CP: Gregory Bonnell: WStar A10, CBP A12, LFP C5, EJ B8, Ctz A5).
Coverage of the changed court order was repeated (HCH 00).

Friday, March 31^st: Six Nation occupiers spray painted a black line across the Argyle Street entrance of Douglas Creek Estates and said they could not be responsible for outsiders who crossed it. Sheriff John Dawson went to the site of the occupation and read the most recent version of a contempt order intended to evict the occupiers. Six Nations activist Jeff Hawk confronted the sheriff with an eviction order of his own. It accused the authorities of a myriad of crimes against Aboriginal people and claimed that it supersedes any order of the provincial courts. Michael Laughing, who led a group from the Akwesasne Reserve at Cornwall, said he thought Sheriff Dawson had been disrespectful to his people. Mr. Hawk and others reasserted that the provisional courts have no jurisdiction over them. Mr. Hawk also commented on the occupiers refusal to deal with the fact finder sent by Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice: “They sent us a monkey. We sent him back. We wanted an organ grinder (who calls the tune), not a monkey” (Paul Legall: HS A1; Lee Greenberg: Ctz A10; WStar A10).

Six Nations spokesperson Janie Jamieson said that the occupiers are citizens of a sovereign nation and Canadian law does not apply to them (CP: Gaz A12, LFP A2).