Mainstream Media April 2006

April, 2006

Monday, April 3^rd: The Ontario government called for calm in the stand-off between Six Nations occupiers and police. Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Marie Bountrogianni said that Premier Dalton McGuinty “remains committed to furthering the constructive and co-operative relationship forged with Ontario's First Nations.” Six Nations elected band councillor Eva Hill said she welcomed the premier's support for First Nations people. Hamilton police Chief Brian Mullan said better communication between First Nations people and the police has helped diffuse tense and complicated disputes. Chief Mullan has also said Hamilton's police service is reviewing its missing persons policy to put a more particular emphasis on Aboriginal women and children (Paul Morse: HS A4).

Paul Legall analyzed the reactions of homeowners to the Six Nations occupation (HS A4).

Tuesday, April 4^th: Invoking the tragedy at Ipperwash, police said they are looking for a peaceful end to the Six Nations occupation of a housing development. Mr. Michael Laughing, from the Akwesasne Reserve, said he is prepared for a violent ending to the occupation. He expressed doubt that negotiations can be successful. It was noted that the police presence in the town of Caledonia is growing (Deirdre Healey and Paul Morse: HS A4; CP: FDG A2, BE A2).

Wednesday, April 5^th: A few hundred Caledonia residents attended a rally to pressure authorities to end the Six Nations occupation of the Douglas Creek Estates. Organizers handed out e-mail addresses of local politicians and Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice and urged people to let them know the situation was upsetting and must come to an end. Haldimand Mayor Marie Trainer said that she is to meet with Mr. Prentice and local MP Diane Finley to try to find a resolution to the standoff. Many blamed the provincial government for letting the situation drag on by preventing the OPP from evicting the protesters. Lawyer Ed McCarthy asserted that the land in dispute was surrendered by the Six Nations in 1841 (Daniel Nolan: HS A3; Cheryl Bauslaugh: BE A1).

Thursday, April 6^th: Six Nations Chief Dave General said dialogue with the federal and provincial governments is the way to resolve longstanding land claims. Chief General said that recent court rulings compel the governments to talk to First Nations bands to try and resolve land claims. It was noted that the population of the region is expected to greatly increase, putting pressure on lands on which the Six Nations have claims. One occupier called for Chief General to be impeached for claiming the on-going occupation of the Douglas Creek Estates is hurting the Six Nations’ economic interests (Daniel Nolan: HS A3).

Susan Clairmont, analysis: Few cops want to talk about the way they deal with First Nations protesters. The standoff at Douglas Creek Estates involves dozens of Aboriginal people whose presence has stopped the work of a developer and has angered some community residents. Some question the police’s decision not to immediately enforce the court injunction. Sergeant Dave Rektor, a spokesperson for the OPP on the matter, said that it is in everyone's best interests to talk before acting. Hamilton Deputy Chief Ken Leendertse has stressed the importance of dialogue with the occupiers (HS A22).

Coverage of the rally of community residents upset by the Six Nations occupation was repeated (BE A8, WStar A11).

Friday, April 7^th: A spokesperson for Minister of Indian Affairs Jim Prentice, Deidre McCracken, said the Six Nations occupation “has nothing to do with the federal government. ... This isn't a lands claim matter. ... For the time being, it's a protest.” Haldimand Mayor Marie Trainer, who is to meet with Mr. Prentice and MP Diane Finley, disagreed: “Everything to do with Natives has to do with the federal government.” Ms. Trainer plans to request financial assistance for residents affected by the occupation. A spokesperson for the occupiers, Janie Jamieson, said she was not surprised by Ottawa's response: “It seems like they are apprehensive of taking responsibility for what's happening here. We deal on a nation-to-nation basis.” Ms. McCracken said the federal government is talking with the Six Nations band council about two land claim issues and is awaiting a fact-finding report to see how it can help with the standoff. It was noted that the site of the current occupation is not one of the two issues being dealt with currently, but it is one of 29 land claims the First Nations has registered with Ottawa. It was also noted that the elected band council opposes the occupation (Carmela Fragomeni: HS A4; CP: BE A1).

Saturday, April 8^th: Six Nations occupiers built their first structure on the Douglas Creek site. The building arose on the same day Haldimand County Mayor Marie Trainer and other county officials met with Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice in Ottawa to talk about ways to resolve the five-week standoff (Daniel Nolan: HS A3).

Tuesday, April 11^th: Letter writer Helen Thorpe: “As a resident of Haldimand County, I would gladly pay Mayor Marie Trainer’s gas money to Ottawa.” Ms. Thorpe asserted that, while the land claims dispute may be taking place in Caledonia, the problem is with the federal government. She maintained that only direct involvement by the federal government will resolve the issue. Ms. Thorpe concluded that the manner in which this issue is resolved will have repercussions throughout North America wherever an Aboriginal land claim is at issue (HS A17).

Wednesday, April 12^th: A rally will be held today in support of the six-week Native occupation. The rally is set for 2 p.m. at Douglas Creek Estates in the south part of Caledonia. Other rallies have been organized for Montreal, Toronto, Saskatoon, Vancouver and Victoria (HS A4).

Letter writer Elaine Marion: “The UN is right in drawing attention to the plight of Natives in our society. I believe the natives of Six Nations have been patient for a long time. I am ashamed to say that while living so close to one of the biggest cities in North America, the people of Six Nations do not all have access to potable water” (HS A17).

Letter writer Harry Wiersma criticized the Local 1005 Union for supporting the Six Nations protestors, stating: “they should support the workers who are now unemployed.” According to Mr. Wiersma, the protesters are in defiance of an order from a provincial court judge and are trespassing on private property (HS A17).

Thursday, April 13^th: Parties involved in the Caledonia housing project dispute met Wednesday to try and solve their differences. Representatives for Douglas Creek Estates developer Henco Industries joined Six Nations elected band council members, traditional chiefs, representatives of the occupiers, Haldimand town council, officials from the Ontario government and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada to discuss ways to end the occupation. Senior OPP officers were also in attendance, including deputy commissioner Maurice Pilon. Two chiefs from the Union of B.C. chiefs were also in attendance to give insight into how B.C. land claims are dealt with. Haldimand County Mayor Marie Trainer said that provincial and federal officials agreed with a proposal from Six Nations chief Dave General and the elected band council to do joint research into Six Nations land claims and to also help in an education campaign on the Haldimand Tract. Ontario Native Affairs Minister David Ramsay said his government is contemplating whether to compensate builders and housing contractors affected by the occupation (John Burman: HS A1; Gillian Livingston: BE A5).

Columnist Meredith Macleod wrote that there are 165 years of outrage, division, infighting and mistrust behind the six-week-long occupation of the Douglas Creek Estates in Caledonia. Ms. Macleod noted that the core of the issue is disagreement over ownership of land given to Six Nations and then, piece by piece, taken back by the British Crown. She wrote that the issue across the Haldimand tract is that in some cases, land was taken against the wishes of Six Nations and in others, land was never paid for. Ms. Macleod noted that Six Nations has alleged fraud, misappropriation of funds and poor investments. Meanwhile, the federal and provincial governments have pointed fingers at each other over who is responsible (HS A7).

Columnist Robert Howard wrote that the Ontario government’s acknowledgment that compensation is owed to people caught in the middle of the land claim dispute in Caledonia is good news and unexpected given that the protest is just six weeks old (HS A19).

Saturday, April 15^th: A lawyer for the Douglas Creek Estates developers said his clients are working to get the federal and provincial governments to return to talks this weekend in hopes of ending a six-week-long Aboriginal land dispute. Michael Bruder said Don and John Henning, owners of Henco Industries, are growing increasingly frustrated over the negotiations between the governments and the Six Nations band council that seem to be going nowhere. Indian Affairs representative Bob Howsam stressed the need for caution and sensitivity while moving forward (HS A1 - 15 April).

A proposal for a “new understanding”’ among the Six Nations, Canada and Ontario has emerged from negotiations to end the occupation. It will be possible that a deal could fast-track land claims for provincial to Six Nations land (Kate Harries; G&M A13 - 15 April).

Wednesday, April 19^th: There is confusion over the status of talks between Six Nations and the Ontario and federal governments that are trying to settle the Caledonia land claims dispute. The Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy sent out a release yesterday afternoon saying talks had broken down. However, Ontario Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Ramsay and Patricia Valladao, a spokesperson for federal Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice, said discussions are ongoing to try to find a peaceful resolution to standoff (Daniel Nolan: HS A1).

Officials representing the Ontario and federal governments have offered a possible land swap of up to 6,500 acres in exchange for 135 acres in Caledonia in an attempt to resolve the current land claims dispute in that region. Also, the governments have called on the Six Nations band council to end the current protest and occupation. However, according to Six Nations Chief Councillor David General, “What they are asking is not in our power to do.” The band council has passed several motions in regard to the current land claims dispute, which have included a letter calling on federal Minister of Indian Affairs Jim Prentice and his Ontario counterpart to come to the reserve to talk to the community (Susan Gamble: BE A1).

Thursday, April 20^th: Henco Industries owners John and Don Henning have threatened to sue the OPP for failing to evict Aboriginal occupiers from the Douglas Creek Estates. In a press release yesterday, the Henning brothers said they were tired of waiting for the 51-day occupation to be resolved and expect the OPP to enforce a court injunction they first obtained on March 3 ordering the occupiers off the property. Margot Geduld, spokesperson for the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, said the “lines of communications” were still open in the ongoing negotiations among the developer, occupiers, and Six Nations representatives. Ms. Geduld indicated that she could not discuss specific issues involved in the talks (Paul Legall & Daniel Nolan: HS A1).

Talks have broken off, but hope was still being held out on Wednesday for a peaceful resolution to the Caledonia land claims dispute (CP: Gaz A11, WStar A7).

Friday, April 21^st: Negotiations will resume today between the Six Nations Confederacy and the federal and Ontario governments following altercations between Aboriginal occupiers and police yesterday. Ontario Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Ramsay called on federal Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice to appoint a personal envoy to take part in the talks with the Six Nations Confederacy. During a media teleconference, Minister Prentice stated: “Like all Canadians, I have watched and been concerned and will continue to monitor the situation. We have had representatives involved in discussions up to this point and we will continue to watch the situation as it unfolds.” Provincial police officers moved in on the occupiers at 4:30 a.m. on Thursday morning and arrested 16 people. However, the land was reclaimed by approximately 75 Aboriginal protestors by around 8 a.m. Prime Minister Stephen Harper told reporters in Montreal that his government was “obviously watching carefully” the developments in Caledonia and continued to hope for a peaceful resolution. A statement from Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine described the situation in Caledonia as “worrisome,” and called on the federal government to intervene “because any issues relating to First Nations lands are issues between First Nations and the federal government” (Deirdre Healey & Daniel Nolan: HS A1; Karen Howlett: G&M A1; Jennifer Graham: NBTJ A1, HCH A3, CBWS 8, WSun 14; CP: Gaz A1).

Saturday, April 22^nd: Negotiations over the land occupied by First Nations people of the Six Nations resumed one day after an Ontario police raid on the camp. In support of the occupation, 100 Mohawks shut down a key CN rail line between Toronto and Montreal. Aboriginal leaders appealed for calm, but they also warned Ottawa to move quickly to address the decades-long delays in resolving land claims or risk further action by frustrated Aboriginals. Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice was in Whitehorse and currently has no plans to visit Caledonia, in spite of calls from local leaders that Ottawa send a “decision maker” to resolve the dispute (Bill Curry - G&M A6; Peter Edwards - TStar A16; Katie Rook - NP A8; VSun A6, WFP A1, CG A11, MT&T A1, WSun 8, LFP A1, NBTJ A5, FDG A11, NP A1, ESun 9, CSun 7, TSun 2, Gaz A4, EJ A5).

Ontario Aboriginal leaders are pleading with Aboriginal activists to stay away from Caledonia as the sides struggle for a peaceful resolution. While Aboriginal and government leaders spent the day in negotiations, protesters had appealed to supporters across Canada and the Northeastern U.S. to join them on the barricades around the Douglas Creek subdivision. Aboriginal leaders urged Minister Prentice to get involved (HS A1).

Brant MP Lloyd St. Amand said his history with Mr. Prentice leads him to believe the Minister will resolve the land claim as quickly and fairly as possible (BE A1).

Henco Industries may be offered money to give up their claim to the occupation site. Mohawk hereditary chief Allen McNaughton said the proposal to offer a buyout to Henco has become one of the possible solutions proposed during on-going negotiations (Peter Edwards - TStar A7 - 23 April).

Aboriginal youths are in Caledonia in large numbers, wearing bandanas, draped in flags and talking about rights. Don Kelly, spokesperson for Assembly of First Nations Grand Chief Phil Fontaine, said Aboriginal youth have the ability to make achievements beyond the dreams of any other generation (Joan Walters - KWR A15, HS A1).

Carol Sanders, A First Nation woman from Manitoba has volunteered her time and first-aid skills behind the lines in the demonstration at Six Nations. Sharon Menow, a member of Norway House First Nation, went to the Six Nations occupation to defend aboriginal treaty rights and to help care for any wounded if police launch another raid (WFP A5).

The history of the disputed land at the heart of the ongoing Aboriginal occupation in the town of Caledonia began more than two centuries ago when a band of Six Nations First Nations people aligned with the British Empire in its war against the United States. Experts say that although much of the history of the land’s ownership is meticulously documented in libraries in Ottawa, the truth has been clouded by years of abandoned promises and decisions by leaders long dead (KWR A15).

Columnist Adam Radwanski: The lessons of this latest land claim debacle might be enough to help avoid more cases such as this one. At the very least, the persistence of the protesters should mean getting the Indian Affairs minister on top of the situation sooner rather than later (NP A13).

Columnist Robert Howard: The Douglas Creek property may be as good as lost to development. The short- term answer may be to cede the land to Six Nations and fairly compensate developers, builders and home buyers. In the longer view, there has to be meaningful discussion to bring an end to the endless talk, bluster and protest over land rights. There has to be at least talk about Ottawa recognizing Aboriginal traditional hierarchies of clan mothers and hereditary chiefs. This has not been an ordinary protest and will only be resolved peacefully through extraordinary effort and goodwill on both sides (HS A25).

Columnist Ian MacLeod: The Caledonia protesters, descendants of a Mohawk nation that was once the strongest and most powerful of the Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy, are driven by a determination and fury not to be pushed off any more of their shrinking ancestral land base. Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty obviously wants to avoid the political impact the fatal 1995 Ipperwash standoff had on the Conservative government of Mike Harris, but that could prove to be difficult with increasing support for the Six Nations protest sparking up throughout the country (Ctz A5, NP A10).

Ottawa Citizen editorial: It is hard to judge whether the timing of the police raid was appropriate, but overall police should use force as a last resort. It is clear to anyone who values rule of law that, at some point, court orders must be enforced. Aboriginal organizations rightly expect a seat at the table when public policy debates affecting their constituencies are conducted. It would help if they demonstrated they are responsible partners (Ctz B6).

Ottawa Sun editorial: We call on Aboriginal leaders across Ontario to order a stand-down to prevent a simmering situation from boiling over. It is time too for Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice to intervene and give voice to the federal position (OSun 14).

Sunday, April 23^rd: It appears that the land-claim dispute could be resolved peacefully. There was no word when the Aboriginal blockades would come down. It was announced that a federal negotiator, along with representatives from Ontario and the Six Nations, will try to find a settlement that will be subject to ratification (Katie Rook - CH A6; Ctz A4; LFP A10, TSun 8 - 23 April).

Monday, April 24^th: Ontario Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Ramsay said that he is “very optimistic” about reaching an agreement to end the Six Nations land dispute that has led to a seven-week stand-off. First Nations spokesperson Hazel Hill said the negotiations were productive but agreed both sides remain apart. Henco Industries said it is close to bankruptcy and needs a resolution soon (CP: Jennifer Graham: TSun 24, WSun 15, CG A5, HCH A3, CBWS 5, CBP A1).

The occupation is expected to continue for at least two weeks (Peter Edwards and Tabassum Siddiqui: TStar A4).

Tensions remain high among the occupiers. A radio report that the police planned to conduct another raid resulted in dozens of cars converging on the occupation site and confrontation with police checkpoints set up along the Six Nations reserve’s border (WStar B1).

Caledonia residents have been invited to a mass rally tonight to air their anger and frustration over the occupation of Douglas Creek Estates. Mayor Marie Trainer said she hopes calm heads prevail at the rally. She said that Mr. Ramsay indicated that current blockades on the street in front of the occupation site should be dismantled soon. There have been allegations that occupiers looted a business office operated on the site by Henco. It was noted that Mohawk Chief Allen MacNaughton said progress had been made with negotiations. Mr. MacNaughton was keeping occupiers up to date on the negotiations (HS A1).

Richard Blackwell profiled the Mohawk’s relationship to the government and noted that the nature of their land claims differ from the claims of other First Nations peoples (G&M A10).

Shannon Proudfoot profiled the reactions of some Caledonia residents to the occupation (Ctz A4).

Tuesday, April 25^th: Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice said he hopes for a peaceful resolution of the standoff in Caledonia. According to the Minister, a peaceful resolution is the best way to respectfully deal with the issues of the occupying First Nation community (Julia Skikavich: WHStar 4).

Clyde Powless, an occupier in Caledonia, called on Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice to visit the site of the dispute (Gregory Bonnell: KWR A1, EJ A7, CBP A9, CBWS 9).

Two people were arrested yesterday night as tensions heightened between a group of Caledonia residents and Six Nations occupiers, following a meeting and rally staged by townspeople opposed to the occupation. Caledonia Mayor Marie Trainer encouraged residents to lobby the provincial and federal governments to act quickly for a "long-lasting, peaceful solution." A spokesperson from the federal department of Indian Affairs refused to disclose the nature of current negotiations between involved parties, but did maintain that "good progress" was being made (Katie Rook: NP A7, Gaz A13, Ctz A3; Gregory Bonnell: G&M A1; Peter Edwards: TStar A1; Daniel Nolan: HS A1; Kate Harries: G&M A7; CP: SSP A12; WStar C1, WFP A6; CanWest: VTC A5; KWS 9; CBC 22:00).

Kingston Whig-Standard editorial: It is time Canadians realized where the Six Nations are coming from. In effect, we moved into their house and then proceeded to tell them which parts could still be theirs. Then we encroached even on these spaces, always promising to talk about it later. Then, "later" never arrived. It is to our shame that the First Nations across Canada have to resort to demonstrations to demand settlement of land claims to which they may feel doubly entitled - once by heredity, and secondly, by treaty (KWS 4).

A Kingston Whig-Standard editorial asserted that Natives who blocked a train track near Belleville, Ont., in solidarity with occupiers involved in the land claims dispute in Caledonia may have simply been glorified thugs (KWS 4).

Columnist Margaret Wente wrote that the present day opportunities for young Aboriginal People in Canada have never been better. And yet, Wente wrote, it is hard for young Aboriginal People to see the opportunity all around them when they have been nurtured on grievance and injustice. Wente asserted that the occupiers in Caledonia have been raised on an endless diet of stolen land, discrimination, evil residential schools and broken promises (G&M A17).

Columnist Murray Campbell argued that common sense will be needed to end the standoff in Caledonia (G&M A7).

Columnist Deirdre Healey wrote about the experiences of Caledonia residents Carrie Ren and Jim Alton. Ms. Ren blamed the government for promoting Native stereotypes and creating a divide between Six Nations and the rest of Caledonia. Mr. Alton, whose son plays on the Six Nations lacrosse team, said he feels comfortable with the Native people on the reserve and hates what is happening at Douglas Creek Estates, which is just a block from his home (HS A6).

Kenneth Deer, editor/publisher of the Eastern Door newspaper in Kahnawake, wrote an op-ed. in which he asserted that the issue in Caledonia is not frivolous. Deer asserted that claims suggesting that "there is not much real evidence" of a legitimate complaint is incorrect. According to Deer, there is a long and well-documented history of questionable land transactions that would never have been allowed if the transactions were between non-Natives (Gaz A23).

Letterwriter Dave Adeney wrote, “My sympathies are with the Natives. Historically, they may have had conflicted and inconsistent leadership, but the onus should have been on us, the invaders of a stone-age culture, to be scrupulously fair. As the descendants of the invaders, we should ask our federal government to make reasonable restitution, starting with buying out the currently contested housing development and returning the land to the Six Nations” (HS A15).

Letterwriter John Wheaton wrote that rallying the troops and becoming squatters on someone else’s land development is not the answer to the Six Nations land claims dispute (HS A15).

Letterwriter Michael Alessio wrote that he is personally tired and frustrated with the provincial and federal governments not enforcing the laws of the land in the case of the Caledonia land claims dispute. Alessio asked, “Why are Native Canadians given special, preferential treatment? They are breaking the law when they block access to any road which I have a free and legal right to travel on” (WStar A7).

Letterwriter Heather Heeg wrote, “I truly hope our government and the OPP get off their butts soon and do something so that Caledonia residents can get their lives back” (HS A15).

Letterwriter Vivian Bomberry pointed out that the very political and legal foundation of Canada is based on the integrity of principles. Bomberry wrote, “It does not take a genius to figure out that these principles have been breached in the name of power and greed. This breach is nothing new, not only for the Six Nations, but for First Nations across the land” (NP A17).

Wednesday, April 26^th: Ontario Progressive Conservative leader John Tory accused the Ontario government on Tuesday of failing to manage the Caledonia land claim dispute, which is now approaching its 60th day. Mr. Tory asserted that, “At the very least, a senior McGuinty Liberal cabinet minister should visit this community and update them on what exactly is taking place. The people of Caledonia need leadership from Dalton McGuinty and his government.” Mr. Tory’s appeal for leadership came on the heels of Haldimand County Council barring Mayor Marie Trainer from speaking on the subject. Ms. Trainer, during two separate interviews on CBC-TV and CBC Radio, said that the blockade was limiting the ability of Caledonia workers to make a living, and said that they “do not have any monies coming in automatically.” The last phrase was picked up by critics as implying that Native protesters are not suffering because they get monthly government cheques. Meanwhile, negotiations have continued. Greg Coleman, a spokesperson for Indian Affairs, refused to disclose the nature of current negotiations, but maintained “good progress” was being made between federal, provincial and Native representatives (Katie Rook: Ctz A4, WStar B1, NP A7, Gaz A11, VTC A7; Kate Harries & James Rusk: G&M A12; Paul Legall & Daniel Nolan: HS A1).

A group of angry Caledonia residents that descended on the scene of a First Nations occupation and sparked a late-night clash with police was dismissed as an aberration Tuesday as both sides worked to restore peace in the community. Premier Dalton McGuinty addressed the situation, stating: “I understand there are some frustrations in the schools, in homes and in the business community on the Caledonia side, and on the First Nations side there are some long-standing frustrations in there as well. But I think the best advice that we can offer everyone is to remain cool, calm and patient.” But despite assurances that Monday night’s demonstration by non-Aboriginal Caledonians was an isolated incident, there were still clear indications that all is not well between the residents of Caledonia, Ont., and their Aboriginal neighbours (Greg Bonnell: HCH A7; Antonella Artuso: TSun 5, OSun 17).

According to Henco Industries’ Don and John Henning, the Ontario government has never proposed buying their Douglas Creek Estates project as a way to end the occupation. Furthermore, Don Henning said yesterday, “the government has told us they do not want to do that.” However, Ontario Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Ramsay, in advance of today’s renewed negotiations between the government and Native occupiers, suggested that the option was still on the table (Paul Morse: HS A9).

More than 200 B.C. First Nations protesters shut down the Stanley Park causeway for approximately an hour yesterday, and vowed to escalate protests if violence reoccurs on the Six Nations reserve. The protest was held in solidarity with Aboriginal occupiers who were raided by the OPP in Caledonia (Ian Austin: VProv A6).

Letter writer David Burn asserted that no one is Native to North America. Burn wrote that the only difference is that the Native insurgents are treated with kid gloves when they terrorize a community (NP A17).

Letter writer Richard Ball wrote, “If the First Nations are indeed in one boat, and Canada in another, then the $8-billion annually in administration costs and direct subsidies the government pays must end immediately” (NP A17).

Letter writer Roger Graves wrote, “When the First Nations show the world they have more to offer than remembrances of past grievances, then they shall have respect. Until then, the reality is that the First Nations are just one more set of poor relations that the white man supports” (NP A17).

Letter writer Greg DeVreker wrote, “Why does this government have to right all the wrongs of previous ones? I am not saying what happened 200 years ago was right, but it happened. It is over. Move on (WStar A9).

Letter writer Aaron Puley wrote that, while the Native occupiers may have legitimate land claims, they threw away many chances of community support by blocking the highway, burning tires and flipping vans off bridges (HS A17).

Letter writer Cristina Newman wrote that, after the innumerable clashes between First Nations and provincial governments, you would think that people would start asking why First Nations are protesting, instead of ignoring them or, worse, poking fun at them (NP A17).

Letter writer Mike Sopinka wrote, “This is ridiculous. Are we going to allow these people to do whatever they want?” (HS A17).

Thusday, April 27^th: Six Nations occupiers have set up a border-like security system, and are questioning all non-Aboriginal people who wish to do business within the confines of the Douglas Creek Estates barricades. According to the report, “Like an international border inspection, the procedure usually lasted a matter of seconds, or minutes at most, before they were allowed on their way” (Paul Legall & Daniel Nolan: HS A4).

Doreen Silversmith, a representative of the Six Nations occupiers in Caledonia, will travel to the United Nations this week to discuss Canada’s record on Aboriginal rights and homelessness before the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Michele Mandel: TSun 10).

A number of new websites, both in support of and in opposition to the Six Nations occupation in Caledonia have appeared on the Internet (Susan Gamble: BE A3).

A National Post editorial asserted that if Caledonia’s disgruntled Natives are rewarded for their violation of the law, for violent tactics or for their adherence to myths of First Nations sovereignty, it will encourage other protests across the country. The Post maintained that if the federal and provincial governments will not order police action to end the blockade, then they should at least wait the protesters out (NP A20).

A Toronto Sun editorial asserted that there is nothing that so damages the perception of Aboriginal People in the minds of the public as the sight of masked Natives making threats, cutting off access to public property such as roads, burning tires and overturning cars. Angry counter-demonstrations, as have occurred in Caledonia, heightening negative feelings on both sides. Canadians are not unsympathetic to Native land claims, given how their lands were taken from them centuries ago. But Canadians do want disputes settled without violence and the disruption of public services, and they want to see results from the billions in taxes they pay every year to improve life on reserves (TSun 23).

A Brantford Expositor editorial noted that its editorial board has received a number of complaints in regard to its coverage of the Six Nations land occupation in Caledonia. The editorial claimed, “Shooting the messenger is no way to react to information delivered by newspapers, radio, television and the Internet” (BE A10).

The Brantford Expositor published an outline of events that took place on Day 58 of the Six Nations land occupation in Caledonia (BE A3).

Columnist Robert Howard noted that Haldimand Mayor Marie Trainer has rightly apologized for remarks that some people interpreted as a reference to Native Canadians receiving welfare. However, Howard wrote, a few ill-chosen words - a case of someone’s mouth running ahead of their thoughts - does not make that person a racist (HS A17).

Columnist Peter Stone wrote, “I am upset at the lack of care and respect given to Caledonia residents by the Native protesters. The protesters demand that respect be given to their land claim while they ignore the rights of landowners and residents of Caledonia and surrounding areas” (HS A17).

Doug George-Kanentiio, an Akwesasne Mohawk, former editor of Akwesasne Notes, and a co-founder of the Native American Journalists Association, wrote an op-ed. in which he asserted that Six Nations occupiers must not be provoked into compromising their dignity, but neither should they ever concede what is rightfully theirs. George-Kanentiio asserted that the Six Nations occupiers need to begin thinking clearly in order to make intelligent, sound decisions in regard to the occupation in Caledonia (TStar A21).

Friday, April 28^th: Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice cancelled a speaking event on Aboriginal self-government at the University of Toronto scheduled for tonight. The meeting was a planned target of a protest over the land-claim stand-off with the Six Nations near Caledonia. Mr. Prentice's spokeswoman, Deirdra McCracken, said she did not know why the minister cancelled. Mr. Prentice said he had not cancelled the event to avoid protesters, but would not comment further. The student that organized Mr. Prentice’s appearance said the minister had a scheduling conflict. Organizers of the demonstration said the protest will go ahead as planned. It was noted that community leaders in Caledonia say they are concerned about a planned rally at the site (Bill Curry: G&M A6).

Six Nations activists occupying the Caledonia housing development are taking their case to the UN. Clan mothers have reportedly drafted a statement about the land protest that is to be delivered to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Geneva next week. It was noted that when Canada last appeared before the committee it was chastised for the “gross disparity between Aboriginal people and the majority of Canadians” (CP: Gaz A13, WFP A12, EJ A10, TSun 56, LFP A7, CSun 26; Paul Legall: HS A8, HCH A6).10790680; 10790822

The occupiers offered a 20 minute tour of the site to the media in the hopes of reassuring those fearful that they are stockpiling weapons. Spokesperson Clyde Powless declared that the people of the town do not understand the reason for the occupation, but he wished to reassure them that the Six Nations are not trying to take over anything. However, a couple of hundred protesters gathered again last night in front of the current road block (Daniel Nolan: HS A8).

A Toronto Sun reader’s poll asked, “Is it time for native protesters in Caledonia to end their blockade?” The results: Yes: 84%; No: 16% (TSun 29).

Rachel Geise: I would say that the most notable thing about the Caledonia blockade is that there are not more First Nations communities joining in. After all, the current federal government, like its predecessors, continues to dither on Aboriginal issues. The First Nation peoples have waited almost 300 years for justice. It is time they got the respect they deserve (TSun 29).

Rachel Marsden: The hooligans occupying “disputed” land in Caledonia who have torched roads and an overpass, overturned cars, blockaded streets and rail lines represent “native people” about as much as the Hell's Angels biker gang represents white people. The Six Nations people should publicly divorce themselves from the radicals – both Native and non-Native – and hand them over to the police officers standing at the barricades (TSun 29).

Saturday, April 29^th: About 100 people marched from the First Nations University of Canada’s Saskatoon campus to MP Maurice Vellacott’s office Friday afternoon to protest his nomination as chair of the House of Commons committee on Aboriginal affairs and northern development. Carrying signs with slogans such as “Vellacott denies the facts,” “Treaties came before Canada” and “Stop racism from Saskatoon to Caledonia,” participants also rallied in support of the members of the Six Nations First Nation involved in a standoff over disputed land in Caledonia, Ontario (Sarah MacDonald: SSP A9).

The Ontario government has offered to compensate Henco Industries. Anne-Marie Flanagan, spokesperson for Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Ramsay, said the developers and builders have asked for the offer to be kept confidential (Daniel Nolan; HS A1).

Former Liberal premier David Peterson has been appointed provincial lead to help resolve the standoff in Caledonia. Mr. Peterson will report directly to Ontario’s Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Ramsay (Andrew Davidson; LFP A10 - Richard Brennan; TStar A2; NP A4 - 1 May).

Posters and rumours about a rally against the Six Nations occupation drew an extraordinary police presence, and dozens of spectators, to the edge of Caledonia. By nightfall, no violence had erupted, only the blasts of horns and the angry voices of hundreds of local residents who said it is time to end the blockade (Hayley Mick and Katie Harris: G&M A12).

Merchants in stores near the standoff were advised by police to close early after the rumours of the confrontation spread (KWR A3).

A small group of protesters blocked traffic on Winnipeg’s Donald Street bridge to draw attention to the Caledonia land dispute. A group of 30 people began the rally with a half-hour drumming ceremony in a nearby park, followed by a brief foray into rush-hour traffic by some protesters to hand out information pamphlets (WFP A8).

Sunday, April 30^th: Columnist Sheila Copps: The Six Nations are calling on Canadians to respect a land deal that dates back more than 200 years. Their opponents want to build housing that may last 40. If we truly want to prevent a situation like this occurring again, then perhaps the concept of urban sprawl needs to be transplanted to communities like Caledonia before it is too late (WSun C20, TSun C3, OSun C24, ESun 19, LFP A16 - 30 April).