Conflict in Caledonia: Peacekeepers or a new settler militia?
July 9, 2009 - 11:35am
Conflict in Caledonia: Peacekeepers or a new settler militia?
By Krystalline Kraus | July 8, 2009
http://www.rabble.ca/news/2009/07/caledonia
"On some level, even the notion of anyone forming a militia in Canada provokes that nervous type of humour that we as Canadians are prone to. Even considering the creation of such a group seems reactionary and hysterical if not outright paranoid. Unfortunately, the Doug Fleming's and Gary McHale's types exist in the world and they are dead serious about their intentions.
Using only the short history of Canada for a moment, considering the case of Dudley George, when land right disputes such as these do erupt the First Nations community ends up on the losing side of the conflict, often paying for the ignorance and paranoia of others with their own lives
very poorly researched
It actually recieved very little media coverage until the spring when the raid happened and the blockades were put up.
"Given to them" is hardly what the Haudensaunee say. Land was decided upon in a treaty, by saying given to them it is implying that it was Canada's to give. This sounds like it came from a "Canadian" version of what happened.
Julion Fantino was not the OPP Commissioner until the following Fall, Boniface was in charge of the OPP when the police "operation" ie the raid was done in April.
During the blockades it was not an Ontario Judge that suspended negotiations it was Dalton McGuinty and it was not until the protestors evacuated the site (to this day there is still Haudensaunee presence on site) it was until the blockades were dismantled. The courts have not had anything to do with Kanonhstaton since the land was bought by the province.
The point of the rally in all the communications I recieved was not to shut down the meeting but to provide a presence saying that there are people who are non native who don't want a militia.
Instead, on the Six Nations Reclamation Site, the group explains their concept of ownerships regarding land: "First and foremost is the concept that we are connected to the land in a spiritual way. The earth is our mother and she provides for our long-term well-being, provided that we continue to honour her and give thanks for what she has provided."
I would concur that there is no language on the Native Supremecy movement on the Six Nations Reclamation site however the site that the quote was posted from is not the message board that the CWUC is "quoting" from. The board refered to by the CWUC had been at that address (the website that the reporter visited) until May or June of this year but has now moved over to another website address.
Refuge you are correct about the intent June 23rd protest in Cayuga. It wasn't about shutting down the meeting.
In terms of the court cases none as far as I remember had anything to do with the actual negotiations at all. One of the main points of the blockcade was to actually get negotiations going in the first place and in the beginning they stopped and started a few times for a number of reasons but not directly due to the court rulings. The court cases were mainly regarding getting injunctions and people labelled and warrents out for tresspassing with most being "Jane and John Does". I lost count of the number after the first couple. Even when the main blockades came down, the land was bought and the negotiations those previous rulings did stand for a time. Those rulings from Marshall did go to the Supreme Court and were overturned eventually but that was the extent of the court involvement after the government finally got off of their butts. It was a bit uncertain and confusing for a couple of months because the legal system was saying "You have to leave" and the Government said 'No it's okay'. It was that confusion that led to a lot of anger and conflict during the first part of that summer between all people involved.
Article quote:" It has been the fuel for residents Doug Fleming and Gary McHale, members of Caledonia Wake Up Call (CWUC), to create a local militia to defend what they describe as their land and their "Canadian rights" against "Native lawlessness" and "terrorism."
Another really important correction. Gary McHale and Jeff Parkinson are NOT, I repeat not, residents of Caledonia nor were they ever. Though McHale would love to be looked at as such. When McHale came onto the scene in the fall of the first year he was living in Richmond Hill and now currently lives outside of Caledonia. He did say he was moving there at one time but it didn't work out. Now under his bail conditions he's not even allowed to go into Caledonia townlines, hence one of the reasons the June 23 meeting was held in Cayuga. Parkinson I believe is from the London area originally though he may have moved. A couple of other major 'spokespeople' from the various forms of their group has taken in the last couple of years aren't from Caledonia either. It might not seem that important to note this but in context of these people place in conflict both historically and presently it's important to note the influence of outside factors and that it's not just resident townspeople involved.
In terms of the court cases none as far as I remember had anything to do with the actual negotiations at all. One of the main points of the blockcade was to actually get negotiations going in the first place and in the beginning they stopped and started a few times for a number of reasons but not directly due to the court rulings. Even when the main blockades came down, the land was bought and the negotiations those previous rulings did stand for a time. Those rulings from Marshall did go to the Supreme Court and were overturned eventually but that was the extent of the court involvement after the government finally got off of their butts. It was a bit uncertain and confusing for a couple of months because the legal system was saying "You have to leave" and the Government said 'No it's okay'. It was that confusion that led to a lot of anger and conflict during the first part of that summer between all people involved.
Thankyou, that is exactly what I am saying. In the article it is claimed that a Judge was the one that ordered negotiations to be stopped and that is not true. It was also claimed that it was stated that when the negotiations were stopped the negotiations would only be started if all the "protestors" evacuated the site and this is also not true.
edited to add: By saying that the courts had nothing to do with Kanonhstaton since the land was brought by the province I meant there were no injunctions brought by the province over Kanonhstaton. I realize there were charges pertaining to the original injunction plus other various charges to do with the struggle around Kanonhstaton but there have been no court procedings brought forth to force people off the land after the province bought the land and Henco asked for their order to be dissolved.