Non-Aboriginal Protest Descends Into Tense Standoff In Caledonia
Posted October 15, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A march intended to end the months-long standoff between aboriginal protestors and residential developers in Caledonia has only managed to complicate it.
A group of hundreds of non-aboriginal protesters, led by Richmond Hill resident Gary McHale, marched on the occupation site in the southern Ontario town Sunday, and the action quickly descended into a tense standoff with police when many attempted to storm the contested land.
Police formed a line roughly 300 metres from the Six Nations camp, and many men stood nose to nose with OPP officers in an act of defiance. Two were arrested after crossing the police line and a third was arrested for attempting to do so, but eventually the group dispersed marking the end of the two-hour standoff.
The road was cleared of both protesters and police by 6 pm.
“We’re pleased, that with a few exceptions, citizens remained peaceful,” said Acting Commissioner Jay Hope.
More than any other, police and residents appear to be holding McHale responsible for disturbing a fragile peace.
“We’re left to clean up the mess that he started,” said resident Jim Erwin.
“I hope to stand on that site with (Six Nations) and protest the government with them,” Erwin said in explaining why he attempted to cross the police line.
Politicians urged McHale not to hold the march and rather stage a rally at Queen’s park, but he went ahead with it despite the potentially violent consequences.
“It was a tense day,” said provincial police Sgt. Dave Rektor.
“It’s just sad when someone has a personal agenda with no regard for anyone else.”
McHale has complained that provincial and federal governments have abandoned the town and their duty to uphold the rule of law.
Across the line, a “potluck for peace” was held at the occupation site.
“Everyone is just walking around over here, eating, talking and laughing,” Six Nations spokeswoman Janie Jamieson said.
It seems people on both sides of the dispute are tiring with targeting each other, and more and more are taking issue with the provincial government’s perceived lack of action.
Caledonia resident AnneMarie VanSickle’s home backs onto the occupation site and she invited Premier Dalton McGuinty to stay the night so he could experience the occupation first hand.
“Premier McGuinty, you sir are a medical anomaly. The fact that you can stand when you don’t have a spine,” VanSickle, said to cheers at a pre-march rally.
McGuinty has not visited Caledonia during the occupation.
The Six Nations claims the contested land was taken more than two centuries ago, while protesters say they agreed to lease the property for a road in 1835.
