BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.

Subject: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: Peace
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 11:48 AM

"Native protester's arrest sets off mêlée with OPP

Tim Shufelt, The Ottawa Citizen

Published: Saturday, April 26, 2008

Ten people, including Mohawk activist Shawn Brant, were arrested after violent confrontations with police broke out yesterday near Deseronto.

According to an OPP report, Mr. Brant was arrested during a traffic stop for an alleged assault that occurred on the Tyendinaga reserve earlier this week. During his arrest, others on the scene assaulted police and smashed the window of an OPP cruiser, the report says. Mr. Brant was not involved in the confrontation.

A couple of hours later, officers attempted to arrest suspects wanted in relation to protests that blockaded roads into Deseronto earlier in the week. The suspects, and others, resisted. Reports indicate that officers then spotted a gun being pointed at them from an occupied gravel pit, and they took cover.

Two officers were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Ten people were arrested for various offences, including assaulting police, six of which remain in custody.

Mr. Brant is to appear in court today to face charges that include assault with a weapon and breach of recognizance."

********************************************************************

That is one side of the story. I would like to hear the other from the people of the Tyendinaga reserve (near Deseronto, Ontario). Tempers flare and people will get killed. I have written the Prime Minister and requested the intervention of the Canadian military in order to prevent mismanagement of the situation by the Ontario Provincial Police. I think the matter is of sufficient urgency to ask that like-minded Canadians write to Stephen Harper immediately.

His e-mail address is [e-mail]

****************************************************************

My e-mail to the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada


Sir: The urgency of the situation is such that I will of necessity forego amenities.

There is an incident happening between the Government of Ontario (Ontario Provincial Police) and members/residents of the Tyendinaga reserve (near Deseronto, Ontario).

Would you PLEASE send out soldiers of the Canadian Armed Forces to manage the situation so that it can be resolved peacefully? The country does not need another Caughnawaga. I do not know that the OPP has over reacted, but neither do I know that the Native claims of unnecessary force used against then by the OPP are groundless, either.

Our integrity as a country is on the table here, and while there seems to be little in the various media about the 'incident', I think that we as a nation must deal with it fairly and quickly. Subsequently, I implore you as our Prime Minister to intercede and resolve the 'standoff', restore peace and ensure a fair inquiry into the nature of the difficulties and whether the police have acted within the law and in a just manner.

Sincerely,

Bruce Murdoch

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: meself
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 12:17 PM

"there seems to be little in the various media about the 'incident'"

Indeed - this is the first I've heard of it. Any links that give any background as to the issues? Not that our media ever takes any interest in the background of Native issues ...

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: Peace
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 12:20 PM

Hi, meself. I didn't hear about it until I opened my e-mail today and there was one from Ron Bankley (who has many good friends amongst the Mohawk people).

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: Peace
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 12:32 PM

More info:

Google (under 'news' in the Google toolbar)

mohawk, ontario

Some reporting beginning to become available.

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: meself
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 12:34 PM

Thanks. Will do.

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: Peace
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 01:02 PM

S'more of the 'story'.

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: gnu
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 01:08 PM

Um, given what happened in the fall of 2006 (?), mine was....

The Honourable Chuck Strahl
Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern
Development and Federal Interlocutor for
Métis and Non-Status Indians

Dear Sir: With all due respect, please do your job and put yourself between the Mohawks and the OPP ASAP. Given the tensions that exist between these parties and between the Mohawks and The CAF, your deliberate and overt intervention and your call for all to stand down immediately and to resolve the situation peacefully is no less than your sworn duty as Minister.

Sincerely,

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: GUEST,Fantasma
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 01:15 PM

It's been going on for decades. The police brutality, and confrontational intimidation of Mohawk political activists is legendary in Indian Country.

If you want to learn more about these conflicts which flare up with frequency, google 'Akwesasne' and read on.

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: gnu
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 01:15 PM

BTW... I found some backgroud... it's skectchy, but here it is anyway.

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: Peace
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 01:18 PM

The Mohawk are well-connected with each other--reserve to reserve--however, it is very very important that our leaders and media are made aware that this story is out and that the world WILL be watching. I do not pretend to know the rights and wrongs, but I think an armed 'invasion' by hundreds of armed OPP officers was and is excessive considering the people are basically unarmed and certainly not a paramilitary force capable of providing defense for the Canadian citizens/Native people on the reserve. Bad things can and do happen in the dark, and although I'd like to think the media has simply missed this story, one has to wonder. It's people like you who help make atrocities hard to hush up. Not my place to thank you, Gnu, but I do thank you for being a good friend and a good man.

BM

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: Peace
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 01:20 PM

That too, Fantasma. Thanks.

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: GUEST,Fantasma
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 01:24 PM

Same deal as what finally triggered Wounded Knee in 1973. Over-reach and over-reaction by the cops, collusion with the state by the tribal government.

SOS, but my prayers are always with the folks doing the good work. And that ain't the state, in this case.

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: gnu
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 01:38 PM

Big F.... that is not what matters at this point. That mentality is exactly what is going to get people killed.

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: GUEST,Fantasma
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 01:53 PM

I rather doubt you can actually connect my thoughts to anyone's murder, gnu.

Nice try, though lame.

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: Peace
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 01:57 PM

When the Karate Kid asked Mr Miyagi when he would have a certain lesson, Mr Miyagi said, "After." Daniel then asked, "After when?" The reply was, "After after."

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: Peace
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 01:58 PM

Ron Bankley knows the background to this story and he'll be posting it likely today.

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: GUEST,Fantasma
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 01:59 PM

Ah, Hollywood philosophy. One of my fave topics.

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: bankley
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 03:08 PM

thanks Peace..for helping to get the word out..
this might get a bit rambling, but historic references are important in the shedding of some light on this ongoing malaise.. I was fortunate enough to have been taught these things primarily by Dacejewiah and Kahntineta... longtime traditional Mohawk activists and friends. Their knowledge of the Rule of Law is extensive. I'll scratch the surface a bit..

as usual this particular situation is about resource management Colonial style, from the end of a gun barrel, paid for by taxes of Ontario citizens. With such a high concentration of population in the SE part of the province, building developers, and well financed speculators have designs on what little has been left to the Natives. Same Ol'. This has been ongoing since the Haudenausonee (Iroqois Confederacy) sided with the British during the American Revolution, Some Loyalist Mohawk bands were granted land tracts in Upper Canada after that war. These people were promised, nation to nation, that they would be left undisturbed to live on the land in peace... this had already been established by The Royal Proclamation of 1763. Generally speaking it was presented to Indian Nations by King George III, in the form of a binding offer to protect these Nations and lands and became the basis for the treaty process and established the legal Trust Obligations of Britian to the Indian Nations. The Royal Proclamation had its status elevated significantly when its guarantees were formally appended to the Canadian Constitution during the Trudeau effort in 1982.

To the Native traditionalists, The Assembly of First Nations is a neo-colonial elected system and their Chiefs are dependent on Federal funds, and are therefore considered collaborators of a foreign power.

Over the years these lands were carved up, reduced in size through white settlement, the duplicity of sell-out Chiefs, or out and out theft as in the case of Ipperwash. So what we have are a few people, who still stand on International and Constitutional Law, and who refuse to let any more of their territory be sub-divided, quarried, mined and otherwise exploited by a Foreign Power and its agents.

It is important to the Gov't that these resistors are smeared in the media as thugs, violent criminals, terrorists (common word these days) in order to send in the Cavalry to harass, arrest, and sometimes kill them for the greater security and 'common good'.

Case in Point : Gustafsen Lake, BC, 1996. A full scale massacre was narrowly averted by the tireless efforts of a few dedicated souls who managed to break the real news to the outside world. That a peaceful spiritual gathering ended up being protrayed as a gang outlaws. That they were in fact on unceded Indian land and had over 70,000 rounds of ammunition fired into their camp, which contained mostly elderly people, women included. A Landmine was used, JTF2 were there, and staged incidents were carried out by the RCMP (such as shooting at their own bulletproof vests) to intentionally smear the defenders so that deadly force would be justified.

Fortunately no one was seriously injured... either the RCMP were bad shots and/or there were other powerful spirits of protection at work.

I don't think that it's an accident that the only two countries that didn't sign the recent U.N Declaration of Indigeneous Rights were Canada and the USA. There are those at the highest levels of Gov't who know that it would be a lot easier and more profitable if the Traditional Native would disappear. They've been taking this approach for over 500 years now. Fortunately, word spreads fast these days.I'm of the opinion that we must do what we can in our own way to support those who are perhaps our last line of defense, in the assault on our freedoms and outright desecration of our
'Home and Native Land'

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: Azizi
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 03:25 PM

Thanks for posting this information.

This yet another terrible happening in a world of terrible happenings. I hope that making the government aware that people are aware of what is going on will make a positive difference.

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: bankley
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 04:54 PM

I feel that the greatest positive difference that's being made right now, is that there are a few people who haven't forgotten their history, who stand on the Rule of Law rather than the Rule of Force, and are willing to put it all on the line for the sake of their people, culture and future generations. It takes a lot of guts. Tyendinaga, like Six Nations is a small community. However, they refuse to be bullied or threatened into submission. This was tried in Kahnesatake (Oka) in 1990...a fiasco perpetuated by the Surete de Quebec over the expansion of a golf course. Cpl.Lemay, was shot by his own force. Turns out that he was due to give testimony on police corruption later in the summer. Convenient. Anyhow, there's enough info on that event available. What we don't want is for anybody else to get killed, no matter which side. The OPP are holding the weapons.... and we are observers.... that's another positive... we have them all surrounded....

if you want more background into this or related matters in this part of the country... you an check Mohawk Nation News on the net... founded by Kahntineta Horn..

thanks for 'listening' Nia wen

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 05:55 PM

... Bad China - leave Tibet alone ...

... what's that in our backyard? ... ssshhhh

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: Peace
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 06:08 PM

Yeah.

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: Peace
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 06:11 PM

And Burma, too.

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: bankley
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 06:53 PM

on a slightly lighter, yet absurd note, awhile back when Stephen Harper was Opposition Leader in Ottawa, his office sent out a message of congratulations to all the Indian Bands in Canada on the occasion of the anniversary of India's Independence....

he has since moved on to another job,,,with a bigger office, better pay and more travel....

I'd like to send him a years supply of Kesetchewan drinking water

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: Peace
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 06:56 PM

Send him some from Grassy Narrows.

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: bankley
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 08:44 PM

with a Davis Inlet octane chaser

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: Bee
Date: 27 Apr 08 - 01:56 PM

With ya, Peace and bankley. I've seen too much crap perpetrated by the OPP to trust their take on any incident.

And on the subject of First Nations in Canada generally, I would like to see the federal government mount an informational campaign about First Nations people and communities across the country. Most Canadians, particularly our large urban population, only ever hear about conflicts and poverty and substance abuse. Unless you live close to successful, hardworking FN communities, like we do here in Nova Scotia, you'd think the worst.

Yes there are problems, here too, but most of those problems stem from generations of persecution by white assholes and bad decisions and inaction from stupid governments. I could tell some personal stories, but this isn't the place.

Thanks for the background and sources, bankley. Means I'll have ammunition next time some clueless entitled twit says something stupid about the present incidents.

Several First Nations communities in this province have been building really successful big and small businesses over the past twenty years and more, and wherever that happens, you see a lot of problems reduce themselves to what you'd expect of any community of the same size.

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: gnu
Date: 27 Apr 08 - 02:54 PM

Um, Bee... "white assholes"... ah, er... lets not forget that there are some other assholes, too. Selling large salmon and small lobster and moose at the liquor store parking lot out of season don't go over well with some of my white asshole buddies who are trying to make a living. And, the Feds didn't buy them the boats and the logging equipment so they can hire white assholes to run them. I can tell you personal stories about the opposite, too.

It ain't all one way.

But, as I said above, the only way is cooperation.

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: Bee
Date: 27 Apr 08 - 04:45 PM

Gnu, that's one of my beefs. White people constantly bring up stories of wrongdoing by First Nations people while conveniently ignoring the fact that countless white people do the same damn things, if not always so openly and without the FN background of believing (or pretending to believe - everybody likes money)they are treaty-entitled to natural resources.

I'm in a constant mouthy battle, while trying not to make enemies, with people who overfish, overhunt, kill birds and animals it's illegal to kill, kill animals because they might cause them a little inconvenience ("damn beavers cut down my favourite birch tree, so I shot the suckers, loons/mergansers/ospreys are taking all the trout outta the lake so I shot the suckers, skunk was rootin' around my lawn, so I shot the sucker..."), tear upland bogs that used to have rare orchids to shreds with ATVs, illegally dam or divert streams on their properties to the detriment of anything that might depend on that stream, bury toxic waste so they don't have to pay the processing fees, and on and on. Most of these people are white, nobody turns them in, and except for me it seems nobody tells them to grow a brain.

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: bankley
Date: 27 Apr 08 - 05:30 PM

gnu is right... there are a lot of stories that run both ways. I could tell a few myself, having lived 7 years as a white on the Kahnawake reserve in the '70's... but such is the human condition.. I've found that assholes come in all shapes, sizes and colours.. but generally smell the same...not that I make a habit sniffing around for them.... I agree that co-operation is what matters the most..
We're not going to roll back time, things won't be like they were. We can, however, make a better history , as it unwinds, by our actions today. Try to walk in someone else's Birkenstocks, Kodiaks or mocassins for awhile and see what that does.

The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Issues was released in '96 as a 5 volume, 4000 page report in an attempt to indentify and address a wide range of problems experienced by 'Aboriginals' in this country. A lot of consultation, hearings and dialog took place in every region to the tune of $20,000,000. It's not a quick read, to be sure. I didn't rush out to get my copies either, but from what I have read and the meetings I attended, I feel that it did offer a broad forum for discussion which resulted in some positive recommendations. Unfortunately, these suggetions remain largely ignored by the Gov't... and are sadly collecting dust along with the Kelowna Accord... Here's one of the last paragraphs from this work. It pretty well sums up what we've been talking about here..

"The relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in Canada has long been troubled and recently has shown signs of slipping into more serious trouble. The relationship can most certainly be mended - indeed, turned from a problem into an asset and one of the country's greatest strengths...
Yet renewal of the relationship must be done with justice and generosity. History and human decency demand restoration of fair measures of land, resources and power to Aboriginal peoples. On those foundations, self-respect and self-reliance will grow steadily firmer in Aboriginal communities. In their absence, anger and despair will grow steadily deeper - with conflict the likely result"

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: bankley
Date: 27 Apr 08 - 05:38 PM

hey Bee, thanks for your input....

"When Earth Mother gets to sick to move,
who'll have the strength to carry her ?
Will the wounded of the world return to count coup
as her warriors at the barrier ?"

from 'The Spell'

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 27 Apr 08 - 10:37 PM

The record of the OPP and likewise the QPP has been rather abhorrent in dealing with the First Nation people in land disputes. If the federal government agrees that the native claim is legitimate why the hell does the OPP even get involved? It's simply not their jurisdiction! If there is a dispute over the land let the courts settle it if negotiations fail. If some arsehole wants to build a condo let him build it somewhere else.
I grew up in a village that was half red and half white. I understand that the Indian has a different view of the world and some points I admire and others I don't agree with, but there is much to be learned from his outlook.

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Apr 08 - 12:10 AM

bankley, thank you for all of the information you have posted. My husband's ancestry includes First Nation in Canada and we are always interested in learning more. We have long been friends and advocates with many Native Americans in this country and been honoured to be included in several of their sacred ceremonies. It will be a better world when all peoples learn we really all are related and have much to learn from one another.

Much success and peace to you and those who are struggling for their rights. May peace prevail in the whole situation and may cooperation bring about a swift and just resolution.

Mitakuye Oyasin,

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: Peace
Date: 28 Apr 08 - 12:46 PM

At present--as in right now--SWAT teams are preparing to assault the people there. If that happens, I hope people from Mudcat will both write our Federal government AND the United Nations, because what is about to be perpetrated is a crime against humanity.

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Apr 08 - 01:05 PM

There are a bunch of links, addresses and name to which to write, call, send donations at THIS LINK, plus direct word from those Mohawk who are involved. Scroll down for all of the contact info, etc.

There's more on THIS PAGE including an 800 number usable by callers from around the world, apparently.

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: gnu
Date: 28 Apr 08 - 01:55 PM

Bee.... me too. I have seen all that you have said... and worse... from red and white assholes. I personally know some of each. (and tend to avoid them)

But, what I am trying to impart is that there has to be cooperation and tolerance which cannot come from just one side.

Now. Peace. SWAT? Oh my goodness. Are they insane? Whoever gives the order should be tried to the full extent of the law. Including Chucky!

Better yet, let Chucky lead the charge.

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: Peace
Date: 28 Apr 08 - 02:05 PM

The people there may have--likely do have--some hunting rifles. That don't stack up against sniper scopes and training.

I have sent the story and links to four sites to the UN press agency. Also made a call to my MP's office today.

The Mohawk do not have a chance. Period. The only chance is that there is intervention. This country needs troops in there to keep peace. We have the troops to do that. The will? Aye, there's the rub. All that CAN help at this point is people on telephones and e-mails.

LET MY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT KNOW YOU ARE WATCHING.

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: Peace
Date: 28 Apr 08 - 02:08 PM

Phone number for Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada.

[phone]

In the parlance, please 'drop a dime'.

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: Peace
Date: 28 Apr 08 - 02:56 PM

PS: You do not have to be Canadian to let them know. And e-mails don't really cost anything. These people need YOUR help.

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: Peace
Date: 28 Apr 08 - 04:05 PM

If indeed you make any calls, send any e-mail with regard to this, would you please be kind enough to post here saying so? Thank you.

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: gnu
Date: 28 Apr 08 - 04:31 PM

Tried to talk to my MP. Bullshit.

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: Peace
Date: 28 Apr 08 - 04:49 PM

You tried.

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: gnu
Date: 29 Apr 08 - 12:24 PM

Last I have read.

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: bankley
Date: 29 Apr 08 - 06:50 PM

I'm still waiting for news from the quarry. Glad things seem to have cooled down for the moment...I would like to think that letters and calls to the authorities have helped.. I know that the 'defenders' greatly appreciate it.

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: Peace
Date: 29 Apr 08 - 06:52 PM

Well, I have heard back from neither the PM nor my MP. Ask me if I'm pleased.

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 29 Apr 08 - 08:08 PM

Och Bruce,
Arseholes usually only answer when they feel a need to blow!

Subject: RE: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
From: Peace
Date: 29 Apr 08 - 08:09 PM

I bet they'd a called if it was election time.