Pictures taken on scene by a freelance photographer, as well as details of how the operation unfolded, can be found in the CBC article, "Police dismantling blockade on Highway 6 in Caledonia", 5 September 2017 - click here.
Photo: David Richie
See here for a local perspective, and the view of Councillor Grice of Caledonia in "OPP dismantle Caledonia blockade", The Sachem, 5 September 2017.
An excellent video of the events can be found at CTV Kitchener, click here. One item of note is the OPP officer indicating that while to date no arrests have been made, there is an ongoing investigation into any criminal activity that has taken place.
Assessment of Role of OPP: The one word that comes to mind is, "finally". I will congratulate the OPP on a job well done. The "protesters" did not seem to understand that they crossed the line when they blocked the railway, and then Highway 6 - neither of those acts can be tolerated. Furthermore the OPP correctly "made their move" after dark. This tactical decision, along with blocking Sixth Line all the way to the Rez ensured that reinforcements could / would not come pouring in as happened in 2006. The telephone tree and social media would not be able to muster much help under these circumstances. Of course this time things were very different in that most Six Nations wanted the barricade gone, and to say the least there was tepid enthusiasm for helping to keep it afloat. Kudos to all.
Impact of These Events on the HCCC: This did not end well for the HCCC and supporters (the "protesters"). As a matter of fact they may have "lost face" (the image they wish to convey in the eyes of Six Nations and Government authorities). It ended with the "protesters" or "land protectors" scurrying away in defeat.
If history teaches us anything, it is that there is no ability of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council (HCCC) and their sympathizers to come up with creative, novel solutions. They appear unable to see or understand the wider effects of their actions. Also it is abundantly clear that there is nary a whisker of empathy for the residents of Caledonia - there never has been any. How will this then play out in the long run? Probably at some point soon they will swing into action again, likely using the same old tactics that have "worked" before - blockading Argyle Street South. Like rats in a Skinner box (Psychology 101), they have been rewarded for acting at this one "magical" spot - so this rewarded behaviour is likely to occur again.
My dream is that the HCCC has now lost most of its credibility on Six Nations, and will have no choice but to become a ceremonial group dedicated to reminding the people of their proud past, and will work closely and cooperatively with the Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) in putting forward their agenda. However I know full well that the HCCC is rife with factionalism, and will never give in to reality and acknowledge the legal role of SNEC. Many HCCC chiefships are currently vacant, or occupied by a "chief" not only of the wrong Nation, but the wrong clan. Meetings are frequently cancelled due to a lack of a quorum, or meetings end abruptly when the Head Chief walks out in a huff. How could they possibly take over the efficient day to day operation of a community of 23,000. It is a shame really, because both groups working together would offer strength and continuity. It is not possible to return to 1924 (let alone 1492), and until HCCC realizes this they will continue to engage in ultimately self destructive actions which only tear the community further apart.
Severe Lack of Understanding of 19th Century History: Much of what we have seen can be distilled to immense ignorance - on the part of many to most - even the Provincial Government. I can say this on the basis of having searched all of the Six Nations "Indian Affairs Papers" in the Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa, and the relevant documents housed in the Archives of Ontario in Toronto, as well as all the documents at the Woodland Indian Cultural Educational Center (old Mohawk Institute), over the past many years in my quest to learn more about my own family. I believe that only myself and P.M., the SNEC Land Researcher, can make a claim to having completed such an extensive search of all relevant documents.
What is vitally important to note is that as shown in the original documents which I have posted to this blog, the original 2006 "reclamation" of the Douglas Creek Estates (DCE) property in Caledonia by Six Nations has no justification except in belief and wishful thinking, and was therefore an act of theft. This parcel and surrounding land was surrendered by 47 Chiefs in Council in 1844. Thus that occupation of the property was unconscionable, as was the original blockade, let alone the explosion of violence and vandalism that followed. Therefore the lands at DCE were obtained by fraud, and the barricade was there as a result of a criminal act. Thus there was no need for the Ontario Government to agree to hand over the Burtch lands in Brant County to any group within Six Nations in order to remove the blockade - this was blatant extortion. So it follows that there was no valid rationale for establishing the 2017 blockade of Argyle Street South; and so the OPP had the responsibility to remove it immediately. The events of 10 August to 5 September 2017 should never have happened, let alone the antecedent actions.
Effect on Caledonia 2017: Boiling it all down, we suffered in Caledonia because of "internal strife" (factionalism) at Six Nations, as well as wider ignorance of the facts. We were the victims (again) of the incorrect rationale of the HCCC who are always quick to point the finger of blame at the Federal or Ontario Governments, both of whom are factually blameless in this whole debacle. However we in Caledonia are more "accessible" than either of the Governments in Ottawa or Toronto, so we are the ones who get sucker punched.
The financial losses suffered by Caledonia (and Six Nations) businesses is significant, and is a matter of which we will learn more shortly. Residents of Caledonia can confirm that it is a shame that after all we have been through since 2006, the blockade of Argyle Street South was allowed to remain for almost a month - and who knows for how much longer if Six Nations people were not pressuring them to move. Again kicked in the teeth. If others ever want to know what it feels like to be a sacrificial lamb offered up to political correctness run amuck, Government inaction, and police hesitancy to act against Indians, come live on the south side of Caledonia. Our only allies were (are) the Mayor of Haldimand and Council.
Every day those at the southern end of town are forced to look upon the derelict, tick infested, moonscape that is the present Douglas Creek Estates site, which was once again the hub of the militant acts. The illegal "occupiers" have destroyed everything on site but left trash and debris within the fence they chose to construct. It is a horrid reminder of all that has happened. For some, particularly those residing nearest to DCE, this is in the category of "post traumatic stress". The stress factor cannot be quantified.
In Sum: So, knowing what has happened, and that the best predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour, I ask the question, "what is next", and "when will it happen"? This time it was all about who at Six Nations has control of a field of soy beans in Brant County, tomorrow and the day after .................
I will end this posting on a somewhat upbeat note, garnished with the cruel reality we must endure. The most recent article in The Sachem, 6 September 2017, is entitled, "Caledonia roads open, but police remain on scene at DCE" - click here. One quote is from the optimistic side of things: "It was a refreshing sight for Caledonia residents on Wednesday morning as all roads in and around Caledonia are open for the first time in over a month". On a more sobering note: "a police presence of two cars remains outside the fenced gate of the Douglas Creek Estates property".
So while all is well for the moment, the OPP are well aware that at any minute the "protesters" are likely to drag that pathetic purloined piece of Hydro One property across the road and once again trigger the whole blockade process.
This is all part of the "background" to life and living hereabouts. We live in Caledonia, an idyllic town situated along the historic and beautiful Grand River, but the prototypical example in Ontario of a community distressed due to recurrent extended periods of lawlessness. It is really very hard to live this way - with the "sword of Damocles" hanging over our heads - "when will it drop next?"
Addendum: The most comprehensive coverage of the matter, particularly the details of the removal of the Highway 6 bypass blockade, can be found on the CHCH News in Hamilton of 5 September 2017 (but posted 6 September), entitled "Caledonia Blockade cleared" and can be found here. Note at the end of the clip, the ominous statement from the "protesters" ensconced behind the fence gates at DCE (where once again the old tower was dragged - this artifact is fast becoming a museum piece with its own story to tell).
Sometimes we wonder whether any outside Caledonia, say media people, really understand what is truly percolating under the surface. There is a very good article, "Scott Thompson: Caledonia gets town back, for now" in CHML (audio and blog) of 6 September 2017 - click here. Clearly Mr. Thompson can see to the root of the problem and how Caledonia is merely a pawn in other peoples games.
I get the sense that the media in general does understand that this present situation has nothing to do with land claims, and everything to do with internal politics at Six Nations, and that Caledonia is being victimized by those who would hold the town hostage to meet their own arcane goals. Clearly a step forward.
DY
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