The Caledonia Argyle Street Barricade Has Moved to the Caledonia Bypass!

This whole situation gets more and more bizarre.   I expect that the "protesters" are yielding to those on Six Nations (the majority) who want the current barrier on Argyle Street South in Caledonia dismantled.  For over two weeks it has blocked the southern entrance to Caledonia at the old Douglas Creek Estates (DCE) site, the area of so much conflict since 2006.  Word has it that certain business owners on the Sixth (6th) Line on the Six Nations Reserve have threatened the "activists" as the former see their bottom line sink further and further into the red.

Perhaps the photo below, credit to Tamra Botting, will explain the present situation - at least to locals:

The Caledonia Bypass (Highway 6) where it crosses Sixth Line

In an update of an article published earlier today, entitled, "Clairmont:  Rumors swirl around Caledonia blockade", The Hamilton Spectator, 4 September 2017 (click here) we learn of a significant new development.  Here is the "add on" information from the article:

"It's hard to know what's going on at the Indigenous protest barricade in Caledonia, never mind what it all means.

For days, rumours were swirling on social media and some news sites that the Argyle Street barrier would be moved to the Hwy. 6 overpass. 

That eventually did happen on Monday afternoon, offering some relief to frustrated business and homeowners.

But for much of the long weekend, determining what exactly was happening with the Caledonia blockade was a challenge". 

Apparently the "protesters" have moved to the Caledonia Bypass, but as we will see later, this will likely set the stage for even more anger emanating from Six Nations businesses on Sixth Line.

The Sachem has now published an updated article on the subject, "Caledonia blockade moved to highway 6 bypass", 4 September 2017 (click here) including information from the OPP as to which areas they have blocked off (the entire Caledonia Bypass from Argyle Street South, across the Grand River, to Green Road:

From OPP Twitter

Here follows quotes from the article:

"There is also a police presence at the intersection of Argyle Street at 6th Line preventing traffic from continuing through.

The move of the barricade comes two days after a press release from the protestors stating that they would not be moving the barricade due to the “threat of mass police arrests.”

In the statement on Saturday, the protestors said they wanted to move the barricade because they were “sensitive to the impact” of the barricade on “Caledonia and Six Nations business owners and residents.”

The blockade on Argyle Street, which was first set up on Aug. 10, was taken down Monday as the new blockade on the bypass was set up. By late afternoon, traffic was flowing on Argyle Street – but was quite heavy due to the blocked bypass. OPP officers were directing traffic at major intersections in Caledonia.

Visible from the 7th Line bridge over the Highway 6 bypass were groups of protestors to both the north and south. They had pulled a small tree across the bypass near where it crosses the Grand River".

Areas Noted Above

So, based on the last statement, it appears that the local worthies (thugs) are setting up for a deja vu 2006.  It should be noted that 7th Line (shown as River Range on the OPP map) is also known as Stirling Street.  It ends at the railway tracks since the bridge that joined 7th Line to Stirling Street was torched (arson) by Six Nations criminals in 2006.

Something resembling a rationale for the move was given in an article, "Six Nations activists move blockade to Highway 6 and Sixth Line in Caledonia"  in The Sachem (same date as above), who added the following:

"On Monday afternoon Six Nations protesters moved their demonstration and blockade from Argyle Street South in Caledonia to Highway 6 and Sixth Line in Caledonia.

At approximately 1:30 p.m. Monday afternoon, OPP responded to reports that a group of individuals were blocking Highway 6".

CBC reports also point to a blockade of Highway 6 and Sixth Line in, "Six Nations activists move blockade to Highway 6 and Sixth Line in Caledonia" (click here) stating, 

"On Monday afternoon Six Nations protesters moved their demonstration and blockade from Argyle Street South in Caledonia to Highway 6 and Sixth Line in Caledonia".  

And furthermore that, "Police say in the interest of public safety, OPP have closed Highway 6 between Argyle Street North and Greens Road, and Sixth Line between Argyle Street South and Oneida Road.

Detour traffic routes are being put in place for Highway 6 traffic.

At approximately 1:30 p.m. Monday afternoon, OPP responded to reports that a group of individuals were blocking Highway 6".

An article in Turtle Island News, "Caledonia barricade down, blockade on Highway 6 bypass goes up" (click here) seems to confirm that the actual barricade is on the bypass as shown in the picture above.

Furthermore,

"On Monday afternoon, Kanonhstaton Six Nations released a statement about the relocation.

'We the people of Kanonhstaton have successfully removed the barricade on Argyle Street in an effort to unify the people of Six Nations and relieve pressure on our people and the residents of Caledonia."

"We have also erected a barricade on Highway 6 bypass in an effort to apply pressure on Canada to return to the negotiation table in accordance with the silver covenant chain and two row wampum. We will continue to occupy the road and call on all of our brothers and sisters for support.'"

CTV has an excellent video (click here) in an article entitled, "Caledonia demonstrators move blockade", providing a fine overview and status of the problem to today.  Also CHCH TV in Hamilton has an informative video entitled, "Caledonia blockade moved to Highway 6" - click here.  What is odd is that there is a view from the River and a protester blockade is seen on the south side with Confederacy (no, not the "Stars and Bars") flags.

Clearly the main Six Nations barricade is on the Highway 6 bypass where it crosses Sixth Line; and the OPP have closed the entire Caledonia bypass, as well as Sixth Line from Argyle Street South to Oneida Road (the Reserve).

Predictions:  If anything, this blockade will create a worse problem due to the large transport trucks which cannot cross the Grand River on Argyle Street, but must use the Caledonia bypass.  As to the impact on Six Nations, 6th Line is blocked by the OPP at the junction of Oneida Road (Reserve boundary) so local Six Nation businesses will see their trade dry up even more.

The problem with heavy vehicles will only come to fruition tomorrow (since today is Labour Day).  It is inconceivable that the OPP would allow this to continue - surely they will now act ............................. and do their duty ....................  If the OPP does go ahead, I strongly suggest that they block 7th Line (River Range, Stirling Street) at the Rez since this will be an access point to the site (Caledonia bypass) - although it will not stop ATVs.

It will be a blessing when I can, in a few days, make personal visits to the sites and hopefully offer unique photos.  Of course this will also mean factual, but perhaps disconcerting (to some) viewpoints, such as why Six Nations are not "aboriginal" nor are they "Native" here.  Thousands of us in Haldimand have equal personal claims to those terms and resent the "special" treatment given to those who happen to reside west of Caledonia.

Stay tuned, updates will be added below.

DY