Once Again Caledonia is Being Used as a Punching Bag by Unprincipled Six Nations Agitators

Well, no surprise - here we go again.

The Problem:  A familiar pattern seen in this neck of the woods has re-emerged.  Caledonia is on the front lines of a "confrontation", as has been the case so many times in the past, but this time there is a twist.  On this occasion, the militants did not spring into action due to some local issue, but rather as a result of events occurring thousands of miles to the west.  These are people who care more for those residing in some unfamiliar remote place than their own neighbours in Haldimand County and the majority of those on the nearby Six Nations Reserve.

Supporters of the hereditary chiefs at Six Nations (the latter have no recognized legal authority and the tattered remnants are entirely dysfunctional) see a parallel with what is happening with a splinter group of British Columbia Indian hereditary chiefs of the Wet'suwet'en - who came into prominence with the controversy over the proposed pipeline between Alberta and British Columbia.  Most of the tribe / nation support the pipeline taking Alberta oil to the coast, but the squeaky wheel gets all the attention - and the "silent majority" in Wet'suwet'en country remains ................... silent.  I would venture to say that not a single one of the protesters now installed just outside Caledonia had ever heard the name "Wet'suwet'en" a few months ago.  This was certainly true of the present author as well.  For those who wish to have an overview of the "players" out west, information can be found in a recent CBC article here, providing a "who's who" in this dispute.

The situation in British Columbia, by virtue of the press coverage, has created set of circumstances where groups across Canada including other "First Nation" peoples (e.g., Tyendinaga Mohawks near Belleville, Ontario) and anarchists (e.g., ANTIFA) have joined the agitators in B.C. "in solidarity".  As a result of this dynamic, and the Canadian and Provincial inaction - hesitation, these groups have brought the Canadian economy to its knees via blockading railroads and or course roads (see here for the impact on farmers in the Western Provinces).  It was inevitable, knowing the history around here, that the supporters of the Hereditary Chiefs Confederacy Council (HCCC) group, with this excuse as the stimulus, would take the opportunity to make the lives of the people of Caledonia miserable once again - and of course we hear the usual "genocide" and "colonialism" platitudes as justification (backed by zero objective veridical evidence - but that has NEVER mattered).

Just a reminder, for those who have not followed this blog or other relevant information sources over the past 14 years, we have been through these situations involving an endless series of blockades of roads and construction sites since well before the theft of the Douglas Creek Estates (DCE) lands in 2006 by Six Nations activists and their white supporters.   The disruptions (including assaults, arson, destruction of all the homes on the DCE property, blockades of Highway 6 and the Caledonia Bypass, harassing and abusing local residents (e.g., required to carry "passports" to access their own property) occurred while the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) refused to protect citizens and even their own officers.  Most recently the HCCC supporters halted the stringing of power lines through the towers that extended from Niagara Falls to the Toronto grid - costing taxpayers millions if not billions of dollars (since this action extends back to 2006).  All this is documented in this blog and in many other sources.

As to the specifics of what is playing out today, reference to an article published in the Hamilton Spectator of 25 February 2020, seen here will provide details.  The bottom line is that once again the Caledonia Bypass of Highway 6 (an essential artery for which there is no viable alternative for large vehicles) has been blockaded.

The author has endured this nonsense for a lifetime, and while the players have changed, the behaviours have not.  As we have learned from the past, the only way to deal with these entitled agitators is to seek a Court Order to demolish the barricades and arrest the perpetrators - essentially for the OPP to do their duty.  The reputation of the OPP in Caledonia is on very shaky ground since they have typically held to a double standard - one for "Natives" (let them do as they wish) and locals (arrest them for "crimes" such as carrying a Canadian flag).  The author has been on the front lines of many of the resulting confrontations, and attained a new disrespect for the Provincial policing - where the establishment is petrified that another Dudley George and Ipperwash situation might transpire (a google search will provide details).  They have, however, on occasion showed that they will honour Court Orders and they will demolish barricades and arrest the perpetrators.  Their recent actions at Tyendinaga are highly commendable.

A Solution:  As in the past, I will offer the OPP and elected officials some suggestions, for what they are worth, in order to address the concerns of residents of Haldimand County, and a way forward to enforce the law effectively (since the author has knowledge of the area and the parties involved).  It occurs that here, one way to end the blockade would be for the OPP to allow people out, but not in (thereby cutting off supplying protesters with "essentials").  With the snow, cold and wind now buffeting the area, one might think that the "solidarity people" would be forced to retreat due to the inclement weather and lack of food and water and shelter.  Problem solved.  If the OPP are allowing vehicles to bring in "reinforcements" and supplies of any sort, then they are clearly enablers, not doing their job.  If this were the case, what little esteem I might retain for them would evaporate (or freeze).

It is critical for the OPP to be prepared for the "next time", and there will be a next time since the "blockade behaviour" has been reinforced (rewarded), and so as with Skinner's rats, it will be repeated again.  The OPP needs to be proactive and as soon as someone begins to illegally block a road in Haldimand County, a contractor needs to be called in to remove the materials, and the perpetrators arrested, charged, and subject to fines and jail time (depending on circumstances).  If for some reason the OPP would prefer to have a Court Order to back them up, that is worth considering.  This approach worked very well in 2009 with a Court Order from the Superior Court of Brantford and the perpetrators who disobeyed a Court Order to disperse from a development site and were named in the local newspapers, and their punishments were also enumerated.  No more coddling of one group of people simply because they are defined as "First Nation" and have a status card.

One other thing I would like to note at this time.  There was unremitting, and entirely valid, criticism of Provincial Government Liberal leaders McGuinty and Wynne since they were never to be seen even while parts of Caledonia were burning.  We have now elected Doug Ford and the Conservatives, and many of us expected that things would be different - that Ford would care, and would defend us.  It is beginning to appear that we were wrong.  Will our Premier declare where he stands on this issue of the law and the need for all (NO EXCEPTIONS) in Ontario to respect it?  Time will tell but so far it is not looking good as all that we hear from Queen's Park over this anarchy is silence (a little cold for crickets at this time).  We also must hear from our elected representatives at all levels of government.

The Bottom Line: We need the OPP to step up to the plate and enforce the law in precisely the same manner as they certainly would if the barricades had been placed on the Caledonia Bypass by local residents.

Updates:  The author will update this posting as the situation unfolds, and will soon offer more details (including photos) from personal observation when circumstances permit.  Hopefully in a few days the whole matter will have been resolved and the barricade situation nothing but a (bitter) recent memory.  However, how likely is that?

     1)  The Haldimand Police Services Board is angry at the lack of response by the OPP, as seen here in the Hamilton Spectator article of 29 February 2020.  Clearly it is not just the present author who is fed up with the inaction of the OPP, which we have seen before.  The local Detachment Commander indicated that it is not up to him anymore - the "higher ups" have taken over the handling of the "incident" and sooooo .................................. we wait, as we have done time and time and time again over the past 14 years.  Who else in Ontario has to live with this crazyness?

     Addendum:  I wonder how the situation would be handled if, as in the "old days", we had the Haldimand - Norfolk Regional Police in place of the OPP.

     2)  Lately there have been a number of people in the media who appear to have come to an understanding about what these "protests" are doing to our country, and how "First Nations" factionalism is at the root of much of the chaos (something I have discussed in numerous posts in this blog).  Over the years this author has seen very few media folk be anything but left leaning and "politically correct" - this time, not so much (although the article here from Al Jazeera provides a classic far left spin).  A good example of this more realistic and fair view of the issues can be found here.  This is from the Toronto Sun, however similar sentiments have been expressed in the National Post (see here), and the Globe and Mail.  Some Wet'suwet'en elders are now speaking loudly to the effect that these hereditary chiefs do not have the authority to speak for all members of the tribe /nation as seen here in an article from Global News.  The matriarch also pulled the rug out from underneath the environmentalist catastrophists in stating that they have had pipelines there since the 1960s and there have been no problems (I will add that this is in sharp contrast to the horrendous disasters in the last few years occasioned by moving oil via rail - Lac Megantic being the most serious).

Most often this author has felt like a lone voice in the wilderness.  It is indeed encouraging to see others express similar opinions, but published in major mainstream media outlets.

     3)  According to an article in the Hamilton Spectator of Sunday March 1st 2020 (seen here) the "solidarity" worthies decided to up the ante with rolling blockades of Highway 6 near 1st Line outside of Hagersville (about 10 miles down the highway from Caledonia).  Having resided here years ago this author is well familiar with the circumstances in that vicinity.  The traffic at the best of times in that area is problematic due to 18 wheelers trying to negotiate downtown Hagersville and the light at Main and King.  There is no bypass.  So a bunch of entitled "supporters" confident in their "cause" can create havoc here.  They were apparently slowing traffic to 25 km/hr which would guarantee road chaos.  The OPP had every right to arrest these "resisters" for impeding the flow of traffic - but ...........

     4)  Sadly it appears that the two media sources at Six Nations, namely Two Row Times and Turtle Island News, give absolutely no indication that the Reserve community is anything but fully behind the disruptive actions locally and more widely.  There is a brick wall that emerges (as in the past) such that "dissenters" (those who are against the militant action in support of a questionable "cause") are silenced.

     5)  As of 2 March 2020 the blockade continues according to a CBC article here.  Questions continue to arise such as why have the OPP not done their job, are we not important enough?  Things are getting so bad at Tyendinaga Township, adjoining the Tyendinaga Mohawk Reserve, that they are begging for assistance from the rest of Canada.  So clearly Caledonia is in "competition" for the community in Ontario most affected by blockades by their "neighbours", as seen in the link here.

     6)  A question arises as to how do these people make a living since I certainly would not have been able to take that much time off work in order to participate in a "protest" - nor would my employers have permitted it.  When I was self employed there was even less of a chance to "be away" from my work since my business / practice would have gone belly up.  When circumstances permit, this author will investigate who is among the "crew" at the barricades then perhaps the answer to this latter question will be revealed.

     7)  As of 4 March 2020 there is, to the best of the author's knowledge, no published specific information as to where the traffic issues occasioned by the blockade occur.  Despite the title, "Blockades Creating Traffic Problems in Caledonia" from a Woodstock, Ontario FM radio station's site, there are no details as to where these "Problems" are to be found.  Again, the present author will provide this information from personal inspection - but when is alas unclear at this time.

     8)  6 March 2020, according to an article in the Simcoe Reformer seen here, the beat goes on.  No change.  It appears that the OPP are allowing access to members of all factions at Six Nations as well as their "supporters".  It has now apparently become something (unclear what) beyond simply giving support to the Wet'suwet'en - and thus its duration is further obscured.  When does the law begin to be factored into the equation?  As has been noted so many times, Six Nations militants are frequently immune from the laws of the land once they step off the Reserve to create havoc for locals who don't identify as "aboriginal" (as well as other Canadians who find themselves caught up in this, whatever it is).  No one "in authority" will stand up for us.

     9)  Some interesting comments from the article on the blockade continuing in the Brantford Expositor of 6 March 2020; and the rhetoric coming from the agitators behind the lines include the following (as seen here):

          a)  The title says “Caledonia blockade to remain in place”.

Why are Six Nations people punishing the people of Caledonia?

And, it's against the law in Canada to block roads, highways, bridges or rail lines, etc. without a permit.

So why are the OPP just standing and watching? Why the OPP aiding and abetting people who are breaking the law?

It's against the law to rob a store or a bank but the police don't just stand and watch while it's happening.

It's against the law to block roads, highways, bridges and rail lines and to attack trains so why do the police just stand and watch while it's happening?

When the police just stand and watch and don't do anything when people break the law, the police embolden the criminals.

Why do they want to do that?

          b)  “There’s no way they would be for something that would harm our Mother Earth the way this would.”

Be careful not to throw stones if you live in a glass house. Should anyone be interested, I could take a group of those who believe the above nonsense on a tour of the bush lines of various lots and concessions on the Rez and show all how much "love" and "respect" of Mother Earth has been shown many of the Haudenosaunee of Six Nations over the last 150 years. As to the pipeline, I watch the trains carrying oil (that fuel the high lift trucks and ATVs common on the Rez) across the tressel in Caledonia realizing that any second a car could derail and create an environmental disaster the like of which we have never seen. Remember the disaster at Lac Megantic - it could happen in our backyards. A pipeline on Wet'suwet'en has been there since 1961 and there have been no incidents. Too many inconvenient truths?


     10)  On 10 March 2020, it was reported that our MPP, Toby Barrett, stood up in the legislature and blasted the government for the lack of action on the blockade.  The following quote is from CBC News (see here), "The MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk says businesses along Highway 6 are suffering because of an "illegal" blockade and is demanding the government take action to remove it.

"We respect the rights of a peaceful protest, but enough is enough. Tear down this blockade,"  Progressive Conservative MPP Toby Barrett said to scattered applause at Queen's Park Tuesday."

Further, "He described the people who had shut down the road as "activists" and said the blockade is "dangerous" because it's forcing traffic to be rerouted over a bridge built in 1927 that "should have been replaced 18 years ago.""

"Our area's economy on both sides of Highway 6 are struggling," said Barrett. "Stores are closing. It's disheartening the Canadian government continues to remain silent."

Our MPP has always had our back - although stepping in earlier could have been helpful.  However it is reassuring that Queen's Park is now aware of the pain being inflicted on Caledonia (once again).

     11)  The media are finally acknowledging the fact that the dispute in BC is being led by a group of 5 rogue chiefs and their white environmentalist supporters - whereas 80% of the Wet'suwet'en community wants the pipeline to go ahead.  As reported on 10 March 2020 in the National Post here, 

"Theresa Tait Day, a former Wet’suwet’en hereditary leader, told MPs a pipeline project had been “hijacked” by five male chiefs and criticized Liberal cabinet ministers for making a secret deal with them.

Speaking at a House of Commons committee meeting, Tait Day said the decision last month to meet with hereditary chiefs was a mistake.

“The government has legitimized the meeting with the five hereditary chiefs and left out their entire community,” she said. “We can not be dictated to by a group of five guys.” 

Yet still the blockade in Caledonia continues - clearly the "supporters" there have their own agenda, and guess who ends up suffering most ........

     12)  Haldimand County Mayor Hewitt has weighed in re the above actions of MPP Barrett.  The following can be found in an article in the 11 March 2020 issue of the Brantford Expositor seen here:

“The announcement our MPP made to his own party seems really strange and asinine,” said Hewitt, noting that Barrett years ago took issue with the inaction of then Liberal  provincial government in responding to the occupation of the Douglas Creek Estates residential subdivision in Caledonia.

“I’ve been telling people that (Caledonia has) no ability to apply any pressure. This is a provincial issue since the OPP and the roads are under the province’s jurisdiction and I’m disturbed that I can’t even count on our local MPP and the government that’s in power.”

Hewitt said he has heard from no level of government with advice or offers of help so he has been trying to have local conversations about resolving the issue.

“We’re just a small community in the south of the province. If this highway was a 400 series or a railway line, I’m sure the conversations would be a lot more vocal but it’s easy to be in an office in Toronto and pretend there’s nothing happening here.”

The mayor said all three levels of government must come up with a reconciliation strategy to deal with outstanding land claims and other First Nation issues."

Clearly our key officials are not entirely on the same page - although the present author doesn't understand why the Mayor is upset with MPP Barrett who is at least trying to raise awareness of the issue at Queen's Park.

     13)  Some hope on the horizon!  As reported in the Hamilton Spectator 12 March 2020 seen here, or the Sachem of 13 March 2020 here, the "protesters" have been put on notice.  The following quote is instructive:

On Tuesday afternoon, police officers approached barricades at both ends of the bypass and read a notice, warning demonstrators that “their actions were deemed illegal and they could face charges.” . 

     14)  In the Sachem of 13 March 2020 an article here notes the strongly worded letter (dated 6 March 2020) of the Chamber of Commerce representing Caledonia and Six Nations businesses demanding action by all levels of government to get rid of the blockade which is devastating the local economy and creating general chaos.  A specific quote is as follows:  “Caledonia and the Six Nations are losing patience. Every time a Six Nations Confederacy protest takes place, both communities are held hostage,”.  The letter was sent to Prime Minister Trudeau, MP Finlay (both Federal); MPP Barrett (Provincial); Mayor Hewitt (Haldimand County), as well as a host of others.

     15)  We are now in the midst of the unprescedented corona virus pandemic.  This is a national emergency where we all have to work together to get through this while minimizing the damage.  This matter will be addressed in the next posting.

DY