The Hereditary Council Supporters are Once Again Attempting to Block the Hydro One Reinforcement Line Project April - May 2019

In the 24 April 2019 issue of Two Row Times (click here for online version), in an article entitled, "Construction to resume at Niagara Reinforcement Project", it was reported that,

"SNGRDC Director Matt Jamieson said in an emailed statement that there is no new arrangement between Hydro One and the HCCC, but says Hydro One wishes to continue on the original agreement and complete the NRL.

In a public notice, SNGRDC announced it was returning to work on the project, saying the decision to return to work was reached by the “SNGRDC Governance Group and it’s Shareholder.”

“The Governance Group is comprised of the SNGRDC Board of Directors, SNGRDC Advisory Committee, and Economic Development Trust- Board of Trustees,” said Jamieson. SNGRDC’s shareholder is the Six Nations Elected Council.

“We have spoken to our shareholder and Governance group on numerous occasions and the consensus is that the project gets completed pursuant to the original plan as communicated during the engagement process.”

Turtle Island News, 26 April 2019, in an article entitled, "Six Nations Grand River Development corp Restarting Work on NRL Under Police Presence" (click here for online version) provides a different (or more direct) twist on the matter.  Apparently the various elements of the Six Nations Elected Council (e.g., the Grand River Development Corporation) has had enough of the above noted antics of the various groups of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council (e.g., Men's Fire).  The 3 month delay in the stringing project is costing the Community money, jobs and other benefits.  Hence they are resolved to provide manpower to support the Ontario Provincial Police and Hydro One security to literally stand in the way of any attempt by Men's Fire or other agents of the Hereditary Council to impede the legitimate work of Hydro One - which should require only a month or so to finish the project.  While I would argue that no one at Six Nations has any business sticking their noses into this matter, or profiting from a project that they brought to a halt resulting in multi millions of dollars of costs and losses to Hydro One and the Ontario taxpayer, it is heartening to see that the project will likely proceed irrespective of the retrogressive elements of the Hereditary Council.

Recall that these people used a cutting torch or other device to take down a metal Hydro One tower, and drag it across Argyle Street South on multiple occasions between 2006 and 2016 - so I am not brimming with optimism that this project will proceed smoothly ................ we shall see.

A good summary of this matter to Sunday 28 April 2019 can be found in Two Row Times in an article entitled, "The basics on the current dispute surrounding the Niagara Reinforcement Line" (click here to view online version).

So, it is now Monday 29 April 2019, and work is set to resume on the "stringing of the wires" on Hydro One's Niagara Reinforcement Line.  Based on the above, and knowing the "players", one might predict what would occur and be on solid ground - but best to seek out verifiable facts.

In an article entitled, "Hydro One's Niagara Reinforcement Line is being blocked by Six Nations" published in the 29 April 2019 online edition of Turtle Island News (click here to view the original), we learn that the supporters of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council (HCCC) are up to their old tricks once again.  

The Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation (SNGRDC), and A6N (a subsidiary company) are affiliates of the Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC), who are the legal representatives of the Six Nations people.  These groups are working with Hydro One (see above) to get the line stringing project between Niagara Falls and the grid finished.  However, factionalism has reared its ugly head yet once again to stir the pot and complicate matters.  

What appears to be a group of a dozen or so of the perpetually disgruntled Six Nations activists, in learning of the above noted plan to resume work on the Niagara Reinforcement Line, decided that they would act unilaterally as supposed representatives of the Six Nations people to block the work!  This scenario involves an entirely illegal confrontation against not only Hydro One (or a developer), but here also the legitimate representatives of the Six Nations people.  In a nutshell, the HCCC wants Hydro One to work ONLY with them, and have nothing to do with SNEC or related agencies.  The HCCC supporters have shown that they are willing to play hardball to get their way, fueled by their belief that only they are the legitimate body able to represent the Six Nations people - and that SNEC should be swept aside since they came to power after a coup in 1924 (subsequent to the then HCCC proving to the progressive members of the community and the Government that this Council had become totally incompetent and unable to govern the Reserve).  100 years later these struggles for power continue unabated. So even though the Community is receiving major financial considerations (the legitimacy of any Six Nations involvement whatsoever can of course be questioned), the HCCC is willing to risk this and perhaps much more (if the truth about land claims ever reached the ear of someone willing to bring it to Court - and Six Nations could be left with nothing but bills to pay).

Hydro One's perspective is that they have an agreement with A6N (Six Nations construction workers), and they intend to honour their partnership, anticipating that work should be completed in two months.

It was reported that the SNEC Chief, Ava Hill, was present along with councilors, security personnel and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) facing off against the protesters blocking the driveway to the work site.  At this point it seems to be a standoff, although the OPP once again threatening to cave to demands, instead of arresting the activists, and so shut down the Caledonia Bypass which would create once again (how many times since 2006) a nightmare for Caledonia residents and people using Highway 6 to get from Hamilton to Port Dover - and again seeing the OPP acting as enablers for the HCCC and their "affiliates".

During the last blockade of Argyle Street by these activists, many Six Nations businesses took a serious financial hit.  Hence the Communications Officer of the SNGRDC has requested that these owners show up and help bolster SNEC in their efforts to get on with things.  The SNEC / SNGRDC and the A6N (Aecon Six Nations) subsidiary company supporters have made it clear that they plan to remain on site from 11 am to 4 pm to ensure that these is no disruption of the project.

The 1 May 2019 edition of Two Row Times, in an article entitled, "Work fails to restart on the Niagara Reinforcement Line" (click here to see preview of article) the bottom line is that the work is not proceeding and the respective leaders of the GRSNDC and the HCCC (Hereditary Council) are at each others throats, with the Aecon Six Nations construction workers caught in the middle.  So, stalemate and once again the Ontario Provincial Police stand by seemingly impotent, and allowing legitimate work to be halted by criminal protesters.  

Things are so bad between Community members that the Two Row Times included an article, "Cultural bullying at NRL work shutdown not beneficial to anybody" (click here for article) today (1 April 2019).  Basically the author is demoralized that the two sides once again can not even agree to meet (being at the same table in the past has been perceived by the HCCC as giving support to the view that the Six Nations Elected Council has any legitimate role to play in the Six Nations Community).  More specifically, in this case an HCCC member was calling out SNEC supporters for now knowing their Clan name or the name of their Clan Mother.  The present author (of the blog) is well aware that the Clan structure has broken down due to, for example, men being appointed to a Chief's position for a Clan, family, and even Nation that he does not belong to but there is a need for a warm body to fill the role.  So sadly it is largely become a sham anyway.  The "I am better than you, and more Haudenosaunee, because I know my Clan" type of bullying is unproductive according to the author of the above article.

So things are at a standstill and the Community is in tatters - once again.  The present author (of this blog) has said it numerous times that if the Community doesn't get its act together it will lay the groundwork for the total demolition of any claims Six Nations is putting forward to lands or any role in development projects, and instead will be stuck with an astounding bill for the burden their actions have placed on the Ontario taxpayer.

Stay tuned.

DY.

Six Nations Continuing Extortion of Money and Land from Uninformed and "Push Over" Developers

Here we go again.  As has happened so many times before since 2006 with the Douglas Creek Estates (DCE) take over, and over the subsequent 13 years, the Six Nations of the Grand River has been able to obtain land and money from developers (land and green energy) based on extortion / threats, whether direct or indirect.  It has become clear that this process will never end in Caledonia and surrounding areas.  The most recent instance is reported in the 24 April 2019 issue of Two Row Times (TRT) under the title,  "Developer makes accommodation to Six Nations for new Caledonia housing project" (click here for online version).  So it would seem that once again the law and morality will take a back seat to expedience and compliance to pressure groups, but it is important to explore the details of the "deal" struck between the various parties involved before making a final determination.  First, a little background is in order.

The origins of the "problem" extend all the way back to the 2006 Douglas Creek Estates debacle.  Here a group of Six Nations activists succeeded in overrunning an ongoing housing development and "dispersing" the Ontario Provincial Police sent to enforce a Court Order.  They claimed, against evidence, that the land was never surrendered.  To this day Six Nations activists still occupy this property (after trashing everything of value on the land) with the consent of the Ontario Provincial Government.  When all was said and done these criminals (who committed theft, arson, assault ....... ) prevailed, setting a very dangerous precedent that lingers to the present day, and which underlies the situation discussed here.


As documented in numerous postings to this blog, between 2006 and 2019, both major competing factions at Six Nations (the supporters of the Hereditary Confederacy Chiefs Council and the Six Nations Elected Council) have extracted millions of dollars from the Canadian Government (the Crown), the Ontario Provincial Government (the Little Crown), and individual developers of green energy projects and housing tracts.  All of this based on the claim that the lands given to the Six Nations for occupancy and located in the Haldimand Tract were never surrendered to the Crown and that all land patents are illegitimate.  To further extend the unwarranted claims, these groups have had the audacity to use a bogus document to put forward a claim to rights to all lands in Southwestern Ontario.  What is so infuriating is that no one is willing to stand up to the criminal activities of these groups, likely out of fear that activists will be sent to "enforce" their will upon the developers, or that those who speak the truth will be shouted down by being called "racists" - or perhaps the (very real) worry that physical violence will ensue.

The bottom line in 2019, according to the above source, is that, "Ballantry Homes has given 42.85 acres of farm land and $352,000 to the Six Nations Elected Council as part of the accommodation deal to approve two housing projects: Beatties Estates and McKenzie Meadows on the east and west sides of McKenzie Road in Caledonia."  To rub salt into the wound (for those of us who had to endure the 2006 to 2016 fall out of the Douglas Creek Estates anarchy), the development is immediately across the road (Argyle Street South, the scene of numerous blockades and confrontations) from the DCE property.

It is not clear at present how much total money would be involved (turned over to Six Nations), but in 2015 an offer of 1.35 million dollars was turned down.  By law (since the land was legally surrendered by Six Nations in 1844 and the monies placed in their Trust Fund) this is an illegal (certainly unnecessary) aspect.  As to the land give away, the above 43 acres is at Little Buffalo just west of Hagersville.  Apparently there is a "formula" developed for these cases now (after the deal by threat involving the massive McClung Avalon Homes development north and east of Caledonia).  In other words land traded for the promise not to disrupt the development with protests and blockades.  Here this involved, "seeing Six Nations receive payment in the form of property that is half the value of the developable land in the proposed project."  

It is amazing that the developers do not continue to challenge the actions of Six Nations (whatever faction they happen to be dealing with) in Court.  At least with a Court Order the Ontario Provincial Police, especially since we have a new Conservative Government, may actually enforce the provisions and arrest all protesters and the Court will hand them severe fines.  So clearly Ballantry doesn't have the "stones" to proceed in that direction but rather see it in their best interest to give in to the demands of the Six Nations.  It makes no sense economically, except for the fact that it will probably be the taxpayers of Ontario who are the ones who suffer most.  Every time land is taken out of the tax base and given to Six Nations a process kicks in and ultimately the land will no longer be taxed and the tax burden falls on the taxpayers of Haldimand and Ontario.  Amazing how timid developers and taxpayers are considering that the payments are entirely unnecessary.

It must be remembered that the actual data (evidence) could not be more crystal clear in relation to the legitimacy of the actions of Six Nations here - all of the lands in the Haldimand Tract have been surrendered, beginning in the 1780s, and peaking just before the consolidation of the present Reserve in 1847.  The present author has posted scanned copies of key surrenders (e.g., for the lands upon which the Douglas Creek Estates are situated) to this blog, showing the signatures or marks of all of the Chiefs from all Nations residing on the Grand River at the time (see later for references).  The signatures were witnessed by the Chiefs who were literate, and most particularly Jacob Martin (Mohawk) who was the interpreter.  Over 170 years later descendants of those who legally and fairly sold the land are saying it never happened.  In the TRT article, the land researcher for Six Nations stated, "All of these lands under the Haldimand Tract are under land claim no matter where it is. Douglas Creek is no different than MacKenzie Road. Oneida Township was never surrendered but it went out of our possession in 1845. It’s been in third party hands since then. All these lands were patented in the 1850s and 1860s."  That statement is absolutely incorrect.  The records are there for all to see in the Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa, RG10 Indian Affairs collection.  Surrenders were debated in Six Nations Council by all Chiefs and over the years they signed off on surrenders of ALL lands except those they chose in 1847 as a consolidated Reserve (Tuscarora Township, and part of Onondaga Township in Brant County; as well as the most westerly part of Oneida Township in Haldimand County) - IR 40 the present Six Nations Reserve.  As long as no one challenges the statements of the land researcher, people will come to assume that what they say must be correct - but it is not, it is outright wrong and can easily be proved!  To make matters worse the land researcher, in the recent TRT article, states that the Courts are saying that there is a statute of limitations on these matters and that is why it is useless for Six Nations to go to Court.  Not so, the reason is that the Court would decide (as they already did in 2009) that the claims of the land not being surrendered have no merit.  Somehow this decision by Justice Arrell of the Superior Court in Brantford, based on the Holmes Report of 2008 using the documents from the above RG10 records in Ottawa, has failed to set a precedent.  There is a huge scope for a legal challenge - but no one to initiate it.

A comprehensive summary and meta analysis on the matter of land surrenders and treaties can be found in an earlier posting to this blog seen here.

There is plenty of blame to go around in this ongoing situation - but ultimately it is those unwilling to stand up to being used and abused who need to be the targets of the finger pointing.

When will taxpayers, developers, or the Government put forward a challenge to the false statements coming from Six Nations?  Wish I knew the answer, but so far "never" seems to emerge as the most likely scenario.  For those who respect the truth beyond anything else, the matter is ultimately infuriating as those who speak falsehoods hold sway.

D.Y.

Hydro One Dealings: Threats of Violence, Extortion, False Narrative, Superstition Versus Rationality

As will be apparent from the time gap between this and the previous post, I have not commented on anything for an uncharacteristic interval of time.  Some of this is due to prioritizing, for example deciding that this or that matter is really somewhat trivial.  The recent blockade of a road in Brant County over solidarity with an Aboriginal - related issue in British Columbia almost made the cut.  However, with the publication of information in the most recent edition of Two Row Times (TRT) (20 February 2019), I feel compelled to speak out against the gross injustices that have occurred recently.  All relate to the subject matter of the previous 3 of 4 Blog postings.  In other words, there are notable developments in the outlandish rip off of the Canadian and Ontario taxpayers relating to stringing the high tension wires leading from Niagara Falls to the grid.

The present post relates to content in the News (pp. 2-3), Editorial and Letters to the Editor (p. 6) sections of the print version of TRT.  Online content from this newspaper can be viewed here.  TRT is a relatively unbiased source of information concerning what is happening in "Six Nations Territory"  whereas the other Reserve newspaper is an unapologetic supporter of, and mouthpiece for, the Haudensaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council (HCCC).

Once again the concerns raised here are a result of the actions of the Haudenosaunee Development Corporation (HDC) and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council (HCCC), specifically "Men's Fire".  The HCCC is a group of individuals who purport to represent the original Six Nations hereditary system, and are vehemently opposed to the Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) who are elected, and since 1924 are the only group recognized by the Provincial and Federal Governments.  Numerous examples of the antagonism between the two groups can  be found in the postings on this Blog.  The HCCC's opposition to virtually anything proposed or accomplished by SNEC ensure that the Six Nations community is composed of two opposing factions.  The acrimony is such that  the HCCC will not even meet with the legitimate Elected Council for fear of giving up the claim to power that they insist is theirs alone.  Unfortunately the most recent "efforts" of HCCC will ensure that millions of badly needed dollars will not be seen by the community, and perhaps risk a highly controversial agreement with Hydro One that, if re-visited, may well require the payment of not millions, but returning billions of dollars owed to the Canadian and Ontario Governments.  A very risky proposition.

To give a quick historical perspective, as profiled in the above noted Blog postings, in 2006 Six Nations militants "reclaimed" (stole) the Douglas Creek Estates (Kanonstaton), which had been property ceded by all the Chiefs of the Six Nations (including Nanticokes, St. Regis Onondaga, Tutelo and other smaller tribes who were members of the Six Nations before being absorbed into larger tribal / nation units) in 1844 (see the original documents in earlier Blog postings).  As part of their unconscionable series of actions (e.g., arson, assault, mayhem), the militants put Mohawk Warrior flags on the metal hydro towers already installed, that needed only the stringing of wires to bring power from Niagara Falls to the grid system.  The message was "cease and desist" "or else".

The threats of violence ensured that gutless Hydro One simply abandoned the project and the forlorn towers (except the one taken down to use on multiple occasions as a barrier to traffic on Argyle Street and the Caledonia Bypass) sat idle from 2006 to 2018.  Despite there being absolutely no legal reason to do so, Hydro One and the Ontario Government signed agreements with Six Nations Elected Council representatives to a deal that would "permit" the project to go ahead - with Six Nations receiving millions over 20 years for doing absolutely nothing; and with no compensation for the massive loss in revenue, the tax bill each year having been picked up by the Ontario taxpayer - not Six Nations.  Clearly Hydro One just wanted to get on with it and were willing to pay money obtained by "negotiation" (extortion) to ensure that the project was completed.

As has become standard practice, the HCCC and their representatives wanted to be cut in on the action, and to be recognized as the "legitimate" group that should be negotiating with Hydro One and / or the contractors doing the work.  At the end of January the Men's Fire issued a "cease and desist" order (which has no meaning except to them), and they had threatened the workers that if they did not stop work, then people (specifically, "men from all the territories") would come streaming from the Reserve in great numbers (as they did in 2006) to forceably shut the work down.  They would, however, let the project go to completion if they were given $250,000!  That was a direct threat, that was extortion, and what did the Ontario Provincial Police do - nothing.  I have not heard of any Court Injunction being issued, although there is every reason to do so.  If a dozen people from Caledonia did the same thing the OPP would most assuredly arrest them, and a Court date would be set.  However this is Six Nations, so the rules are different.  Kid gloves, tread lightly - one set of rules for those defined as "Native" and another for those defined as "non - Native".  A double standard which we came to see was to be the norm during the 2006 crisis, and had hoped that the dynamic had changed (there were successful Court Injunctions concerning developments in Hagersville and the massive McClung Road Avalon development east of Caledonia).

The HCCC used as a rationale (if they bothered to use one at all) that Niagara Falls was Haudensaunee land and they must be consulted.  As I have shown on multiple occasions, the "Nanfan Treaty" of 1701 was not a treaty at all, and even if it was considered legitimate by the Crown (which they did not), it only spoke of hunting rights.  After the wanton genocide of the 1640s where all of the true "owners" of the land, the "Neutral" or Attiwandaronk people, were no more - having been tortured and murdered to "cleanse" to area of competitors in the lucrative beaver trade.  While the then 5 Nations did establish 8 settlements in Southern Ontario after the genocide (giving them "rights by conquest"), by 1696 all were destroyed by the Mississauga and their 5 Fires allies (e.g., Pottowatomi as well as the Huron / Wendat remnants who escaped the fate of 95% of their people in the genocide of the 1640s).  The "owners" of the land after then were the Mississauga, their descendants today being for example the peoples of New Credit (New Credit Reserve bordering on Hagersville).  So if anyone is going to demand a "cut of the action", why is it not the New Credit people?  In reality, the lands were purchased legally by the British Crown beginning in 1784, so in effect the land is now a part of the Province of Ontario.  The stakeholders are those who pay taxes to the Canadian and Ontario Governments, and I might add, stiff fees for the electricity generated at Niagara Falls and elsewhere in Southern Ontario.

Since the Six Nations community had been given a "sweetheart deal", it is amazing but not surprising that the HCCC would raise objections and try to shut the work down in order to assert their dominance.  Hence once again we have the hereditary and elected councils pitted against each other (it has ever been thus - for almost 100 years now) - factionalism.  In fact the Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation (SNGRDC), a legitimate body at Six Nations, is now faced with the wrath of the HCCC - and a significant loss of funds to the entire community simply to make a point by the latter.  Six Nations have already lost $500,000 in much needed (although ill gotten) revenue.

In an all too familiar portrait, at a meeting between the SNGRDC and the HCCC (a rare event), once again the latter torpedoed the dialog .................. why ..................  because a wampum string fell on the floor and it was seen as "a bad omen".  In a Letter to the Editor the unnamed author wrote that during the "heated dialogue", "the Chiefs Wampum, which represents the Fire, fell to the floor from the bench upon which it was situated".  The reaction of the Chiefs and Clan Mothers was that it was then necessary to shut down the meeting and perform a propitiation ceremony to ensure that nothing bad comes of this event.  In the Editorial, the Editor stated that while the HCCC claimed that this is, "a bad sign, there are others who would just assume that it was a happenstance".  Correct, that is what reason and rationality would assert.  The Editor goes on to say that, "because some beads fell on the ground, no matter how sacred one holds them to be, is not a sufficient answer to the people of the Six Nations" not to be able to find common ground.

Once again the HCCC is acting on its own authority, through one of its various agencies (e.g., Men's Fire), and making demands that are in their own interests.  They have never accounted for any money they obtained since 2006 when the Provincial Government was "forced" to make "compensation" for excessive, unreasonable, and irrational demands.  So why trust them now - transparency is something that many at Six Nations are demanding before they would consider looking at the actions of the HDC or other hereditary council groups as legitimate or not.  Follow the money.  Who has the money?  Were pockets lined at the expense of the community?  How can anyone attribute any legitimacy to a group that will not open the books to ensure the monies have been used in an appropriate manner?

However the bottom line, as alluded to above, is that the HCCC may be opening up a can of worms, or Pandora's box - and ultimately once again the community is in turmoil because of the actions of a small group of militants who take advantage of the Six Nations and the wider community.  Frankly if it were up to those most impacted by the actions of the HCCC (Ontario taxpayers), after reading all the evidence, they would press forward to charge the Six Nations for standing in the way of this project for 13 years, and costing the people of Ontario multi millions of dollars.  Instead the gutless wonders who make these decisions from Hydro One on up, cow tow to the unwarranted and illegal demands of those who should not have a stake in this work.  What a crazy situation - and how much press coverage has this seen outside Six Nations?  There was an update months ago, but where are the reporters in the general community who should be looking at the evidence, and keeping the public up to date with developments such as the brash extortion attempt by Men's Fire which will result in delays, and the loss of who knows how many more millions of dollars of taxpayer money.  Why is there no Court Injunction against the Men's Fire to bar them from impeding the work of the contractors?  Do the people of Ontario care that they are being dinged for millions of dollars?  Does anyone care that this has come about due to blatant extortion?  Since when is extortion not a crime? Are Six Nations to continue to be "given a pass" with false claims and questionable actions in the matter?

DY

Update on Progress in Connection of Hydro One Transmission Lines Idle since the "Insurrection" of 2006

As readers will know, the absurd grovelling of Hydro One and the Province of Ontario and its taxpayers to Six Nations is without any rhyme or reason - other than political.  Six Nations halted the $116 million dollar project that would link New York with the Ontario grid in 2006 and the towers (those not demolished by Six Nations in an unparalleled act of unpunished vandalism) have sat idle without any wires.  In two articles presented in this blog the author discussed the wish of the Elected Council of Six Nations to restart the work and ensure their involvement on terms where they would "purchase" a 25% interest in the line where the Canadian taxpayer would actually foot the bill. 

In the topsy turvy world that we in Caledonia live in, the aggressors are calling the shots, and few have stated the obvious - that the taxes on the unstrung lines have cost Ontario taxpayers millions of dollars (demanded by Hydro One), let alone the millions or billions of dollars of lost revenue since Six Nations blocked the construction of the lines needed to bring electric power from Niagara Falls.  As a reminder of the specifics, here follows what was reported in the Sachem article of 23 October 2017:  A CTV News investigation in 2015 revealed that the incomplete NRL has been costing Ontario taxpayers millions of dollars as it sat idle.  According to CTV, Hydro One has been billing taxpayers for interest payments on the NRL. The total from 2007 to 2015 was just shy of $50 million.

The author has made the case that Six Nations needs to reimburse all who have lost revenue or paid money that can be attributed to Six Nations refusing to "allow" the continuation of the work from 2006 to 2018.  The unmitigated gall of now wanting to profit from their decision to "permit" the work to proceed.  NO, pay back what YOU OWE and we can talk!  I want to make it perfectly clear that Six Nations has zero legal rights to be involved in any such decision making.  The towers are not on the Six Nations Reserve, they are on land legally surrendered by Six Nations between the 1830s and 1847.  All Six Nations (and allied Nations such as the Delaware and Nanticoke) Chiefs at the time signed off on the sale of the property, and the records are available for all to view in the RG10 (Indian Affairs) Series at Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa.  The author has included many of these documents in previous blog postings.  Six Nations have no more rights to this land today than the author does to lands owned by the authors ancestors down river and sold before the birth of the author.  It is also important to note from time to time that the Six Nations are not aboriginal to the Grand River lands.  The legal owners were the Mississauga, from whom Governor Sir Frederick Haldimand purchased the "Haldimand Tract" for the use of the use of the Six Nations (although some argue it was the Mohawk alone who were the recipients of Haldimand's purchase).  Six Nations never owned an acre in fee simple, it was and is Crown land unless patented.  To assert rights to lands alienated 170 plus years ago is legally and morally wrong.  There are no aboriginal or treaty rights that apply.

The author was unable to find any further information on the subject since the article that appeared in the Sachem in 2017, and discussed in detail in the author's blog postings here and here.  Hence they decided to do a little local sleuthing.  The results of that investigation are entirely visual, and can be viewed in the pictures below taken on 24 September 2018:

Hydro One tower looking south from Argyle Street

Above is the most easterly tower which has been strung to date.

Pulleys and wires end at the tower above

Terminal end "clumps" of colour coded wires

Looking west from Argyle Street to tower complex on the other side of the Caledonia bypass

Work site looking west from the Caledonia bypass near illegal smoke shack

I will end this post with the same question I pose so often:  when will Six Nations apologize to the citizens of Caledonia and the taxpayers of Ontario for all the damage caused by their actions since the year 2006.  In Canada we seem to have politicians apologizing from actions taken by the Colonial Government hundreds of years ago - what about recent evens such as the last 12 years - and do apologies only flow one way, from the Government to aboriginal groups and not the other way around (that was a rhetorical question).

DY.

When Felon Becomes Saint

OPINION

First, I want to assert that it is a terrible shame and tragedy that Jonathan Styres lost his life - so young, and with young children to raise.  I am guessing that friends and family knew that he was a car thief, but never ever imagined that his lifestyle choice would end in his demise.  Truly a shock for the Community to lose yet another young person - a very very sad situation.

That being said, I have very closely followed the developments in the case of  Peter Khill, a resident of rural Ontario, with a pregnant wife, who in the wee small hours of the morning heard sounds coming from outside that suggested someone was on his property and up to no good.  Believe me, I have been in that very same situation, and with a pregnant wife, fear sets in and one's instincts of family preservation are kicked into high gear.  Mr. Khill did what any one of us would have done and that is to arm himself in case the threat is deadly, and determine what is the cause of the noise.  When we got 911 service to our area, we all knew that we were far too distant to expect rapid help via that source.  Not much has changed.  The solution, deal with the matter in any way necessary to protect yourself and your family.  The fact that Mr. Khill was a Military Reservist is significant here since anyone with military service training potentially reacts to threats in a manner different from that of civilians.  Even without military service in the picture, the scenario was staged to end in a Florida "Stand Your Ground" outcome.  The situation was primed such that the possibility of deadly force was quietly entering the picture.

Although it may seem trivial to those who are city folk, a truck in a rural area has a special significance and woe betide anyone who dares to mess with it. As someone in this category I can assert that in addition to fear at 3 a.m. the other emotion which surfaces is anger, raw unabashed fury that someone is in my truck and (likely) gouging at the steering column in order to start the truck.   If it was the target of a thief, then back then and to this day, assuming there were no cops around, I would stop him from taking my property and source of living in any way needed.  There was a time when, if my wife was pregnant with any of our children, then I would take zero chances, and if the perpetrator did not have his hands up in the air where I could see them, then my Browning Auto 5, 12 gauge would be pressed into service - I would not take chances with our lives - it is the bu##er who is on my property, trying to take my vehicle bought with my hard earned cash that would learn that there are consequences to life choices.  He chose to be a car thief thug, I chose to get a legitimate job and work hard to earn money to purchase what I acquired in life.

What some consider the lowest of the low, a person who boosts cars for a "living", is made to seem the victim here.  He chose a risky line of "work", one that may result in him paying the ultimate price - his call.  And with two small children - absolutely disgusting, fine role model.  He is responsible for not being there for his children, and being a miserable example for them.  "What does your daddy do for a living?"  I had kin from the old days who stole horses or cattle and were hanged - does the punishment fit the crime - that is another matter.

The point, Mr. Khill did what anyone who was in his situation might do - fear and the instinct to protect one's family explains all one needs to know, along with the situation - 3 a.m. and pitch black and someone in the process of stealing his and his family's means of transportation.  What in blazes does it matter if the #ick is White, Black, "Aboriginal", or Smurf blue.  It is the act, not the person.  Mr. Khill had zero way of knowing what "race" the perpetrator was - it was 3 a.m. and to be perfectly frank, if Mr. Styres were to have bumped into me in Hagersville, I would only be guessing as to whether he was "Aboriginal" or not.  His phenotype (visual appearance) was that of plenty of White people in the County and at 3 a.m. we are going to accuse Mr. Khill of pulling the trigger because the person stealing his car was "Aboriginal" - as if.  Styres would have to show his "Status Card" for me to know in broad daylight.  So lets just dump that accusation of "racism" into the Grand Canyon because it has absolutely no bearing on this matter.  What is so very troubling is that every time, every time, someone who is deemed to be "Aboriginal" is involved in an incident with a "non - Aboriginal" person then the immediate assumption on Six Nations is that this must be a blatant case of racism.  Lets turn the perpetrator into a victim.  However entering the world of reality, he was stealing a truck and so could expect consequences for the crime - then or later.  Turning perpetrators into victims is a classic way of garnering sympathy among the weak Government officials who more or less have to agree with these whiners or themselves be accused of racism.

The reported evidence, with nothing to do with "race" - just the FACTS - made the outcome of the trial of Mr. Khill inevitable.  He was in fear for his life and that of his pregnant wife, and he took steps to protect his family and property from someone engaging in a criminal act - a felony to be precise.  There is no jury on this planet which would convict Mr. Khill of murder - that would send a message that a citizen on their own property has to miraculously predict that no harm will come to his family - how could he know that?  Someone brazen enough to steal a man's truck could well have no social conscience and take steps to eliminate the owner.  In chaotic moments as have been described why would Mr. Khill take the risk (hoping for the best if he just backs away).  I have yet to meet anyone, a rural resident on their own property, who would "back away" when someone is in the process of stealing their truck.  As with Mr. Khill, if I could not see the perpetrators hands and did not know if they were armed - I would assume they were - and the 3 a.m. zero light conditions conspired to ensure that someone was not going to walk away unless there were some visual cues and a verbal line of communication.  I am assuming, but do not know, that Mr. Styres did not say that he was unarmed and his hands were in the air.

Now as to the consequences for Mr. Khill.  He was required to attend multiple Court sessions and pay for Counsel - in one sense he was the victim, but he is the one who has to come up with the (substantial) legal fees.  Ultimately the jury found him not guilty (as per the evidence) and so that should have been the end of it.  However we are talking about the Six Nations here.  The whole business becomes a political football when a member of their Community is involved, and the other party is White.  They will rally to the defense of the Community member even if he was engaged in a felony.  Doesn't matter, the other party was White so time to play the "race" and "victim" cards.  If the guy whose car was being boosted was a Six Nations member you would hear nothing further - over and done with.  No, even felons are victims and the White person and the system must be shown to be "racist".

The entire scenario bears striking resemblances to a case in Saskatchewan involving an "Aboriginal" Colton Boushie, who was also shot by a rural resident while trespassing on the latter's property.  The Boushie case was also played up as a racially motivated incident and the owner of the property was found not guilty, so therefore the jury and the system is seen as "racist".  So another example of a racially motivated act (being careful to avoid the whole criminal felony business in reporting).  So the premise was that Mr. Khill was racist and this prompted his actions.  The blatantly obvious fact that it was 3 a.m., and Mr. Styres (if the published pictures are accurate) appears to be just a young White guy (something no one has ever mentioned to date - perhaps I could stand corrected here) should really put this whole concept to rest, but not if it can be milked for "evidence of victimization".  The target then became the jury, who were properly vetted - they must be racist.  Good luck in finding qualified Six Nations people to serve on juries - and Styres lawyers signed off on each juror candidate.  Doesn't matter, gotta find "racism" somewhere - and make sure to toss in "Colonialism" if there is any possible was to insert it into the mix.

Since Six Nations and other "Aboriginal" groups have to be seen as acting against "racism" and "colonialism", their choice was to ban Mr. Khilll from ever setting foot on Six Nations Territory.  Well, perhaps that will create some sort of hardship if he typically used the Rez as a short cut or something like that, but in reality White folks go to the Rez to get cheap contraband smokes and cheap gas - if he ever did that anyway.  Talk about symbolic punishment.  And how pray tell would this "ban" be enforced?  Anyway, that was the best they could come up with, and it is, it would appear, harmless - so fine.

So now there will be an appeal by the Crown.  Despite everything, as far as I can see (I have worked in the legal system) being on the up and up and done with integrity and professionalism, somehow it is now maintained that the jury was "not properly instructed" but the judge.  In my experience this is an act of sheer desperation.  It will punish Mr. Khill (the victim) even further as he will now have to secure further legal council and pay goodness knows how much, and take even more time off from his employment.  Meanwhile his wife is still pregnant and she will be put through unimaginable stress once again.  It is grossly unfair, but in my experience "fair" does not always come into play when speaking of Six Nations actions.  The appeal is a BLATANT POLITICALLY INSPIRED ACT to placate "Aboriginals".  With two back to back instances of shootings - it is simply not politically feasible to ignore this one despite no evidence of errors on the part of the judge, gotta go the appeal route or be seen as not being sensitive to "Aboriginals".  If this was some "White" thug who was shot it would have been the last we heard of it - the difference here is the "Aboriginal factor".

And, to make the matter even more stressful, the family of the perpetrator is going to sue Mr. Khill for 2 million dollars (which if it was ever enacted would doubtless send him into bankruptcy).  In my opinion Mr. Khill, being found not guilty, should take those who would burden him further at this time to Court and sue them for the stress that the actions of the young felon have put he and his family through.  He didn't chose to steal a truck, it was Styres, and yet he is being punished for a clear act of self - defense.  When did self - defense become a crime?

There is a lot more that will unfold over the next months, and I will keep tabs on things - but all I will offer is an opinion - not the usual sourced analysis.

Bottom Line:  It is infuriating to any tax paying Canadian to have parasitic umbrella "Aboriginal" groups (Assembly of First Nations) make invalid pronouncements on how the Canadian justice system is broken and skewed against "Aboriginal" peoples.  Blame game once again.

Instead of taking responsibility, both the families and Communities in the Boushie and Styres cases can never accept that the root cause of the problems they face can be seen by looking in the mirror.  Two thieving criminals were raised by someone, someone who did a lousy job in parenting.  Children need to be taught to respect the rights of others, and that stealing is wrong, that getting a good education is the key to a job and worldly success and hence the lack of a need to steal other people's stuff because being a good citizen demands respect for the law and the rights of others.  NEVER do you see the word "responsibility" in a mix such as this, only "rights".  All of these supposed rights (that others do not have access to) that are supposedly being trampled on.  But what about the responsibility to parent children in a way that makes them useful members of society, or at least not a detriment.  If these individuals had experienced proper parenting  (something NEVER mentioned by "Aboriginal" groups), these tragedies may never have happened.  It is as plain and as simple as that.  In the Khill case things are topsy turvy.  It is he who should be suing those who parented Styres for their negligence and incompetence resulting in a tragedy which gets pinned on him, a man who happens to be "White", defending self, family and property.

Are we, if these "Aboriginal umbrella groups" get their way, supposed to tolerate giving special consideration to a person who happens to be "Aboriginal", in other words a pass in the criminal justice system due to their "race"?  If so, WHY?  Is it because "Aboriginals" are vastly over - represented in the penal system?  I have news here - the reason is because they committed criminal acts and were found guilty in a Court of law.  Equal treatment under the law is the ONLY fair and equitable manner than we can operate in Canada.  What these groups are proposing would result in a two tiered system with special treatment for "Aboriginals" such as sitting on an island with a drum as "punishment" (which was actually tried and proved to be an abject failure) when the best the rest of us can expect is jail.

The term "Aboriginal" is also rapidly becoming a misnomer.  If your family has been in Canada 12 generations and you are not entitled to a "Status Card" (the key to obtaining a whole set of goodies and privileges to which some descendants of early arrivals are "entitled"), then you are getting s@rewed since you are paying for other early arrivals welfare payments.  12 generations - does it get more "Aboriginal" whether you are a descendant of a group of wandering Siberians who first went east then later even further east landing in a vast and largely unoccupied Continent; or those whose ancestors headed west early on and found themselves in a largely unoccupied Continent and perambulated in all directions.  In the case of the Six Nations, they have been here for a year less than the Loyalists who took up land grants in the Niagara Peninsula.  So who should be entitled to be termed "Aboriginal"?  The Grand River Valley is NOT their ancestral home.  It belonged to the Huron - Wyandot who were "exterminated" (an act of raw genocide) by the then Five Nations during the 1640s.  The latter could not hold on to the land since they were sent packing by the Mississauga and allies (e.g., Pottawatomie).  This is a subject for future deliberation - which group of Siberian wanderer descendants have a legitimate right to being considered "Aboriginal"?

At the time of Confederation (1867) the new Canadian Government should have asserted complete sovereignty over all the lands from Sea to Sea, and within a 10 year period have dealt with any outstanding valid claims.  The Reserve system has been a pox upon the land.  After the trillions of dollars spent by Canadian taxpayers trying to shore up a terminally ill system, what do we have to show for it.  Nothing but a bottomless pit and the pleading for more money more money.  The Boushie and Styres cases should illustrate to all Canadians just how effective their efforts over about 150 years have been (plus the British before).  Is there any realistic hope that things will get better?  Not a shred of evidence - a bottomless pit now and forever unless there is drastic change.

Here is a question to ponder.  Would Boushie and Styres be alive today if we had done what was needed years ago - if we had followed Pierre Elliot Trudeau's "White Paper" and demolished the "Indian Act".  This is what should be on the table for consideration, not just more blame and a call for more resources.  It is sobering to realize that the two men might have been say a construction foreman and an accountant, and their lifestyle choices would not have led them down the path to their ultimate demise.  This is what we must discuss because tinkering with a hopelessly flawed system operated by the "Indian industry" in Ottawa is just a waste of time and resources.  This is a wake up call.  Make Jon and Colton's tragic deaths have some lasting meaning by dismantling the entire system and rebuild from the ground up.

D.Y.

Proposed Deal to Energize Power Lines Kept Idle by Six Nations Activists for 11 Years

This is in the "you have got to be kidding" category!

Back in 2006 the Six Nations criminals who stole the Douglas Creek Estates property, vandalized the Caledonia Hydro One sub station, destroyed Hydro One towers to use as barricades, and through threats and intimidation refused to "allow" a multi billion dollar project to be completed - now want in on a proposal to "re energize" these towers / lines.  They would profit to the tune of millions for acts that cost the Ontario taxpayer billions.  That is simply in the crazy category.

The proposal is reported in The Sachem of 9 October 2017 in an article entitled,

Six Nations proposes to re-energize idle hydro line shuttered by Caledonia protests.

Click here to view entire article.

As stated in the article, A long-idle, $116-million hydro transmission line meant to strengthen power ties between New York state and Ontario may be finally completed following a deal that’s been brought forward by Six Nations, the province and Hydro One.

The Niagara reinforcement line (NRL), a 76-kilometre power line that was never completed due to the 2006 Douglas Creek Estates protests in Caledonia, is back on the table for completion pending community input in Six Nations.

Furthermore, Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation (SNGRDC) has reached a tentative deal with the Ontario Ministry of Energy and Hydro One that would complete the final five kilometres of the NRL along the Highway 6 bypass in Caledonia. In exchange, the Six Nations community would receive "long-term value" in the form of ownership and capacity for renewable energy projects.

Map credit The Sachem

In case there are those who would doubt what I have been saying for years about the results of allowing these towers to remain unstrung, the following investigation will offer tangible support:

A CTV News investigation in 2015 revealed that the incomplete NRL has been costing Ontario taxpayers millions of dollars as it sat idle.

According to CTV, Hydro One has been billing taxpayers for interest payments on the NRL. The total from 2007 to 2015 was just shy of $50 million.

There is NO RATIONALE that could justify this action whereby Six Nation profits in any way from this work.  There is no treaty of any description, there is no unsurrendered land anywhere in the Grand River Territory, the lines do not run through the Reserve - so why involve Six Nations and reward them for their criminal acts?  Please view my previous posting (click here) for further details and photos of the forlorn towers rusting in place devoid of any power lines.  I had no awareness of this "deal", and my views of a few days, weeks, months and years ago still stand.

The absolute absurdity of this whole business can be seen in the following statement:  “It is our plan to advance our community’s interest and see (the NRL) completed,” SNGRDC CEO Matt Jamieson said at the first of 10 community engagements sessions last Thursday at the Gathering Place in Ohsweken.

So this work can only proceed with the permission of Six Nations!  That is beyond the pale.  An absolute travesty.  A slap in the face of every Caledonian and others who have been forced to endure the criminal acts surrounding Douglas Creek Estates for 11 years.  We have been forced to view the fruits of their misdeeds over and over as recently as last month as the remaining part of one tower is dragged across Argyle Street to protest whatever.

In this case Six Nations have NO RIGHTS only RESPONSIBILITIES.  They must pay compensation and damages for their acts before any consideration of including them in such deals goes forward.  What sort of topsy turvy world do we live in where the criminals call the shots.  Further words fail me at this time.

DY.

Six Nations and Hydro One Deal

It is the intention of the Wynne Liberal Government to privatize Hydro One, which supplies electricity to the people of Ontario.  To say the least it is seen as controversial, hypocritical, and a way to pay down the immense debt created by McGinty and his successor Wynne that came into being due to gross incompetence on so many levels.  Just google "gas plant scandal ontario" for some eye opening information. 

Now, it seems to have occurred to some Liberal politician that if some sweet deal can be offered to the poor "victimized" "Natives" of the Province, it will gain political traction and give the appearance of the Liberals being understanding and supportive of the "special status" of those designated as "Native" in this Province.

The following is from Two Row Times, 27 September 2017, in an article entitled, "Hydro One sale to First Nations offers potential" - click here to view entire article.

The deal:  Of the 60% of Hydro One to be privatized, A 2.5% slice of that 60% was opened up collectively to Ontario’s First Nations communities in 2016 when the Chiefs of Ontario announced an agreement-in-principle with Hydro One.

The plan? Liberals promised to open up 15 million shares to Ontario’s First Nations communities at a reduced rate of $18 a share — that’s about three quarters of the standard share rate of just under $24.  Furthermore, "According to stats released by the Chiefs of Ontario the deal has long term potential to increase to $1.2 billion dollar value over 25 years."  Sweet deal, but only for "First Nations" - everyone else gets at best sloppy seconds.

More specifically, First, in order for the deal to go through at all 80% of the First Nations communities in Ontario have to come on board by the end of 2017.

Next, if a base threshold of 80% of First Nations communities in Ontario are in agreement, which Hill says is just 107 of the 133 communities, the deal will be finalized. However, if 106 say yes and 27 refuse – Hill says the deal will not proceed.

If ratified, the First Nations who agree will start a limited partnership, called Sovereignty Wealth LP,  to collectively hold the shares. Ontario will then give that LP a 25 year loan of up to $268 million dollars for the purchase of the shares.

Finally, in addition to the loan the province is offering $45 million dollars for seed capital over the course of three years. You can almost think of it as the “free gift with purchase”. The Chiefs of Ontario have agreed to bank that seed money to collect interest as an investment into the future generations.  That seems rather generous, for some, the "chosen ones".

The Reality at Six Nations:  What is so appalling is that no one is factoring in the way in which Six Nations has "interacted" with Hydro One since 2006.  I will note 3 issues that have never been resolved, nor has any compensation been paid to the aggrieved parties:

1)  The Smoke Shacks:  At this point I don't know how many illegal shacks are situated illegally on Hydro One owned lands selling illegal untaxed cigarettes.  The most obvious one is at the corner of Argyle Street South and the Caledonia bypass (which at one time included a hamburger stand shut down by the Health Department for appalling sanitary reasons).  These squatters are being allowed to stay because no one has the fortitude to enforce the law and remove them.  The hypocrisy is that if a resident of Caledonia were to do the same thing they would be arrested and the operation shut down immediately.  Those shacks have been in place now for 10 years and with no signs of any movement to change the status quo.  At the very least the owners owe Hydro One rental or lease money for this blatant misuse of Hydro One lands.

2)  The Barricade Tower:  During the riots of 2006 when Six Nations members created anarchy in Caledonia and surrounds, "land protectors" (i.e., thieves and vandals) used what must have been a cutting torch to bring down a Hydro One steel tower, which the "protesters" dragged across Argyle Street South as a barricade.  Many of us will recall the militants standing defiantly with Mohawk Warrior flags in hand and masks to cover their faces on this tower stolen from Hydro One.  Most will know that the Ontario Government capitulated to the demands of these criminals and gave them the Douglas Creek Estates (DCE) property, and via negotiations, the much larger Burtch property in Brant County as a condition for the Six Nations militants to remove the barricade.  

Over the years the tower disintegrated to a stub, which as recently as 25 August was lying across Argyle Street South in the most recent event of this nature.  It was removed from its "resting place" immediately behind the gates to the DCE by the Ontario Provincial Police on Sunday 24 September 2017.

Clearly a valuation must be made of the property that was removed, and Hydro One must be compensated for every penny owed.

3)  The Unstrung Hydro One Towers:  The above tower was part of miles of similar towers extending from Niagara Falls to the Toronto grid.  In 2006, after the tower was removed, the Mohawk Warriors or their supporters defied anyone to enter Hydro One property and finish the work to link Niagara Falls and Toronto.  Hence, since the towers were proximal to the DCE site, inertia, fear, timidness and whatever else has ensured that the towers stand there forlorn - extending as far as the eye can see from Argyle Street South, with absolutely no high tension wires, only empty pulleys, as seen in the picture below.

Line of Hydro One Towers from Argyle Street South 29 September 2017

Same Tower as above Showing Pulleys Without High Tension Wires

The amount of money lost by Hydro One thanks to the actions of Six Nations militants must be close to one billion dollars.  Calculations by knowledgeable people need to be made to have a clear sense of what is owed to Hydro One.

The Point:  It seems that any agreement involving Six Nations involving Hydro One MUST take into consideration how much money is owed to the latter by the former.  There is no negotiating this away.  Hydro One and thus the taxpayers of Ontario have lost significant revenue due to the criminal actions of Six Nations.  Hydro One and the Province of Ontario need to DEMAND the money that is legally theirs.  Until this matter is settled, why would the Province even entertain the idea that Six Nations can "get in on the action" with this new arrangement.  It is high time that the actions that lay at the doorstep of Six Nations are fully addressed - otherwise the whole concept of justice and the law are simply meaningless - or is Six Nations immune here?

DY.