The posting of 26 February 2020 below provides the background for the present post.
One might assume that even the most dedicated "protesters" would decide, during an emergency that is of a world wide scale, that blockading a road which brings in supplies to the Six Nations and Haldimand County communities would be suspended / cancelled. That is IF these individuals had any empathy, any remote concern for their fellow community members, they would do what is right. Nope.
At Six Nations they have declared a "community emergency" where all, including members of the elected and hereditary councils, are working together to help plan (see here), with the emphasis being on ensuring the health and well being of the elderly. At this point in time I hold all participants at the blockade guilty of crimes against the community, and they should be treated accordingly - as the pariahs they are!
Not being in the country, I called friends and relatives to check on the status of things there. Very very grim, as it is in the USA, with all schools, sporting events, restaurants shutting down etc. etc., and even my own return to Canada in question due to the possibility that the border will be closed at any time (as per the statements of both Prime Minister Trudeau and President Trump). It was not a surprise to me, knowing the participants at the blockade as I do, that the ............... s are still "manning the bastions" and keeping the "cause" (whatever that is) alive. Meanwhile seniors are dying and all people in the community risk getting very sick. Still, the beat goes on.
My contacts tell me that there has been traffic chaos in downtown Caledonia (which was inevitable - we have all seen it before during blockades of Argyle Street at Douglas Creek Estates). Ironically, the lack luster OPP have been giving $600 tickets to trucks that cross the Caledonia Bridge when the fact is that they are there is desperation or confusion caused by ...................... OPP inaction at the Highway 6 barricades. Even more concerning is the number of traffic accidents in the area. Some of these would appear to involve people having to navigate around the blockade in unfamiliar territory as they go to work or other venues. There have been a number of local traffic deaths, and it would be important to determine whether these were "blockade related". If so then these unprincipled protesters have blood on their hands, and should be treated accordingly.
The "protesters" are known, and they could be subject to community shunning. At any rate, they must pay the price for flaunting the law - to the fullest extent that the law will permit, or this will just keep happening over and over. In the opinion of the present author, who has assiduously tried to provide primarily factually correct data (along with the supporting documents or photographs), and largely avoided opinion - based statements in the vast majority of postings to this blog, the protesters should be arrested and jailed until such time as the corona virus pandemic makes it possible to bring them to Superior Court in Cayuga. Perhaps a little time to sit in a 4 x 8 cell will afford the opportunity to reflect on why they are there, and perhaps even induce an apology from a few that are in fact contrite about what they have done. Often a sincere apology goes a long way towards reducing the sentence of these offenders / perpetrators. For any of this to happen the OPP MUST DO THEIR DUTY!!
This is all deja vu, same behaviour seen off and on between 2006 - 2019. Now we can add 2020 to the list of years where these "activists" have held our community for ransom. When can those in Caledonia expect that the rule of law will apply to their corner of Haldimand County? How much can we be expected to tolerate? Is the ghost of Dudley George (Ipperwash) going to haunt us forever? Why do people from elsewhere chose to live in Caledonia? Why not live in an area where the rule of law is respected? My family has been here since day one (12 generations total), and my ancestors are buried here - so this is my aboriginal home, and I will not be pushed out for any reason!
Will hopefully be home very soon to offer more personal observations, and become directly involved at the ground level.
Update: 1) For an unstated reason, the blockade of the Highway 6 Caledonia bypass will be removed by the protesters on Friday 20 March 2020 - as are the OPP concrete barricades at each end - as reported in CBC News of 19 March 2020 seen here. Pathetically, the OPP thank people for their patience during the this extended interval. I, for one, have not been patient and the ONLY reason that this author has not been at the front lines is that being out of the country has posed something of an impediment towards meeting this goal.
2) As per an article in the Hamilton Spectator of 20 March 2020 the following statement (seen here) was issued by the protesters: "As a united collective and as a sign of good faith, we have agreed to remove the barricades on the bypass and relocate to Kanonhstaton — the protected place," read the demonstrators' Friday statement. In other words these criminals are heading back to the Douglas Creek Estates, the now desolate and tick infested property they stole in 2006. They do state that they have no immediate plans to blockade Argyle Street there (as has happened since 2006 more times than I can count). Apparently these vandals did damage to the Highway (they made fires there - apparently not with tires, a common practice, though), and a damage assessment and repairs need to be done, so the OPP cannot say at this time when the road will be opened to traffic.
3) As of 22 March 2020 Highway 6 is back to "normal" as per the article in The Sachem here. So no longer will trucks carrying hazardous material be forced to use dangerous side roads, and the traffic in Caledonia can return to "normal chaos". The vultures who perpetrated this abomination will, it would appear, again face zero consequences for their illegal actions causing so much distress to the community. We once again await another occasion where these predators will decide to pounce - it is as inevitable as spring following winter. After all they were bolstered by enablers, and there is was nothing administered (e.g., Court Order, OPP action, or even significant pressure from the general Six Nations community) to deter further action.
DY.
Monday 16 March 2020
Wednesday 26 February 2020
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?
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.
“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.
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:
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
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.
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: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 ........
“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.” .
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.
Tuesday 24 September 2019
Federal Government Give Away of Tax Dollars - Recipients: Indian Day School "Survivors"
The Issues: Another questionable Trudeau - era "reconciliation" gesture using Canadians tax dollars has been announced by a group of, what some might term, "ambulance chasing" lawyers. It is called the "Indian Day School Settlement" and was announced 19 August 2019, according to an article entitled, "Crowd packs first Indian Day School session at Six Nations" in Turtle Island News (18 September 2019, p.2).
It appears that the flood gates will be opened and virtually anyone who attended a Day School on a Reserve can apply for "compensation", "to assist people who suffered at federally run day schools". To make this all the more poignant, those who "suffered" will be called "survivors" (a term once reserved for those who suffered in Nazi Concentration Camps).
Let us pause a minute before getting into the details of the settlement. There has already been a huge "settlement" for those who attended an Indian Residential School. On Six Nations this means the now "Woodland Cultural Center" (Mohawk Institute, "Mushole"), which the Chiefs and Clan Mothers begged the Church of England to open in 1837, and which the Chiefs begged the Canadian Government not to close in 1970. In previous postings the author has noted that this school was actually on the Reserve (not 1,000 miles away), and that many students have very pleasant memories of their days at school here (and most of the Reserve teachers attended here). So this was hugely questionable in the case of Six Nations. More generally the matter of Day Schools is simply wrong - not questionable. Granted this is an opinion, but the reality must be looked at in toto.
Were Indian Day Schools different in any marked way from the Day Schools attended by most other Canadians (Public or Catholic or other) ? It is general knowledge that in all schools until very recently, many to most boys got the "biffs" (strap) from the school principal, were slammed by a pointer or ruler by a teacher, were badgered by teachers, and may have been roughly handled at some point. Ask any child, especially boys, who "survived" the Catholic school system their impressions or recollections of the treatment meted out by the Nuns. There is a reason for all the nun jokes I heard from my Catholic friends (especially in French Canada). So what was different in Indian Day Schools that warrants huge monetary compensation not available to others who attended Day School? The sound of crickets prevails ............
The Application for Compensation: So what is the application process, and how much cash will I receive if I attended Indian Day School? The details were provided by a member of the lawyers who initiated the settlement proceedings back in 2016, during a meeting at the Six Nations Community Hall on 11 September 2019. The monies will be available to those who suffered physical, emotional, or sexual abuse while attending Indian Day School after 1920. Other eligibility time line details are provided, but the bottom line is that just about any attendee will be eligible to apply (it also includes those who have passed away after 31 July 2007). When the claim forms become available (there is an appeal pending), applicants will have 2.5 years to complete the forms from the comfort of their own home. Although a list of "proofs" such as report cards is given, those who do not have these will simply have to take their claim form to a notary or professional to have the signature witnessed - they are trusting that honesty will prevail !! Specifically, "what is on the claims form will be assumed to be true unless there is egregious evidence to suggest that the applicant is lying". No penalty for lying of course.
The Monetary Compensation: How much compensation will travel from the pockets of Canadian taxpayers to "survivors"? There is a scale of 5 levels based on severity. So the occasional biffing or having a teacher who used harsh words will result in a taxpayer gift of $10,000, up to the maximum payout of $200,000 for more serious experiences.
At this point I am speechless ...........
Do facts matter?
DY.
It appears that the flood gates will be opened and virtually anyone who attended a Day School on a Reserve can apply for "compensation", "to assist people who suffered at federally run day schools". To make this all the more poignant, those who "suffered" will be called "survivors" (a term once reserved for those who suffered in Nazi Concentration Camps).
Let us pause a minute before getting into the details of the settlement. There has already been a huge "settlement" for those who attended an Indian Residential School. On Six Nations this means the now "Woodland Cultural Center" (Mohawk Institute, "Mushole"), which the Chiefs and Clan Mothers begged the Church of England to open in 1837, and which the Chiefs begged the Canadian Government not to close in 1970. In previous postings the author has noted that this school was actually on the Reserve (not 1,000 miles away), and that many students have very pleasant memories of their days at school here (and most of the Reserve teachers attended here). So this was hugely questionable in the case of Six Nations. More generally the matter of Day Schools is simply wrong - not questionable. Granted this is an opinion, but the reality must be looked at in toto.
Were Indian Day Schools different in any marked way from the Day Schools attended by most other Canadians (Public or Catholic or other) ? It is general knowledge that in all schools until very recently, many to most boys got the "biffs" (strap) from the school principal, were slammed by a pointer or ruler by a teacher, were badgered by teachers, and may have been roughly handled at some point. Ask any child, especially boys, who "survived" the Catholic school system their impressions or recollections of the treatment meted out by the Nuns. There is a reason for all the nun jokes I heard from my Catholic friends (especially in French Canada). So what was different in Indian Day Schools that warrants huge monetary compensation not available to others who attended Day School? The sound of crickets prevails ............
The Application for Compensation: So what is the application process, and how much cash will I receive if I attended Indian Day School? The details were provided by a member of the lawyers who initiated the settlement proceedings back in 2016, during a meeting at the Six Nations Community Hall on 11 September 2019. The monies will be available to those who suffered physical, emotional, or sexual abuse while attending Indian Day School after 1920. Other eligibility time line details are provided, but the bottom line is that just about any attendee will be eligible to apply (it also includes those who have passed away after 31 July 2007). When the claim forms become available (there is an appeal pending), applicants will have 2.5 years to complete the forms from the comfort of their own home. Although a list of "proofs" such as report cards is given, those who do not have these will simply have to take their claim form to a notary or professional to have the signature witnessed - they are trusting that honesty will prevail !! Specifically, "what is on the claims form will be assumed to be true unless there is egregious evidence to suggest that the applicant is lying". No penalty for lying of course.
The Monetary Compensation: How much compensation will travel from the pockets of Canadian taxpayers to "survivors"? There is a scale of 5 levels based on severity. So the occasional biffing or having a teacher who used harsh words will result in a taxpayer gift of $10,000, up to the maximum payout of $200,000 for more serious experiences.
At this point I am speechless ...........
Do facts matter?
DY.
Caledonia Argyle Street Bridge Replacement - Provincial Government Confers with Six Nations Council NOT Haldimand County Council
The Problem: In what is one of the most egregious and downright bizarre actions of the Provincial Government, they, via the Ministry of Transportation (MTO), has to date left the Caledonia and the Haldimand County Council "out of the loop" in discussions about moving forward with the Caledonia Argyle Street Bridge replacement project due to begin in 2020. Just a reminder that Caledonia is a municipality within the County of Haldimand, and it has only one bridge - the above noted Argyle Street Bridge connecting the north and south sides of Caledonia across the Grand River. Therefore why is the MTO is in closed discussions with the Six Nations Elected Council and the Mississaugas of New Credit is a mystery. The latter bodies have absolutely no business, either legal or moral, to be sticking their nose in a matter that is entirely within the jurisdiction of the County of Haldimand - the relevant facts will be detailed below.
The response of the Mayor of Haldimand County to being left out of the communications relative to the Argyle Street Bridge work is detailed in The Haldimand Press, Vol. 45, No. 37, Thursday 19 September 2019 in an article entitled, "Mayor questions MTO's communication of Argyle Bridge work in Caledonia" by Lindsey Stuckless. Here we note that Mayor Hewitt, "was confused as to why the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) is having communication with Mississaugas of the New Credit and Six Nations without including Haldimand County". Recall that all the land on both sides of the Grand River was purchased by Governor Haldimand from the Mississaugas in 1784 (they have never contested this fact), donated as Crown land to the Six Nations as compensation for lands lost during the American Revolution in Upstate New York. These lands were subsequently surrendered in 1844 by all the Chiefs in Council - so in effect no "aboriginal" group has any legitimate right to a legal say in the matter of the new bridge. The records are absolutely clear on this point. ONLY the Haldimand County Council has jurisdiction here, in terms of negotiating with the MTO.
Mayor Hewitt further states that, "I am perplexed that you said regular communication is taking place with our neighbours and we have not been kept in the loop". A major concern (very real based on events since 2006), as stated by Ward 3 (Caledonia) Councillor Lawrence is that, "a plan must be in place in case construction is halted", and further that, "We cannot take this issue lightly. A stoppage of work on the bridge can halt all of Caledonia". Hereabouts we have all seen the fall out of "actions" by Six Nations militants who have stopped work on land developments, green energy projects, and of course the Cayuga Bridge extorting bribes to allow the work to continue. Considering that most at the lower end of the Six Nations Reserve use Argyle Street and the present Argyle Street Bridge, and many Six Nations businesses depend on this axis, it is possible that there would be some discontent within the Reserve on this matter - but that has never stopped the Men's Fire and other agents of the Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI) from advancing their agenda to return the Hereditary Council to power by any means available (and siphon as much money as possible in the process).
The Facts as to Land Rights: Clearly a history lesson is needed to help get a grasp of the realities (versus the perceptions and beliefs). The lands that are now Caledonia were sold by the Crawford family, Barefoot Onondagas, in a deed dating to the 1840s. The present author has seen the deed and recalls seeing the signatures of all of the Crawford family, including William and Abraham, who sold their rights to this property under their claimed ownership (a fact never questioned by the Six Nations at the time - anymore than the ownership of the Johnson or Martin family properties up River was questioned). This was Crawford land and they disposed of it legally, and without being contested by the then Six Nations Council. The land was then surveyed and parceled into town lots and patents issued after the land surrender of Seneca (north side of River) and Oneida Townships (south side of River) in the 1840s. William Crawford purchased one of these lots along the Plank Road (what is today Argyle Street) and established an inn on the site. He never at any subsequent time claimed any ownership rights beyond this.
At this point it would be helpful if the present author could post a copy of the above noted deed, but alas it has gone missing (was stolen?) from the Haldimand County Museum and Archives at some point before 2010. It was last seen among other records in the hands of "two women from Ohsweken" - according to a previous curator of the Museum. If ever needed, the original deed could be produced as it is safe within the walls of Library and Archives Canada (LAC). In addition, the records for Seneca Township, due to be transferred (legally) from the Indian Office in Brantford to the Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa, were "removed" (stolen) by Six Nations members, taken to the Library in the Museum of the Woodland Indian (now affectionately referred to as the "Mushole") for microfilming (seen there by reliable sources), and transferred to the Land Management Office for Six Nations in Ohsweken.
As noted in earlier postings, the records for Oneida Township were sent to the Library and Archives Canada (LAC) prior to the theft of the comparable records for Seneca Township, and are available for consultation. The present author requested a microfilm copy of these items from LAC and has made copies of the relevant documents (LAC, RG10, Vol. 729, Land Inspection Returns for Oneida Township, Issued 11March 1844, microfilm reel C-13415). A record of which lots here were owned by which members of the Crawford family is documented here - but again only for the south side of the River.
The Future: In Caledonia we are facing the inevitable prospect of two full years of a nightmare of closures and detours which aggravates the already overwhelmed infrastructure (try getting out of a side street on to Argyle Street at any time of day). Our recall of multiple Argyle Street blockades at the site of the former Douglas Creek Estates (now Kanonstaton in the hands of Six Nations due to capitulation by the Provincial Government) from 2006 onwards is very fresh in our minds - having only stopped a year ago.
Undoubtedly there will be much much more on this matter that will emerge between now and the slated completion date in 2022. If this becomes anything like the Hydro One Niagara Reinforcement Line completion, that date (year) is laughable.
Do facts matter?
DY.
The response of the Mayor of Haldimand County to being left out of the communications relative to the Argyle Street Bridge work is detailed in The Haldimand Press, Vol. 45, No. 37, Thursday 19 September 2019 in an article entitled, "Mayor questions MTO's communication of Argyle Bridge work in Caledonia" by Lindsey Stuckless. Here we note that Mayor Hewitt, "was confused as to why the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) is having communication with Mississaugas of the New Credit and Six Nations without including Haldimand County". Recall that all the land on both sides of the Grand River was purchased by Governor Haldimand from the Mississaugas in 1784 (they have never contested this fact), donated as Crown land to the Six Nations as compensation for lands lost during the American Revolution in Upstate New York. These lands were subsequently surrendered in 1844 by all the Chiefs in Council - so in effect no "aboriginal" group has any legitimate right to a legal say in the matter of the new bridge. The records are absolutely clear on this point. ONLY the Haldimand County Council has jurisdiction here, in terms of negotiating with the MTO.
Mayor Hewitt further states that, "I am perplexed that you said regular communication is taking place with our neighbours and we have not been kept in the loop". A major concern (very real based on events since 2006), as stated by Ward 3 (Caledonia) Councillor Lawrence is that, "a plan must be in place in case construction is halted", and further that, "We cannot take this issue lightly. A stoppage of work on the bridge can halt all of Caledonia". Hereabouts we have all seen the fall out of "actions" by Six Nations militants who have stopped work on land developments, green energy projects, and of course the Cayuga Bridge extorting bribes to allow the work to continue. Considering that most at the lower end of the Six Nations Reserve use Argyle Street and the present Argyle Street Bridge, and many Six Nations businesses depend on this axis, it is possible that there would be some discontent within the Reserve on this matter - but that has never stopped the Men's Fire and other agents of the Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI) from advancing their agenda to return the Hereditary Council to power by any means available (and siphon as much money as possible in the process).
The Facts as to Land Rights: Clearly a history lesson is needed to help get a grasp of the realities (versus the perceptions and beliefs). The lands that are now Caledonia were sold by the Crawford family, Barefoot Onondagas, in a deed dating to the 1840s. The present author has seen the deed and recalls seeing the signatures of all of the Crawford family, including William and Abraham, who sold their rights to this property under their claimed ownership (a fact never questioned by the Six Nations at the time - anymore than the ownership of the Johnson or Martin family properties up River was questioned). This was Crawford land and they disposed of it legally, and without being contested by the then Six Nations Council. The land was then surveyed and parceled into town lots and patents issued after the land surrender of Seneca (north side of River) and Oneida Townships (south side of River) in the 1840s. William Crawford purchased one of these lots along the Plank Road (what is today Argyle Street) and established an inn on the site. He never at any subsequent time claimed any ownership rights beyond this.
At this point it would be helpful if the present author could post a copy of the above noted deed, but alas it has gone missing (was stolen?) from the Haldimand County Museum and Archives at some point before 2010. It was last seen among other records in the hands of "two women from Ohsweken" - according to a previous curator of the Museum. If ever needed, the original deed could be produced as it is safe within the walls of Library and Archives Canada (LAC). In addition, the records for Seneca Township, due to be transferred (legally) from the Indian Office in Brantford to the Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa, were "removed" (stolen) by Six Nations members, taken to the Library in the Museum of the Woodland Indian (now affectionately referred to as the "Mushole") for microfilming (seen there by reliable sources), and transferred to the Land Management Office for Six Nations in Ohsweken.
As noted in earlier postings, the records for Oneida Township were sent to the Library and Archives Canada (LAC) prior to the theft of the comparable records for Seneca Township, and are available for consultation. The present author requested a microfilm copy of these items from LAC and has made copies of the relevant documents (LAC, RG10, Vol. 729, Land Inspection Returns for Oneida Township, Issued 11March 1844, microfilm reel C-13415). A record of which lots here were owned by which members of the Crawford family is documented here - but again only for the south side of the River.
The Future: In Caledonia we are facing the inevitable prospect of two full years of a nightmare of closures and detours which aggravates the already overwhelmed infrastructure (try getting out of a side street on to Argyle Street at any time of day). Our recall of multiple Argyle Street blockades at the site of the former Douglas Creek Estates (now Kanonstaton in the hands of Six Nations due to capitulation by the Provincial Government) from 2006 onwards is very fresh in our minds - having only stopped a year ago.
Undoubtedly there will be much much more on this matter that will emerge between now and the slated completion date in 2022. If this becomes anything like the Hydro One Niagara Reinforcement Line completion, that date (year) is laughable.
Do facts matter?
DY.
Friday 12 July 2019
Justice Prevails: HCCC and ANTIFA Activists in Court - Work Resumes on the Hydro One NRL - September Update
The author has repeatedly spoken about the unconscionable actions of the Hereditary Chiefs Confederacy Council (HCCC) in relation to Hydro One's Niagara Reinforcement Line (NRL) which would connect power from Niagara Falls to the grid.
The project came to a complete halt in 2006 during the take over of the Douglas Creek Estates housing development project south of Caledonia. The towers were completed, and ran just south of the Douglas Creek property, it only remained to string the lines. During the anarchy that followed, one of the towers was cut down and, until 2018, used as a barricade that every so often would be dragged out across Argyle Street South to stop all traffic. This "severed tower", and Hydro One's unwillingness to act in order to recover (or replace) its property, brought the NRL project to a complete halt.
As noted in the posting here and previous ones, Hydro One came to an agreement with the Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC), which is the sole legal governing body at Six Nations, and with promises of sums of money and a 45% stake in the revenue from the completed NRL project and jobs for Six Nations people (AECON 6 Nations - A6N) - the stringing of lines commenced in the fall of 2018, but was soon brought to a halt by HCCC and their enforcers the Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI) who blocked the work site and threatened to bring throngs of people streaming down from the Rez (as happened in 2006). A hollow threat perhaps, but none the less effective. The bottom line was the the HDI and their White advisers, including ANTIFA members known from 2006 and subsequent events, demanded a quarter of a million dollars and be cut in on the action. Of course this is nothing more than extortion, which has been used more times by HDI than the present author can count in local land development and green energy projects. The HDI and HCCC have never opened the books, and while claiming to be the sole representatives of the people, refuse to let anyone see where this blood money has gone (lining the pockets of key players is of course one suspicion).
Hydro One is used to capitulating (it has for 13 years on this one project, and on illegal smoke shacks being set up on their property), but since they were now partnered with the elected officials at Six Nations, who were none too happy with this action which deprived the community of much needed resources, they eventually did what they should have done many years ago. They applied for a Court Injunction (which worked splendidly in 2009 with the ruling of Justice Arrell in Brantford Supreme Court in a land development work stoppage).
Both the Brantford Expositor (BE) of 11 July 2019 in an article entitled Hydro One gets temporary injunction (see here); and the Two Row Times (TRT1) of 10 July 2019 in an article entitled, HCCC & HDI and 16 others being sued for injunction on Niagara Reinforcement Project (see here); and TRT2 11 July 2019 in and article entitled Judge approves injunction for completion of Niagara Reinforcement Project (see here) have addressed this matter.
As indicated in the latter article, the HCCC, NDI and 16 named individuals were brought to Court to answer claims by Hydro One about work stoppages and threats, including that of the "New Mohawk benchwarmer" who had demanded $40 million in "compensation" paid to HCCC in order to allow the A6N workers to resume their work. It was the mysterious A.D. who once again represented the HCCC in these proceedings but only as a "Senior Advisor" not lawyer (which begs the question, "has he been disbarred?"). 15 of the 16 named individuals were Six Nations members, the 16th was a very well known White activist (ANTIFA, Marxist, anarchist) who was at one time a graduate student from York University, and involved as a "supporter" of Six Nations since 2006.
Hydro One was seeking an order barring the above named or others from using any means to deter work at the site or intimidating anyone involved in the project. Hydro One was also seeking damages, costs or any other relief deemed appropriate by the Court for "irreparable harm". Some parties denied being served a summons, despite evidence to the contrary. None wished to participate - leaving it to A.D. to act on their behalf. One party did speak, calling the fact that Hydro One seeking an injunction, "an outrage, and a sneaky disgusting move". (BE) Hydro One added that they had on numerous occasions attempted to get HCCC to participate in discussions, but to no avail - except the assertion that any talks would be on condition that Hydro One pay HCCC $250,000. The HCCC, in its statement, said that is has always been committed to partnering with Indigenous leaders and provincial entities, including Hydro One. (BE) Anyone with even a passing familiarity with the HCCC could easily assess the accuracy of that statement. To dig in even deeper into the depths of what are lies and what is the truth, the statement by the HCCC representative that, "Hydro One is proceeding in a manner that is condescending, colonist and patriarchal” speaks volumes.
The Judge concluded that this was all about the money, and "who's going to take a cut". The disruptive "history" of the defendants was then read (e.g., causing public disruption). It also emerged that HCCC wanted Hydro One to cancel their agreement with Six Nations and Mississaugas of New Credit, "and instead sign an exclusive agreement with HDI, its own development corporation". Furthermore HCCC threatened to bring in members of other Bands across Ontario (for muscle), and also that, "they may not be able to control their behaviour and there is a risk of towers coming down". Clearly these tactics of threats, intimidation, and extortion are borrowed straight from the Mafia and other criminal organizations. So therefore, ...............
Hydro One maintained that it needs to be operational by 1 September based on Provincial mandate.
The above all happened on Monday. On Tuesday evening the Judge granted the injunction. On Wednesday parties arrived at the site and attempted to disrupt work and were handed a copy of the injunction by the Ontario Provincial Police. On the same day Hydro One issued a statement relative to the injunction, including, "if this project is not completed, another solution, and further investment, would be needed to ensure that need is met. These additional and unnecessary costs are likely to result in higher electricity charges for the people of Ontario." (TRT2) In fact this whole process since 2006 has likely cost the Ontario taxpayer billions of dollars and resulted in higher costs already. Who is going to pony up for these "damages"?
Update: The stringing of the wires of the NRL has now been completed - with no fanfare. All that this author can say is that at some point between 17 July 2019 (when the permanent injunction was issued) and 11 September 2019 when an article in Turtle Island News stated that the line was finished, and that the "Six Nations community" may be on the hook for $200,000 in legal costs. Good luck in finding more information in any media or other source. Guessing that Hydro One, the Provincial Government, and the Six Nations Elected Council wanted to keep a low profile on the end of this whole debacle which has cost Ontario and Canadian taxpayers many millions if not billions of dollars for no other reason than fear of Six Nations militancy.
DY.
The project came to a complete halt in 2006 during the take over of the Douglas Creek Estates housing development project south of Caledonia. The towers were completed, and ran just south of the Douglas Creek property, it only remained to string the lines. During the anarchy that followed, one of the towers was cut down and, until 2018, used as a barricade that every so often would be dragged out across Argyle Street South to stop all traffic. This "severed tower", and Hydro One's unwillingness to act in order to recover (or replace) its property, brought the NRL project to a complete halt.
As noted in the posting here and previous ones, Hydro One came to an agreement with the Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC), which is the sole legal governing body at Six Nations, and with promises of sums of money and a 45% stake in the revenue from the completed NRL project and jobs for Six Nations people (AECON 6 Nations - A6N) - the stringing of lines commenced in the fall of 2018, but was soon brought to a halt by HCCC and their enforcers the Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI) who blocked the work site and threatened to bring throngs of people streaming down from the Rez (as happened in 2006). A hollow threat perhaps, but none the less effective. The bottom line was the the HDI and their White advisers, including ANTIFA members known from 2006 and subsequent events, demanded a quarter of a million dollars and be cut in on the action. Of course this is nothing more than extortion, which has been used more times by HDI than the present author can count in local land development and green energy projects. The HDI and HCCC have never opened the books, and while claiming to be the sole representatives of the people, refuse to let anyone see where this blood money has gone (lining the pockets of key players is of course one suspicion).
Hydro One is used to capitulating (it has for 13 years on this one project, and on illegal smoke shacks being set up on their property), but since they were now partnered with the elected officials at Six Nations, who were none too happy with this action which deprived the community of much needed resources, they eventually did what they should have done many years ago. They applied for a Court Injunction (which worked splendidly in 2009 with the ruling of Justice Arrell in Brantford Supreme Court in a land development work stoppage).
Both the Brantford Expositor (BE) of 11 July 2019 in an article entitled Hydro One gets temporary injunction (see here); and the Two Row Times (TRT1) of 10 July 2019 in an article entitled, HCCC & HDI and 16 others being sued for injunction on Niagara Reinforcement Project (see here); and TRT2 11 July 2019 in and article entitled Judge approves injunction for completion of Niagara Reinforcement Project (see here) have addressed this matter.
As indicated in the latter article, the HCCC, NDI and 16 named individuals were brought to Court to answer claims by Hydro One about work stoppages and threats, including that of the "New Mohawk benchwarmer" who had demanded $40 million in "compensation" paid to HCCC in order to allow the A6N workers to resume their work. It was the mysterious A.D. who once again represented the HCCC in these proceedings but only as a "Senior Advisor" not lawyer (which begs the question, "has he been disbarred?"). 15 of the 16 named individuals were Six Nations members, the 16th was a very well known White activist (ANTIFA, Marxist, anarchist) who was at one time a graduate student from York University, and involved as a "supporter" of Six Nations since 2006.
Hydro One was seeking an order barring the above named or others from using any means to deter work at the site or intimidating anyone involved in the project. Hydro One was also seeking damages, costs or any other relief deemed appropriate by the Court for "irreparable harm". Some parties denied being served a summons, despite evidence to the contrary. None wished to participate - leaving it to A.D. to act on their behalf. One party did speak, calling the fact that Hydro One seeking an injunction, "an outrage, and a sneaky disgusting move". (BE) Hydro One added that they had on numerous occasions attempted to get HCCC to participate in discussions, but to no avail - except the assertion that any talks would be on condition that Hydro One pay HCCC $250,000. The HCCC, in its statement, said that is has always been committed to partnering with Indigenous leaders and provincial entities, including Hydro One. (BE) Anyone with even a passing familiarity with the HCCC could easily assess the accuracy of that statement. To dig in even deeper into the depths of what are lies and what is the truth, the statement by the HCCC representative that, "Hydro One is proceeding in a manner that is condescending, colonist and patriarchal” speaks volumes.
The Judge concluded that this was all about the money, and "who's going to take a cut". The disruptive "history" of the defendants was then read (e.g., causing public disruption). It also emerged that HCCC wanted Hydro One to cancel their agreement with Six Nations and Mississaugas of New Credit, "and instead sign an exclusive agreement with HDI, its own development corporation". Furthermore HCCC threatened to bring in members of other Bands across Ontario (for muscle), and also that, "they may not be able to control their behaviour and there is a risk of towers coming down". Clearly these tactics of threats, intimidation, and extortion are borrowed straight from the Mafia and other criminal organizations. So therefore, ...............
Hydro One maintained that it needs to be operational by 1 September based on Provincial mandate.
The above all happened on Monday. On Tuesday evening the Judge granted the injunction. On Wednesday parties arrived at the site and attempted to disrupt work and were handed a copy of the injunction by the Ontario Provincial Police. On the same day Hydro One issued a statement relative to the injunction, including, "if this project is not completed, another solution, and further investment, would be needed to ensure that need is met. These additional and unnecessary costs are likely to result in higher electricity charges for the people of Ontario." (TRT2) In fact this whole process since 2006 has likely cost the Ontario taxpayer billions of dollars and resulted in higher costs already. Who is going to pony up for these "damages"?
Update: The stringing of the wires of the NRL has now been completed - with no fanfare. All that this author can say is that at some point between 17 July 2019 (when the permanent injunction was issued) and 11 September 2019 when an article in Turtle Island News stated that the line was finished, and that the "Six Nations community" may be on the hook for $200,000 in legal costs. Good luck in finding more information in any media or other source. Guessing that Hydro One, the Provincial Government, and the Six Nations Elected Council wanted to keep a low profile on the end of this whole debacle which has cost Ontario and Canadian taxpayers many millions if not billions of dollars for no other reason than fear of Six Nations militancy.
DY.
A Community in Crisis: Lives and Property in Serious Jeopardy Due to Actions of Hereditary Council
In but another chapter of a never ending saga, the actions of the representatives of the Hereditary Chiefs Confederacy Council (HCCC) continue to initiate chaos within the Six Nations community. However in the most recent example their behaviours not only cause substantial financial damage to the community (but not to themselves), but now matters have escalated to the point where they are putting the lives and property of community members in immanent danger.
As noted time and again in this Blog, the Hereditary Council is a historical entity removed from power for incompetence in 1924 that has not only fossilized, failing to adapt to the times, but also today of questionable authority since there are major inconsistencies in individual lineage (e.g., Chiefs being assigned to represent a clan and family to which they do not belong), and the claim to be the group representing the 49 Haudenosaunee Chiefs spoken of in the Kayenkiragowa (The Great Law) that does not hold up to scrutiny. With respect to the latter the historical facts do not line up with the claims of legitimacy by the HCCC. When the Revolutionary War broke out the Council Fire of the Six Nations at Onondaga (near Syracuse, NY) was extinguished. What was reestablished in 1785 upon the move from what is today Upstate New York to the Haldimand Tract of the Grand River bore only a partial resemblance to the original Council. Most of the Senecas (the largest of the Six Nations groups) remained within the United States and had their own Councils. The Grand River community was composed of Mohawks from all 3 Clans and 9 Families (Ohwashira), but most of the other Nations / Tribes were "incomplete". In addition there were many Delawares, Tuteloes, Nanticokes and other Anishinabe people who were represented by their own Chiefs at the Council established at the Mohawk Village in 1785, and at Onondaga (near Middleport) from 1805. There never was a coherent hereditary council at Six Nations which was linked to the pre historical Deganawida and Hayenwagtha era which established the traditional Five (later Six) Nations Council - although there was indeed a group of Chiefs with inherited titles who represented the Community until 1924 when agitation by progressives at Six Nations (largely Mohawk) resulted in the establishment of an elected council to replace the increasingly dysfunctional "hereditary" group. Since then there has been a group who claim to be lineal descendants of the Chiefs of the Kayenkiragowa and hence the only legitimate group to represent the people of Six Nations, but their legitimacy to play this role is not recognized by many at Six Nations and certainly not the Ontario (Little Crown) or Canadian (Big Crown) Governments. Thus there are two major factions today - supporters of the HCCC and supporters of the Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC). The former have continued to create problems at Six Nations and more widely in surrounding communities (e.g., the anarchy of 2006 in Caledonia) as they try to undermine the SNEC at every turn.
Despite the HCCC and its enforcement wing the Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI) often saying that they are willing to meet with SNEC to hammer out solutions to various problems, time and time again when the meeting date approaches HCCC members do not appear, or walk out of the meeting (e.g., recently because a string of wampum falling from a bench was seen as a bad omen). So the groups are still as far apart as ever - the HCCC demands to be recognized by Six Nations and the Government as the only group with legitimate authority to represent the people of the Six Nations of the Grand River. This brings us to the latest problem (in addition to the work stoppages at SNEC supported projects in conjunction with Hydro One). This one has danger written all over it - FIRE.
The following information is found in an article entitled, Six Nations Fire Chief Sounds Alarm After "Unprecedented" String of Fires, in The Sachem of 11 July 2019 (page 3). See here where it is reported that there has been an unprescedented number of house fires at Six Nations recently - a rash of five house fires over 10 days, according to Six Nations Fire Chief Miller. Normally 10 to 20 firefighters would be sent to a blaze, but of late only 4 firefighters have been sent, all of whom are exhausted having had no time to recover from previous blazes. Why so few firefighters when it would normally only take a phone call to neighbouring municipalities such as Haldimand, Norfolk, Brant, Brantford, or Hamilton and reinforcements would be on the way. So what is different now? According to Chief Miller, "Unfortunately this time around, they have concerns about safety for their firefighters as a result of the protest that's going on next door". Thus while the groups from the local communities will still send assets to fight a fire that has erupted, they won't send staff to assist in the Ohsweken office out of concern for the safety of individuals from off Reserve. This situation adds significantly to the response time. "Miller doesn't blame the other fire services - if he was in that situation, he would share the same concerns". Further Chief Miller said, "The honest truth is, if the protest wasn't happening, we would have firefighters from neighbouring municipalities that could be servicing the community and allowing us time to rest".
So what is the protest that is creating such a danger for Six Nations residents? For months now the HCCC has basically locked the members of SNEC out of their offices by maintaining a presence at the Administration building (across the road from the fire hall), and through intimidation ensured that none of the legitimate Councillors are able to do their work. They are demanding that SNEC, "signs a letter stating the Haudenosaunee Chiefs Confederacy Council - the traditional government - is the governing body of Six Nations". So the bottom line is that the HCCC would put people's property and lives at risk to, for the umpteenth time, demand recognition as the only legitimate governing body at Six Nations. This will never happen (it hasn't in the last 100 years), but that does not stop this faction from asserting their highly questionable claims - at any price.
DeYo.
As noted time and again in this Blog, the Hereditary Council is a historical entity removed from power for incompetence in 1924 that has not only fossilized, failing to adapt to the times, but also today of questionable authority since there are major inconsistencies in individual lineage (e.g., Chiefs being assigned to represent a clan and family to which they do not belong), and the claim to be the group representing the 49 Haudenosaunee Chiefs spoken of in the Kayenkiragowa (The Great Law) that does not hold up to scrutiny. With respect to the latter the historical facts do not line up with the claims of legitimacy by the HCCC. When the Revolutionary War broke out the Council Fire of the Six Nations at Onondaga (near Syracuse, NY) was extinguished. What was reestablished in 1785 upon the move from what is today Upstate New York to the Haldimand Tract of the Grand River bore only a partial resemblance to the original Council. Most of the Senecas (the largest of the Six Nations groups) remained within the United States and had their own Councils. The Grand River community was composed of Mohawks from all 3 Clans and 9 Families (Ohwashira), but most of the other Nations / Tribes were "incomplete". In addition there were many Delawares, Tuteloes, Nanticokes and other Anishinabe people who were represented by their own Chiefs at the Council established at the Mohawk Village in 1785, and at Onondaga (near Middleport) from 1805. There never was a coherent hereditary council at Six Nations which was linked to the pre historical Deganawida and Hayenwagtha era which established the traditional Five (later Six) Nations Council - although there was indeed a group of Chiefs with inherited titles who represented the Community until 1924 when agitation by progressives at Six Nations (largely Mohawk) resulted in the establishment of an elected council to replace the increasingly dysfunctional "hereditary" group. Since then there has been a group who claim to be lineal descendants of the Chiefs of the Kayenkiragowa and hence the only legitimate group to represent the people of Six Nations, but their legitimacy to play this role is not recognized by many at Six Nations and certainly not the Ontario (Little Crown) or Canadian (Big Crown) Governments. Thus there are two major factions today - supporters of the HCCC and supporters of the Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC). The former have continued to create problems at Six Nations and more widely in surrounding communities (e.g., the anarchy of 2006 in Caledonia) as they try to undermine the SNEC at every turn.
Despite the HCCC and its enforcement wing the Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI) often saying that they are willing to meet with SNEC to hammer out solutions to various problems, time and time again when the meeting date approaches HCCC members do not appear, or walk out of the meeting (e.g., recently because a string of wampum falling from a bench was seen as a bad omen). So the groups are still as far apart as ever - the HCCC demands to be recognized by Six Nations and the Government as the only group with legitimate authority to represent the people of the Six Nations of the Grand River. This brings us to the latest problem (in addition to the work stoppages at SNEC supported projects in conjunction with Hydro One). This one has danger written all over it - FIRE.
The following information is found in an article entitled, Six Nations Fire Chief Sounds Alarm After "Unprecedented" String of Fires, in The Sachem of 11 July 2019 (page 3). See here where it is reported that there has been an unprescedented number of house fires at Six Nations recently - a rash of five house fires over 10 days, according to Six Nations Fire Chief Miller. Normally 10 to 20 firefighters would be sent to a blaze, but of late only 4 firefighters have been sent, all of whom are exhausted having had no time to recover from previous blazes. Why so few firefighters when it would normally only take a phone call to neighbouring municipalities such as Haldimand, Norfolk, Brant, Brantford, or Hamilton and reinforcements would be on the way. So what is different now? According to Chief Miller, "Unfortunately this time around, they have concerns about safety for their firefighters as a result of the protest that's going on next door". Thus while the groups from the local communities will still send assets to fight a fire that has erupted, they won't send staff to assist in the Ohsweken office out of concern for the safety of individuals from off Reserve. This situation adds significantly to the response time. "Miller doesn't blame the other fire services - if he was in that situation, he would share the same concerns". Further Chief Miller said, "The honest truth is, if the protest wasn't happening, we would have firefighters from neighbouring municipalities that could be servicing the community and allowing us time to rest".
So what is the protest that is creating such a danger for Six Nations residents? For months now the HCCC has basically locked the members of SNEC out of their offices by maintaining a presence at the Administration building (across the road from the fire hall), and through intimidation ensured that none of the legitimate Councillors are able to do their work. They are demanding that SNEC, "signs a letter stating the Haudenosaunee Chiefs Confederacy Council - the traditional government - is the governing body of Six Nations". So the bottom line is that the HCCC would put people's property and lives at risk to, for the umpteenth time, demand recognition as the only legitimate governing body at Six Nations. This will never happen (it hasn't in the last 100 years), but that does not stop this faction from asserting their highly questionable claims - at any price.
DeYo.
Sunday 2 June 2019
"CANADIAN GENOCIDE" - Once Again the Blame Game
To date I have restricted any blog subject to "happenings" hereabouts (Six Nations of the Grand River). However today there was an event so egregious, so outlandish in relation to the Aboriginal community in general, that the horizon will be expanded at least for this one occasion.
The recently "leaked" version of a "public inquiry report" has been picked up by journalists for the CBC (the Trudeau Government journalistic outlet) to Arab reporters at Al Jazeera (see here). The conclusions of the "report" could easily have been predicted in advance knowing the agendas of the participants. Here we once again see a situation where Native people refuse to accept any blame for a problem and instead attribute it to racism, colonialism, and now the most inappropriately used word yet seen in an official report - genocide.
After many years and a lot of press coverage, Prime Minister Trudeau capitulated to the incessant calls for an inquiry into the perceived high percentage of Indigenous women who have been murdered or gone missing. So after the expenditure of $92 million Canadian taxpayer dollars (who lined their pockets, and are railing against Canada?). The, "National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls" apparently concluded that, almost 1,200 indigenous women and girls went missing or were killed between 1980 and 2012. The reason given by the authors of the report is that, "We do know that thousands of indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA (two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual) have been lost to the Canadian genocide to date," said the report, titled "Reclaiming Power and Place". Further that, indigenous women and girls faced a disproportionately high level of violence through "state actions and actions rooted in colonialism and colonial ideologies".
This very political, highly biased "report" needs to be seen for what it is - a document that had come to a conclusion long prior to hearing any testimony. Of course those see at the "hearings" were going to provide "evidence" that would be "proof" of some sort of "genocide". Those interested in the truth as opposed to lies and distortions may wish to read the article by Chris Seely in the "National Post" here. As Seeley notes, if this was anything beyond a political exercise the Commission would have included Indigenous males in the "study" - since they have a three fold higher likelihood of dying from violence (mostly at the hand of other Aboriginal males) than women. In the words of Selley,
"From the moment they decided to exclude male Indigenous Canadians, we knew the result was going to be more ideological exercise than roadmap to change". Clearly "men don't matter" in the world view of the "Commissioners", and neither does the truth. Unless we stare the truth in the face, change will never occur - and the Commissioners consistently chose to avoid exploring "internal" causes of problems and instead shuffle the mantle of blame on Canada - and to spice it up, use the word genocide.
Frankly, this author never expected even such a biased group to use a word that puts the average Canadian citizen in the same league as the German people in 1939, and the government composed of officials such as Hitler, Himmler, Goebbels, and Spier who were fully cognizant and fully complicit in the extermination of 6 million Jews and other "undesirables". One might ask how can this group of "commissioners" in all good conscience use the word "genocide". They have only succeeded in ensuring that their words are seen as outlandishly radical, and their views woefully distorted and out of touch with history, and the facts. To equate the disproportionate number of missing and murdered Aboriginal women to the Holocaust is simply unacceptable, and the entire "report" needs to be called into question.
Since the author does know something of the matter, and has been exposed to the dysfunction in Native communities since the 1970s, the following reasons are offered as a more valid explanation of the disproportionately high number of missing and murdered Aboriginal women:
1) Poverty.
2) Isolation.
3) Inordinate substance abuse including alcohol, other drugs, and chemicals (such as huffing gasoline which resulted in every child in a northern community being moved south to Newfoundland - Labrador for their own safety).
4) Extremely high rates of fetal alcohol abuse spectrum disorder.
5) Off the charts rates of physical, sexual, emotional abuse, and neglect / denying a child the necessities of life (including vigilance against human predators) - with other members of the community including close family members being the perpetrators.
6) Hopelessness - often due to the above, and leading to suicide.
7) Risky behaviour - often due to the above - which manifests as hitchhiking, to substance abuse, and working in the sex trade. They will also, as do many abused women, have a tendency to seek out men who confirm their sense of self worth, staying with perpetrators and failing to press charges (sometimes until it is too late by which time they have been killed by their domestic partners).
The conclusion is that Native women are more vulnerable, and hence preyed upon by the more sordid members of society (Native and non - Native).
It should be self evident that when the above circumstances are addressed appropriately, the number of missing and murdered women will diminish to levels seen in other Canadians. To date, despite the billions of Canadian taxpayer dollars thrown at the problem there has been little in the way of positive results. There are some exceptions of course which give hope that the problem could be reduced. Communities with positive outcomes include Osoyoos, British Columbia where the community itself has largely addressed their own problems, and the Reserves of Southern Ontario where problems of this nature exist, but not near the level seen in northern communities. In isolated impoverished communities where the old ways are gone, and there is little to replace them, the situation is ripe for dysfunction to flourish.
So whose fault is this acknowledged problem?
Until these Aboriginal advocates recognize the true source of the problems, "solutions" are hopeless and an utter waste of more time and resources leading to the same outcome - no change. Is the average Canadian (who has probably never met and Aboriginal person - except perhaps passed out in a bus stop thus reinforcing stereotypes) supposed to feel guilty about a problem which has nothing to do with them, and everything to do with the communities that these unfortunate women come from.
So Canada once again, and for no good rational reason, gives into these "Aboriginal pressure groups". The Commissioners had no misgivings about accepting the princely sum of $92 million dollars from Canadian taxpayers knowing full well they ultimately intended to spit in the face of Canadians, and give Canada a black eye on the world stage. It is now fashionable, worldwide, to believe everything that Aboriginals say, and so there will be many horrified at the contents of this "report". What they don't understand of course is that this is a political exercise and power play. The whole warped and distorted enterprise, which is based on a house of cards, will be eagerly lapped up by those on the far left of the political spectrum - to the detriment of the average Canadian who once again sees their wallet / purse picked for a highly questionable "cause".
In summary, the stated reason for the high number of missing and murdered Aboriginal women, "Canadian genocide" is meant to deflect from the true reason, which is the extraordinary dysfunction seen in the communities from which these women hail.
There is indeed a crisis but it is becoming increasingly apparent that the only solution is to disband and dismantle all Reserves, as Prime Minister Trudeau's own father proposed in the 1960s. The situation has only become worse since then, and drastic action must be taken before billions more Canadian dollars are thrown at a set of circumstances for which only full integration into the Canadian mosaic will work. Otherwise the suffering will continue unabated, and there will be more missing and murdered women, and those responsible will be the Indian leadership and White apologists who are willing to trade lives for the opportunity to participate in political expediency (and in the case of Indigenous leadership, enrich themselves in the process).
Fallout: In recent days some fairly predictable events have occurred. First, Prime Minister Trudeau was ultimately badgered into agreeing (showing utter lack of spine) that the murdered and missing Indigenous women situation constituted a "genocide". I expect that he inquired of each of the Commissioners, "which cheek would you like me to kiss first".
Secondly, the "news" got the attention of the wider world, used to having Canada criticize their own human rights records. So now the Organization of American States (OAS), which includes countries known to have spotless human rights records such as Nicaragua, will grill Canada over this new revelation of supposed atrocities permeating Canada - see here. This is the direct result of the "black eye" Canada and Canadians have been given by these self serving and biased "Commissioners".
In full throttle disgust.
** Updated 6 June 2019.
DY.
The recently "leaked" version of a "public inquiry report" has been picked up by journalists for the CBC (the Trudeau Government journalistic outlet) to Arab reporters at Al Jazeera (see here). The conclusions of the "report" could easily have been predicted in advance knowing the agendas of the participants. Here we once again see a situation where Native people refuse to accept any blame for a problem and instead attribute it to racism, colonialism, and now the most inappropriately used word yet seen in an official report - genocide.
After many years and a lot of press coverage, Prime Minister Trudeau capitulated to the incessant calls for an inquiry into the perceived high percentage of Indigenous women who have been murdered or gone missing. So after the expenditure of $92 million Canadian taxpayer dollars (who lined their pockets, and are railing against Canada?). The, "National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls" apparently concluded that, almost 1,200 indigenous women and girls went missing or were killed between 1980 and 2012. The reason given by the authors of the report is that, "We do know that thousands of indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA (two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual) have been lost to the Canadian genocide to date," said the report, titled "Reclaiming Power and Place". Further that, indigenous women and girls faced a disproportionately high level of violence through "state actions and actions rooted in colonialism and colonial ideologies".
This very political, highly biased "report" needs to be seen for what it is - a document that had come to a conclusion long prior to hearing any testimony. Of course those see at the "hearings" were going to provide "evidence" that would be "proof" of some sort of "genocide". Those interested in the truth as opposed to lies and distortions may wish to read the article by Chris Seely in the "National Post" here. As Seeley notes, if this was anything beyond a political exercise the Commission would have included Indigenous males in the "study" - since they have a three fold higher likelihood of dying from violence (mostly at the hand of other Aboriginal males) than women. In the words of Selley,
"From the moment they decided to exclude male Indigenous Canadians, we knew the result was going to be more ideological exercise than roadmap to change". Clearly "men don't matter" in the world view of the "Commissioners", and neither does the truth. Unless we stare the truth in the face, change will never occur - and the Commissioners consistently chose to avoid exploring "internal" causes of problems and instead shuffle the mantle of blame on Canada - and to spice it up, use the word genocide.
Frankly, this author never expected even such a biased group to use a word that puts the average Canadian citizen in the same league as the German people in 1939, and the government composed of officials such as Hitler, Himmler, Goebbels, and Spier who were fully cognizant and fully complicit in the extermination of 6 million Jews and other "undesirables". One might ask how can this group of "commissioners" in all good conscience use the word "genocide". They have only succeeded in ensuring that their words are seen as outlandishly radical, and their views woefully distorted and out of touch with history, and the facts. To equate the disproportionate number of missing and murdered Aboriginal women to the Holocaust is simply unacceptable, and the entire "report" needs to be called into question.
Since the author does know something of the matter, and has been exposed to the dysfunction in Native communities since the 1970s, the following reasons are offered as a more valid explanation of the disproportionately high number of missing and murdered Aboriginal women:
1) Poverty.
2) Isolation.
3) Inordinate substance abuse including alcohol, other drugs, and chemicals (such as huffing gasoline which resulted in every child in a northern community being moved south to Newfoundland - Labrador for their own safety).
4) Extremely high rates of fetal alcohol abuse spectrum disorder.
5) Off the charts rates of physical, sexual, emotional abuse, and neglect / denying a child the necessities of life (including vigilance against human predators) - with other members of the community including close family members being the perpetrators.
6) Hopelessness - often due to the above, and leading to suicide.
7) Risky behaviour - often due to the above - which manifests as hitchhiking, to substance abuse, and working in the sex trade. They will also, as do many abused women, have a tendency to seek out men who confirm their sense of self worth, staying with perpetrators and failing to press charges (sometimes until it is too late by which time they have been killed by their domestic partners).
The conclusion is that Native women are more vulnerable, and hence preyed upon by the more sordid members of society (Native and non - Native).
It should be self evident that when the above circumstances are addressed appropriately, the number of missing and murdered women will diminish to levels seen in other Canadians. To date, despite the billions of Canadian taxpayer dollars thrown at the problem there has been little in the way of positive results. There are some exceptions of course which give hope that the problem could be reduced. Communities with positive outcomes include Osoyoos, British Columbia where the community itself has largely addressed their own problems, and the Reserves of Southern Ontario where problems of this nature exist, but not near the level seen in northern communities. In isolated impoverished communities where the old ways are gone, and there is little to replace them, the situation is ripe for dysfunction to flourish.
So whose fault is this acknowledged problem?
Until these Aboriginal advocates recognize the true source of the problems, "solutions" are hopeless and an utter waste of more time and resources leading to the same outcome - no change. Is the average Canadian (who has probably never met and Aboriginal person - except perhaps passed out in a bus stop thus reinforcing stereotypes) supposed to feel guilty about a problem which has nothing to do with them, and everything to do with the communities that these unfortunate women come from.
So Canada once again, and for no good rational reason, gives into these "Aboriginal pressure groups". The Commissioners had no misgivings about accepting the princely sum of $92 million dollars from Canadian taxpayers knowing full well they ultimately intended to spit in the face of Canadians, and give Canada a black eye on the world stage. It is now fashionable, worldwide, to believe everything that Aboriginals say, and so there will be many horrified at the contents of this "report". What they don't understand of course is that this is a political exercise and power play. The whole warped and distorted enterprise, which is based on a house of cards, will be eagerly lapped up by those on the far left of the political spectrum - to the detriment of the average Canadian who once again sees their wallet / purse picked for a highly questionable "cause".
In summary, the stated reason for the high number of missing and murdered Aboriginal women, "Canadian genocide" is meant to deflect from the true reason, which is the extraordinary dysfunction seen in the communities from which these women hail.
There is indeed a crisis but it is becoming increasingly apparent that the only solution is to disband and dismantle all Reserves, as Prime Minister Trudeau's own father proposed in the 1960s. The situation has only become worse since then, and drastic action must be taken before billions more Canadian dollars are thrown at a set of circumstances for which only full integration into the Canadian mosaic will work. Otherwise the suffering will continue unabated, and there will be more missing and murdered women, and those responsible will be the Indian leadership and White apologists who are willing to trade lives for the opportunity to participate in political expediency (and in the case of Indigenous leadership, enrich themselves in the process).
Fallout: In recent days some fairly predictable events have occurred. First, Prime Minister Trudeau was ultimately badgered into agreeing (showing utter lack of spine) that the murdered and missing Indigenous women situation constituted a "genocide". I expect that he inquired of each of the Commissioners, "which cheek would you like me to kiss first".
Secondly, the "news" got the attention of the wider world, used to having Canada criticize their own human rights records. So now the Organization of American States (OAS), which includes countries known to have spotless human rights records such as Nicaragua, will grill Canada over this new revelation of supposed atrocities permeating Canada - see here. This is the direct result of the "black eye" Canada and Canadians have been given by these self serving and biased "Commissioners".
In full throttle disgust.
** Updated 6 June 2019.
DY.
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