The fellow who answered said the stand-off was still the same at this moment.
I asked if he could tell the OPP not to instigate, that we heard the police were armed, with dogs.
He said they had dogs because there was a situation last night where some of their officers were injured.
I asked why the OPP were there, when it was Mohawk land, that the issues were for the courts to decide, not armed police instigating conflict.
He said, 'thank you ma'am, we're very busy here', and hung up.
L
Urgent action: please call OPP re: Tyendinaga
hi, info is at:
please call
OPP Easter Headquarters 613-284-4500 L.G. Beechey Chief Supt. Commander Eastern Region
We've found in the past, regarding treatment of an aboriginal woman by Eastern headquarters, that calling the regional OPP directly, politely, and repeatedly, is efficacious.
other options as well at ottawa indymedia site update.
L
i just called OPP re: TyendinagaOPP Easter Headquarters 613-284-4500 L.G. Beechey Chief Supt. Commander Eastern RegionThe fellow who answered said the stand-off was still the same at this moment.I asked if he could tell the OPP not to instigate, that we heard the police were armed, with dogs.He said they had dogs because there was a situation last night where some of their officers were injured.I asked why the OPP were there, when it was Mohawk land, that the issues were for the courts to decide, not armed police instigating conflict.He said, 'thank you ma'am, we're very busy here', and hung up.L
Aboriginal People's Television Network news on Tyendinaga and Shawn Brant
http://www.aptn.ca/streaming
MAY 8: Protest McGuinty - Aboriginal Solidarity Rally
SUPPORT ABORIGINAL HUMAN RIGHTS
Protest Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty
12pm. Thursday, May 8, 2008
Westin Ottawa Hotel (11 Colonel By, Just South of Rideau St)
No New Ipperwash
Join ACT for the Earth for a rally in solidarity with Robert Lovelace, the
KI-6, and the Tyendinaga of the Bay of Quinte, during Premier McGuinty's
speech to the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce. Join us in calling on the Premier
to put a stop to the persecution of Indigenous peoples for the sake of
corporate greed!
Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:40:26 -0400
Subject: [Stop-spp-action] report from Mohawk barricades
Hello,
The fires are burning hot, the wind whipping up, with good laughs and people circulating between barricades and the gravel pit near Deseronto.
Women of the community, men, young people, with friends from Ottawa and Toronto, had stayed up all night, some headed out, more came in for the coming night.
News arrived by cell phone and car, the Six Nations in distant solidarity were given a half-hour 'ultimatum' to leave by police, they responded with 600 more joining their stand. Others held the Mercier bridge. Here, the calm message was that everyone was in 'for the long haul', and another night surrounding the OPP, who were attempting to block access to the gravel pit where a number of Mohawks were staying. The OPP were unsuccessful in this endeavour, and members of the community moved back and forth to talk, eat, and grab a nap.
Earlier in the evening I had talked with some of the police, 'Why are you here?"
Their response: "There are fires on public roads."
"But your guns and your presence are the problem. You are not helping the situation, you're making it worse."
"We're under orders."
Driving into town, one passes lawn signs, "Mohawk Land: OPP Not Welcome Here".
At one of the bonfires, a woman described how last night police had pointed guns at the heads of some of the young people. Another took me to see the land of the tract which ought to have been returned to the band, but was sold instead. "We're tired of being 'soft' and believing the promises of government. We have to take a stand" The gravel pit developer also wants to build a condomium complex on the lake, and apparently had earlier phoned around the community, telling of his plans, to instigate a conflict. The OPP are part of this picture. According to some band members, the developer's goal is to use the situation to extract money from the government in compensation.
The land itself is beautiful, with a creek flowing through. Frogs sang, wood cocks danced into the sky as the sun set, a rabbit disappeared along the bank. In the distance we could see the fire of the Mohawks on the high ground of the tract. And other bonfires to the west. Somewhere in the middle were a few police cruisers, and behind the movie theatre lots of unmarked vans, with others waiting on backroads.
Family members from the community passed back and forth, bringing coffee, I learned that Tyendinaga means 'two sticks joined together', representing two nations, who were joined by other First Nations in confederacy, and now again in solidarity.
Although sad that a community needs to go to these lengths to protect its own land, I am glad to have met wonderful people, and hope that the police, like occupiers in more distant lands, leave the streets quietly, and quickly.
Leigh Thomson
Cramahe Township,Ont.
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