verbena-19

Day 80 Six Nations Siege: "Law & Order" under Great Law!

Greetings from Grand River



Here is another update. Apologies for not getting one out sooner. We’ve been having many meetings on the land we’ve reclaimed. We’re thinking about how we can move forward. Do we remove one of the barricades? We are discussing in particular Plank Road, also known as Argyle Street and #6 Hwy. Can we trust the government? We all remember our past experience has shown us that we can't take the government’s word, officially or informally. They have continually broken their promises to us. They will say and do anything to achieve their goal to get the barricades down. [but not to return the land they stole from us].


On the other hand, we have to consider our People’s government, the men and women who are standing in solidarity to protect our lands, our law, our people, our inherent rights and our sovereignty. Some of our delegates carry our voice with them. Some of our People have issues with them, some don't. Do we have the trust to implement our government? Yes, we need to work at it. The answers won’t come in a day. We know we have an opportunity that our grandfathers only dreamed about. We can’t let suspicions allow that opportunity to slip by.


We marvel at how coincidences happen that force us to look at what we are doing and deeply question the choices we are making. A few days ago we all agreed that the barricade on Argyle Street needed to be cleared enough for emergency vehicles to pass through. At the same time a lone protester against our position, with the help of the OPP, nearly threw that to the winds. His actions were harmless, walking back and forth in front of the police line with his own barricade to prevent "natives" from going into [the nearby town of] Caledonia. It was the OPP actions that were detrimental. "The natives have a right to their protest. This individual has the right to his". Okay, we get it! But then, one of our men who stays in our camp was refused entry [to the site] by the OPP. The OPP said, "He [the native] was told twice not to attempt to drive back and forth. I don't give a f*** if he has to sit there all f*****g night. Nobody is coming through”. Not two minutes later the OPP were directing through the local towing company that operates within the barricaded roads, as well as a couple more non-native drivers. Discriminatory, obviously! Phone calls were made. We got the situation straightened out.


This incident lead us to question whether or not we should even proceed with our attempts to show the "good will" they speak of. Tonight we were again talking about opening up Argyle Street. We have a commitment from the governments that an open moratorium is in place on our stolen lands they call "Douglas Creek". They have agreed to pay for a third party archeological study on our land alongside our people to determine the exact areas and status of the graves that are said to be there. They have also agreed to place back an area of land known to them as "Burtch Correctional Facility" under the original status of the "Haldimand Deed" of 1784. This will be a long process. There has to be an environmental study done on the lands and the clean up. It will take time to place the land back into the possession of the Onkwehonweh, and not under the current land transactions as defined by the illegal Indian Act.


Opening up one road is not being taken lightly. Just as the People were gathering to start discussions, a young man was brought into the camp. Our security caught him at one of the checkpoints driving erratically and causing a disturbance. Our men took him into custody. An inspection revealed that in his trunk was a pellet gun and some of his army equipment (apparently he is part some “army reserves”). His mission was to disrupt and possibly bring harm to us. He was questioned and spoken to by some of the women. It was determined that “he did not realize the seriousness of the situation” and of his actions, and was turned over to the OPP. He was taken into custody by the OPP and his car was towed. We asked about him later at a liaison meeting with the OPP. We were told that he probably would be charged with careless driving! A few days ago, one of our men was shot in the face, just below his eye, from a pellet gun or something similar. Then this guy shows up tonight. Coincidence?? What do you think?


We know there is no way he will admit to anything, even if it is connected to him. The eleven o'clock news said he was released from custody. His side of the story would be revealed the following morning. Given Channel 11’s reporting history, this one will get turned around to make us look like the guilty parties again. Are we being tested to see how strong our convictions are in the powers of Creation and our government system to move forward with the decisions we make? Should we open up the road knowing that we will have obstacles, but enough knowledge to continue? It appears that each time we're about to make that decision, something is exposed to us. We continue to ask for guidance. We discontinued the talks for tonight. Everyone was feeling the emotions which might interfere with out ability to have a clear mind. We constantly thank Creation that we can use our sense and ability to see clearly for the highest good of all concerned.


Caledonia residents are getting frustrated. We understand the frustration they are feeling. They want to blame us for the car accidents that are occurring on the detour road because of our blockade. Do they blame their township for accidents that occur as a result of road construction detours? Don’t they have to take responsibility for their own actions? Who do they sue for their own neglect? Isn’t the first rule of their law that they must have "care and control" of their vehicle? One of their local radio stations continually tries to paint the picture of our People as being uncooperative” and “negligent”, as well as “lawless” and “villainous” [for trying to get our stolen possessions back from the thieves]. How ridiculous is that? When we get behind the wheel of a car and venture onto any road, we are responsible for our actions. We know the speed limits and the rules of the road. Common sense tells us we cannot take responsibility for the actions of any one else. The colonialist governments and agents and corporate media constantly tell the world that anything bad is our fault.


We were considering opening the road on Victoria Day weekend, May 20th. This is known as "bread and cheese" weekend, commemorating the time when Queen Victoria had given bread and cheese to the people of Six Nations as a token of our continued alliance and friendship for our assistance to Britain in the revolutionary war. It was long abandoned by the crown and later taken up by the Indian Act band council as part of “tradition”. Why? The Crown has abandoned every agreement it ever made with us. Why should we would continue to "celebrate" it?


Tonight was a good example of how peaceful our people can be, even when tested the way we were tonight with that [insurgent] individual. Everyone handled it well. In fact, we mentioned to the OPP that we could have treated their citizen the brutal way they treated us when they attacked us on that early morning on April 20th - with pepper spray in our faces, taser guns shot at us and bashing batons. Instead he was peacefully marched out of the camp and delivered to his people unharmed. Did Channel 11 [of the corporate media] put that message out there????????? Tune in and see for yourself. Have a good night. Talks will continue Saturday May 20th after everyone has a chance to think about things. Take care. Hazel


PS. Guess what? The young man we caught and turned over to the OPP appeared on television this morning, “I was tied up, blindfolded and tortured. This shouldn’t happen in Canada”. We did not do this. It must have been the OPP! No Six Nations people were interviewed about this. Obviously, corporate media is continuing its attempt to defame Indigenous people.

posted by Annamarie at 9:47 PM