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Caledonia Group Plans Public Forum in Support of Six Nations

On Saturday, September 30, the Caledonia based group Community Friends for Peace and Understanding with Six Nations will be holding a public forum in Caledonia entitled “Moving Beyond Conflict and Blame: Why Canadians Should Support Six Nations Land Rights.” The meeting is aimed at bringing together people in Caledonia and surrounding communities to discuss the Douglas Creek reclamation and the larger issue of indigenous land rights in Canada.

The event will be held from 1-4 p.m. at the McKinnon Park Secondary School (91 Haddington Street) in Caledonia. It will begin with a series of presentations that will include: Jan Watson a Caledonia resident and spokesperson for the Community Friends group, Andrew Orkin a lawyer specializing in indigenous land claims, and Rolf Gerstenberger the President of United Steelworkers Local 1005.

According to Community Friends spokesperson and Caledonia resident Jan Watson, “we are holding this event as a way to try overcome the tension and conflict in our community as well as to show that there are good reasons why Canadians should demand that the government honour the treaties and obligations it has made with First Nations peoples."

The objective of this meeting is to provide a forum for peaceful and respectful discussion on the issue of the Douglas Creek reclamation and the larger question of indigenous sovereignty and land rights in Canada. As Watson notes "the primary aim of the meeting is to show that the standoff over Douglas Creek Estates should not be simply portrayed as a conflict between native people and non-native people, but rather one based on larger questions of human rights, social justice and nation to
nation relationships.”

For more information about the event, please contact the Community Friends group at smiley100@mountaincable.net or by phone at 289-284-0154. The group's web site can be found at www.honorsixnations.com.




****ANNOUNCEMENT****

Community Friends for Peace and Understanding with Six Nations Presents:

Moving Beyond Conflict and Blame: Why Canadians Should Support Six Nations Land Rights.

A panel discussion on the background to the Douglas Creek Estates reclamation and the possibilities for peace, justice and reconciliation between Canada and Six Nations.

September 30th 2006, 1pm-4pm

At the McKinnon Park Secondary School (91 Haddington Street) in Caledonia.

Speakers:

Jan Watson, Caledonia resident, member of Community Friends.

Andrew Orkin, a lawyer specializing in indigenous land claims.

Rolf Gerstenberger, President, United Steelworkers Local 1005.


This event is being put on in the spirit of peace and togetherness and is designed as a safe environment for discussion and exchange of ideas about the possible ways that the issue of Six Nations land claims can be peacefully and justly resolved. All open-minded people interested in genuine discussion and dialogue are welcome.

posted by Annamarie at 9:39 PM