Canada is a colonial country

It's actually surprising there are so few native blockades, considering the violence that's been done to First Nations communities

Andrew Orkin, Citizen Special

Published: Wednesday, May 10, 2006

This time the Indians are occupying a new non-native subdivision on land they say is theirs in Caledonia, Ont. A court injunction issued by a non-native judge is being defied. Citing signs of Warrior involvement or the influx of Indians from other communities, the OPP raided the occupation and arrested the occupiers "without violence." Many more Indians then barricaded Highway 6.

Six Nations Band Council says the occupiers are renegades and there is no recognized land claim involved. The Haudenosaunee blockaders have allegiance only to their ancient Six Nations confederacy traditional government. They are demanding nation-to-nation discussions with the federal Crown.

Frustration grows among local non-natives. Some are claiming that Caledonia is theirs by virtue of "conquest." Ministers and the provincial and federal governments say the occupiers are "illegals" because the Indians "sold or surrendered" their land in the 1800s and now have only a reserve. At the same time, these ministers call repeatedly for a peaceful outcome.

Ironically, a judicial inquiry into the shooting death of Dudley George at Ipperwash a decade ago grinds on in Forest, dissecting that Indian land occupation and its own ex parte (only one side appeared in court) injunction, renegades, police raid, arrests, ministerial pronouncements of illegality, and the state use of force.

It may be beneficial, and maybe even save some lives, if we explore the meaning of some of the key terms here.