McGuinty says talks to end native blockade in Caledonia will resume Wednesday

Canadian Press
Published: Tuesday, April 25, 2006

[SISIS note: The following mainstream news article is provided for reference only, as an example of how mainstream media treats indigenous resistance to genocide. Mainstream media often presents biased and distorted information, lacking pertinent facts and/or context. Inclusion of this article on our site should not be considered an endorsement by SISIS.]

TORONTO (CP) - Premier Dalton McGuinty says negotiations will resume tomorrow in hopes of ending an aboriginal blockade and lengthy land claims dispute in Caledonia, Ont.

McGuinty told the legislature that Six Nations officials asked for a break in the talks so they could consider what was discussed during lengthy negotiations on the weekend.

He said the frustrations evident on both sides in the land claims dispute should not spill over into confrontations, and appealed to residents to remain calm and patient.

About 500 non-aboriginal locals stormed a police line in the southern Ontario community last night, demanding the native blockades be removed and the road reopened.

McGuinty said he doesn't think the locals who were yelling at police and screaming racial taunts at the protesters are representative of the people of Caledonia.

He said the land claims dispute will take time to resolve and warned it won't be settled "in the immediate future."

David Ramsay, the minister responsible for aboriginal affairs, said the first goal of the discussions with the Six Nations is to return Caledonia to normalcy by removing the blockade.

Ramsay said he understands people's frustrations, and agreed they have a right to vent as they did last night.

Opposition critics said the provincial Liberals are partly to blame for last night's confrontation because they have not kept local residents up to date on the negotiations.

Public Safety Minister Monte Kwinter described the situation in Caledonia as "very, very delicate."