Non-native Caledonia protesters vent frustrations

CBC News: http://www.cbc.ca/news
Last Updated Sat, 29 Apr 2006 14:41:30 EDT

[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.]

About 500 residents of Caledonia, Ont., gathered Friday night to demand the removal of a native blockade in their community.

Police were ready for trouble, but tempers remained in check as protesters shouted, carried placards and honked car horns near the site of the two-month standoff.

Members of the Six Nations are maintaining roadblocks to protest against a property developer's plan to build homes on land they say belongs to them.

The native protesters have occupied the 40-hectare site south of Hamilton since Feb. 28. They built barricades of burning tires on April 20 after police arrested 16 people in a pre-dawn raid.

Many non-natives in the southwestern Ontario community say they're frustrated by the constant police presence, lost business revenue, detours and the town's damaged reputation.

A similar rally on Monday drew hundreds of people who headed to the barricade to yell insults at police and aboriginal occupiers.

A website run by local residents is calling for continuing protests against the barricades.

Anne-Marie Flanagan, spokeswoman for Ontario's Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Ramsay, said talks between the province, federal government and Six Nations Confederation on trying to resolve the standoff are scheduled to resume Monday.

Natives say Six Nations never gave up the land, but Canada and Ontario say it was surrendered and sold in 1841 to make way for what is now Highway 6.