'Common ground' key in feud

Canadian Press
Toronto Sun
Monday, May 1, 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.]

BURLINGTON -- A former Ontario premier appointed by the province to help end an aboriginal standoff in Caledonia said yesterday he can't say how long it might take to reach a settlement.

"I can't guarantee timelines, can't guarantee success, (and) can't guarantee what the resolution will be," David Peterson said outside a Burlington hotel.

"But we'll muck around and hopefully we can find something."

Peterson met with provincial officials yesterday before heading to nearby Caledonia in the hopes of meeting representatives of Six Nation protesters and members of the embattled community.

The occupation of the Douglas Creek Estates subdivision has gone on for two months.

Protesters set up a blockade of the main road through Caledonia after a raid by OPP failed to remove them from the construction site a week and a half ago.

The protesters say Six Nations never surrendered the land, but Canada and Ontario say it was surrendered and sold in 1841 to make way for a highway.

"Everyone feels aggrieved, everyone feels their side is the victim and being taken advantage of," Peterson said.

"The genius here is to find common ground," he said.

"It's not as if one side is illegitimate. There are always many sides to these issues."