Aboriginal protesters take down one barricade

CTV.ca News Staff
Updated Mon. May. 22 2006 10:18 AM ET

[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.]

Aboriginal protesters in Caledonia, Ont. have dismantled one of two blockades on the town's main road.

According to Donna Smith of APTN, the natives occupying land have removed the blockade on Argyle Street as a Victoria Day gesture of goodwill to help with talks to end the dispute.

The protesters are angry over the development of land they claim was taken from them around the 1840s, and have occupied the construction site since Feb. 28.  They created the blockade on April 20, after police failed to raid the area of the occupation.

Ontario Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Ramsay said Friday that construction on the disputed 40-hectare plot would remain on hold.

APTN's Smith told CTV that the protesters will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. Monday morning.

The aboriginal group had threatened to keep the blockade up after a group of non-natives barred native drivers from coming in or out of the protest site with a counter-blockade.

Smith reported that non-native protesters were continuing Monday to block access to the site.

Besides the Argyle Street blockade, there's one on Highway 6, which connects Caledonia and other area towns with major southern Ontario cities and highways.

Caledonia is about 14 kilometres southwest of Hamilton and is very close to the Six Nations reserve.