The Death of Dudley George

The Death of Dudley George THE DEATH OF DUDLEY GEORGE - posted to sovernet-l by Ernie Yacub November 22, 1996 In the night of September 6, 1995, the Ontario Provincial Police opened fire on a peaceful occupation of Ipperwash Provincial Park by the Stoney Point People. When the police pulled out of the park, many people had been beaten, one youth had been shot and wounded and Dudley George was fatally injured by a bullet in his chest. Dudley George was a member of the Aazhoodenaang Enjibaajig, the Stoney Point People. In 1942 the Canadian government invoked the War Measures Act and forced the Stoney Point People from their unceded territory, set aside by treaties in 1825 and 1827. Since the end of WWII the Stoney Point People have struggled to have their land returned. Stoney Pointers Return Home In 1990 the Stoney Pointers began moving home when Daniel R. George, Sr. was buried in the sacred Aazhoodena burial grounds. In 1993 they moved back onto the firing ranges and lived in makeshift dwellings -- small trailers and tents. The occupation of Ipperwash Park was part of the struggle to have the Stoney Point burial grounds and territory returned. On September 14, 1995, eight days after Dudley George was killed the federal government released documents indicating that there was an Aboriginal burial ground in the provincial park. Despite the federal government's recognition that the land should be returned to it's original owners the provincial government has consistently criminalized the Stoney Point people. Over 100 charges have been laid by the police since 1993. On Monday October 21, 1996, the trial against 23 people began in Sarnia. The Crown released a memorandum stating that 43 charges would be withdrawn because "the accused have raised the defence of colour of right on the basis that there is a Chippewa burial ground within Ipperwash Provincial Park." Five members of Stoney Point First Nation still face over 20 charges. Their next court appearance will be a pre-trial on December 11th. The OPP Murder of Dudley George After a 10 month investigation the Special Investigations Unit released its report on the shooting death of Dudley George on July 23, 1996. As a result of the report OPP officer Kenneth Deane was charged with criminal negligence causing death. Deane was second-in-command of the Tactics and Rescue Unit operation at Ipperwash Provincial Park. James M. Stewart, director of the SIU, told the Attorney General that he had "an honest belief on reasonable grounds that Deane committed the offence." The charge is related to the discharge of a firearm. A spokesperson for the SIU said that the details of the report are protected under the Privacy Act and that all questions must be made under the Access to Information Act. The officer's trial begins on April 1st, 1997. According to Pierre George, a brother of Dudley George the charge against Deane is "only a stalling tactic" and Jean Chretien, Prime Minister and Mike Harris, Ontario Premier should "both live up to their titles and do an honourable thing by giving a firm commitment towards having a public inquiry into my brother's death." Urgent Appeal for Stoney Point Legal Fund The Stoney Point People urgently require funds for travelling expenses from Toronto to Sarnia for the lawyers who are representing the five Stoney Pointers still charged with various criminal offenses. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LEGAL EXPENSES CAN BE MADE TO: The Stoney Point Legal Fund Toronto Dominion Bank Transit #36242 Account #522 Send Letters & Faxes to: Prime Minister Jean Chretien Langevin Block 80 Wellington Floor 2 Ottawa, ON Canada K1A 0A6 Phone: 613-992-4211 Fax: 613-941-6900 Ron Irwin Minister, Indian & Northern Affairs House of Commons Ottawa, ON Canada K1A 0H4 Phone: 819-977-0380 Fax: 819-953-4941 Premier Mike Harris Legislative Building, R. 281 Queen's Park Toronto, ON Canada M7A 1A1 Phone: 416-325-1941 Fax: 416-325-3745 Robert Runciman Solicitor General of Ontario 175 Bloor St E #400 N Tower Toronto, ON Canada M4W 3R8 Phone: 416-326-5075 Fax: 326-5085 Ask the government to honour the 1827 Treaty and to recognize the Stoney Point People's right to their land. Demand that telephones be installed immediately. Demand an official inquiry into the OPP murder of Dudley George. For more information: In Stoney Point: Marcia Simon RR#2 Forest, ON Canada N0N 1J0 Phone: 519 786-4052 Fax: 519-786-6642 In Peterborough: Anti-Colonial Action Alliance #25, 197 Hunter St. W. Peterborough, ON Canada K9H 2J1 email: thassan@trentu.ca WWW: http://www.knet.flemingc.on.ca/~bmcfarla/acaa/acaa.html In Toronto: Toronto Coalition Against Racism (TCAR) Box 133, 339A College St. Toronto, ON Canada M5T 1S2 Phone: 416-530-0262 Fax: 416-977-6999 email: ca901@freenet.toronto.on.ca WWW: http://www.ryerson.ca/~melbirt/tcar In Kitchener: Sumac Collective P.O. Box 40067, 75 King St. S. Waterloo, ON Canada N2J 4V1