Caledonia Shrouded in Silence
September 21, 2007When I first heard that Sam Gualtieri was beaten to within an inch of his life in a house he owns, by several thugs, associated with an illegal land claim protest, I thought there would be a long overdue public outcry demanding to know how the situation was allowed to escalate to this point. I was sure that Caledonia was going to be an election issue after that, and if the media was doing it’s job, it would be.
The media seems to disagree. There is very little beyond the local coverage in Hamilton and Caledonia, and if the latest polls can be trusted, the Liberals have not been affected by their lack of performance.
If the discomfort I feel just writing my personal thoughts on this matter is any indication of why it would be difficult for members of the actual media to render a balanced account of what is happening in Caledonia, then fear of political incorrectness is enforcing the silence on this matter. Racists and non-racists have at least one thing in common; they don’t like being called racist. I know that by writing this article, I expose myself to the possibility of being called racist.
Yesterday, at a press conference to announce the compensation package for natives who were victimized by the Catholic Church at residential schools, Phil Fontaine shot back at critics of the plan who say that the two billion dollars could be spent in a better way, by saying: “I sense a tone of racism to all of those concerns and worries.”
Accusing one’s critics of racism is a good way to shut people up, but unfortunately, shutting people up for the simple reason that they do not agree with you, does not serve the greater good.
An objective account of what is happening in Caledonia, would inevitably seem like criticism of the hypocrisy of Six Nations and the tactics they have employed in this so-called land claim protest. After having commented upon the illegal activity of a group of people who are very accustomed to getting political mileage out of their history of being victimized by who they commonly refer to as “The White Man”, one would have to expect splash back in the form of being accused of racism. The ability to throw out that accusation, buys a lot of silence, and First Nation leaders are not shy about using it.
During this election, I thought that the Conservatives would be able to nail Caledonia right into McGuinty’s forehead. However, John Tory is not hammering on this issue for fear of hitting himself on the Ipperwash thumb. Without John Tory forcing this issue, the media is not forced to cover it, and in fact, is content not to.
This conspicuous silence must create a terrible feeling of isolation for the citizens of Caledonia. The OPP upholds the law very reluctantly, if at all. The government of Ontario has washed its hands of the mess, while the government of Canada properly sees the land claim as having no merit in law, and doesn’t have jurisdiction to enforce the law where the OPP should be. Now that the media has refused to use the occasion of the savage attack on Sam Gualtieri to bring this story forcefully to Canadians who would certainly be keenly interested in this. Caledonians can properly conclude that they will face the lawless intimidation tactics of the Six Nations natives, virtually alone.
There is likely a lot of carefully guarded support among the Canadian populace, but perhaps no one understands what the people of Caledonia are going through as do the people of Ipperwash. Due to the fact that Ontario natives would be stupid not to recognize the fact that they are able to practice extortion with virtual impunity, I suppose that people in many other Ontario communities will learn first hand what it must be like to live in Caledonia right now. At least Caledonians will feel less isolated. They’ll have friends in places like Sharbot Lake.
For some interesting reading on this subject, check out:
Indispensible resource on the Caledonia stand-off:
http://www.caledoniawakeupcall.com/
A lot of information pertaining to the land claim, and experiences of Caledonians
http://www.citizensofcaledonia.ca/
Blog on Caledonia and Ipperwash
http://voiceofcanada.wordpress.com/
Excellent investigative report on the Six Nations tobacco and gambling industries. Hmmm … I wonder if
there is any connection with the land claim stand-off.
http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=hamilton/Render&c=Page&cid=1159869701435
Yes … it seems that there is a connection.
http://www.canadaka.net/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=15432
Same connection … from a source sympathetic to Six Nations.
http://sisis.nativeweb.org/actionalert/updates/060623expositor-b.html
Hi Bob,
Another great post. I, too, share your wonderment at Tory’s refusal to nail McGuinty over landclaim lawlessness.
As for being afraid of the Ipperwash Inquiry, Tory could take McGuinty apart over it since he is more than well aware – as is Bob Runciman – of our work on The Ipperwash Papers project (www.ipperwashpapers.ca) that prove the Inquiry deliberately covered up all evidence of the suffering of Ipperwash residents due to landclaim lawlessness.
Just this week, I sent letters to various members of the PCs reminding them of The Ipperwash Papers, and yesterday, CWUC and VoC issued a joint media release to the media and various blogs.
Check out these items:
http://voiceofcanada.wordpress.com/2007/09/20/news-release-greg-sorbara-comments-re-caledonia-ipperwash-inquiry-called-shameful/
http://voiceofcanada.wordpress.com/2007/09/19/is-suffering-of-innocent-people-worth-covering-up-so-dalton-can-have-4-more-years/
As I said in a letter to the Simcoe Reformer, “Imagine if the government invested $20M and 3 years on an inquiry into Caledonia, for example, but refused to allow a single resident to testify, and went out of its way to exclude every shred of evidence of native crimes against them? What if this inquiry was then used to justify a ‘hands off’ policy towards native lawlessness in other Ontario towns? Now you understand the shameful legacy of McGuinty’s Ipperwash Inquiry.”
Thanks again for writing and listening. All of us involved in this struggle appreciate it.
Mark Vandermaas, Editor
VoiceofCanada
Lead Investigator – The Ipperwash Papers
http://www.ipperwashpapers.ca
Hi Bob,
Sorry, when I posted my last comment, I forgot to offer some thoughts on the possibility of you being called a racist.
Since I began VoC almost a year ago, I have maintained a consistent message that I believe in the rule of law, equality before the law, the Constitution, the Charter of Rights & Freedoms, and the decisions of the Supreme Court.
I have also consistently said that I don’t believe a few violent criminals speak for honourable native people, and also that natives are being victimized by OPP race-based policing policies, too.
Despite this, I (and all who have chosen to speak out) have been accused of being racist and a white supremacist. There are two kinds of people who throw out the racism card; the criminals who don’t like the attention we have focused on them, and other people who have fallen prey to their propaganda, and have no other response to logical arguments or facts.
Don’t be afraid of being called a racist for telling the truth. Be afraid of waking up one morning and having to explain to your kids that they aren’t entitled to be treated equally under the law because you were afraid to speak out.
Evil cannot survive in the light. It requires the darkness of silence. I’m glad you’ve chosen not to be silent.
Regards,
Mark Vandermaas
VoiceofCanada
I too wonder why this is not an election issue. However it is obvious Howard Hampton is the only one who knows how to apply the law to policy, and he won’t get the chance to try it out. McGuinty is just keeping his head down, and since Tory has no real solutions to offer, McGuinty is getting away with it.
In my opinion you are more dangerous than that loser Gary McHale and the nazi wannabes that are supporting him.
If you can take an honest look at what Natives have lost, and what life is like for the average native across Canada… and still say ‘they shouldn’t have that land’ then you are as worthless as McFail, and don’t deserve to breath.
You have to look at the issue on the balance of probabilities. It’s possible that Six Nations did sell the land… it’s also possible they leased it. Is it probable that Six Nations leased the land, and signed a document in English that they didn’t understand? Of course it’s possible and probable.
The Governments of Ontario and Canada both have track records of lying, and not honouring agreements so they can further their agenda in favour of non-natives. Bearing in mind the dishonesty and lying that both have done in the past… you still think they’re being truthful about the land deal? Of course you would because you don’t think Natives should be compensated for what they’ve lost.
Vandermaas… where was all this ‘equality before the law’ when Six Nations were getting shafted out of their land?
You’re just like the rest… too afraid that Canada will lose too much if it gives what it owes.
With a name like that you’re obviously an immigrant – it galls me that immigrants and their descendants come here and try to call the shots without any consideration for the human beings that were here first.
I dislike you TREMENDOUSLY!
Thanks for posting Ryan, however, I would like to point out that racism, hatred, and anger seem to be weakening your arguments. I think your ideas would more effectively advance the public discourse if you were to express them in a positive light rather than viciously attacking people on a personal level. You won’t be winning any debates with your current methods, that is for sure.
The way I express the fact that they’ve suffered enough and that your lot need to keep quiet and let them have what they are owed won’t make you change your mind. All of your crowd are too hellbent on getting a racially predjudiced law enforced with no regard to if the ruling was actually the moral thing to do.
If McFail and Vander-ass weren’t around, and every resident of Caledonia had of gone over to the right side and demanded the land be given back to Six Nations, this whole saga would have been over MONTHS AND MONTHS ago.
I would also like to ask how in the blazes did you figure that I’m racist or showing racism? Please explain.
If you aren’t a racist, then you are the only non-racist I know who tars immigrants with one big brush with hateful intent.
That’s not racism – it’s resentment. I resent you and every other immigrant who doesn’t want to give natives what they are owed.
You’re not helping the situation, and you’re not helping them achieve equality.
Some people have chosen to believe the government propaganda. They will look stupid when it becomes apparent that our government lies, cheats and steals to appease the corporate bosses who want the unimpeded right to rape and pillage the land for its resources.
Those people will also look pretty stupid when the government totally abandons us to the polluted, desecrated toxic environment that is a result of their corporate greed.
The government does not represent the people. They represent and defend and aid and abet corporate greed. Our so called ‘democracy’ is just a sop to the people to keep them docile while the corporations work us to death and exploit our environment.
The naive ones wre those who choose to follow the government line. It leads only to our death and desecration of the land.
AND THE TRUTH IS …
“On September 13th at around 4:00 pm. witnesses saw non-native men running out, picking up weapons and going back into the unfinished house. Inside they had ambushed two Indigenous youth. The kids’ backs were against the wall. They have a right to self-defense. The two youth had gone into the house. One went one way and the other went in another direction. That’s when the older Indigenous boy caught the non-native man beating his younger brother.”
Well Saga, why don’t the innocent indigenous victims lay charges? It doesn’t make sense.