Builder can go ahead for now; Chiefs rein in protests while government considers proposal to help settle land claims dispute

Sept 19 2007
Brantford Expositor

Quiet words Tuesday afternoon from Six Nations Confederacy spokesman Clyde Powless defused a potentially ugly confrontation between native supporters and a city developer.

A half-dozen Six Nations supporters showed up at a Grand River Avenue development just after 2 p.m., where Mike Quattrociocchi, owner of Mayberry Homes, had resumed construction of four duplexes on land claimed by the natives.

The supporters said they were prepared for a long stay, but changed their position after the arrival, just before 3 p.m., of Powless, who has served as a spokesman for the Six Nations protest in Caledonia.

After a private conversation with Quattrociocchi that lasted about 15 minutes, Powless told the Six Nations supporters to leave the site. He said the developer would be allowed to continue work “today, tomorrow,” but not indefinitely.

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Land claims are important to you

Sept 19, 2007
Brantford Expositor

For all those who will be voting in the provincial election on Oct. 10, and for all of you who typically do not take the opportunity to vote, I am calling on you to help the communities that live on the Grand River, and all of Ontario. Many of you may not be aware that much of our province is under a land claim by natives.

I am a resident of Caledonia. I have unfortunately had the opportunity to witness first hand what it is our leader, if one could call him that, is willing to do to help our communities.

Our Fearless Leader (and I will remind you he has not taken the opportunity to visit any of the occupied areas even though at times he has been only 20 minutes away) has basically said it is up to ourselves to fight for our rights to develop land and keep our towns safe.

Let me refresh some memories – Ipperwash: they still live in an occupied territory, were you aware of that?? Caledonia: in the last year and half we have had roads blocked, riots, roads dug up, bridges burned down and our local hydro substation set fire, leaving not only us but much of Southern Ontario three days without electricity.

These are the events you hear in the news, what you do not hear are the ongoing threats of violence, our children having to be rushed in off the playground because the school has gone into lockdown, the constant intimidation, and the loss of revenue for our local stores resulting in closings. The list goes on but I do not have the space to write it all.

I am calling on all of you to remember what it is that Premier Dalton McGuinty has not done in his last term, and that is protecting you and me as Ontario residents.

How would you feel if you were being told that the house you live in does not belong to you and knowing that if a native showed up at your door claiming the land as theirs by “right of colour” you have to leave ? Do you think this is not possible?

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All quiet at Mike Q.’s

Sept 19, 2007
Brantford Expositor

Anyone looking for a confrontation Tuesday between a city developer and Six Nations protesters was disappointed. The media and neighbours were out in full force on Grand River Avenue to watch work resume on a housing project that two weeks earlier had stopped because of a native protest.

The site next to the Grand River, below Brantford Collegiate Institute, is claimed by Six Nations. On Sept. 4, a small group of protesters blocked machines from constructing four duplexes being developed by former city councillor Mike Quattrociocchi.

The last thing Six Nations needs is a tense confrontation with a small-time developer in front of television cameras, especially when the federal government and the Confederacy at last are discussing settlement offers.

A half-dozen protesters who threatened to disrupt activity at the site on Tuesday afternoon wisely left after talking to Confederacy member Clyde Powless.

The natives’ cause took a giant step backward after a Caledonia developer was beaten in a confrontation with native young people at a house under construction. Confederacy leaders apologized and have given the go-ahead for police to arrest trespassers on the site.

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Government Negotiators Respond to Last Week’s Events in Caledonia

Government Negotiations Postponed With Haudenosaunee/Six NationsTORONTO, Sept. 18 /CNW/ – As a response to last week’s violent confrontation in Caledonia, government negotiators will not participate in this week’s scheduled negotiation meetings with the Haudenosaunee/Six Nations.

Ontario considers last week’s confrontation unacceptable. Violence is never a solution to any dispute. Occupations and unlawful tactics put public safety at risk and slow down resolution of these important land claims issues.

The provincial government continues to support the federal government in working through challenging issues in a peaceful and respectful manner in order to find lasting and common solutions. The province also recognizes the efforts of the Haudenosaunee/Six Nations’ leadership in denouncing violence and committing to a peaceful resolution. We hope to be able to resume negotiations next week.

Courtesy of www.CaledoniaWakeupCall.com

Native protesters ignoring agreement, builder says

September 18, 2007
Globe & Mail

Caledonia — A small group of aboriginal protesters is holding up a return to work at a disputed Caledonia subdivision, even though native leaders have reached an agreement that would let building resume, says John Kragten, one of the builders.

Last Thursday, the demonstration at the Stirling South subdivision turned violent when protesters beat Caledonia contractor Sam Gualtieri until he was unconscious.

The violence by the demonstrators, who were at the site ostensibly to support the Six Nations Confederacy’s position that the developers should have sought their approval for the project, embarrassed the chiefs, who immediately apologized for it.

Courtesy of www.CaledoniaWakeupCall.com

‘We are forging ahead at all costs’; Builder vows to proceed with housing project stopped by native protesters

Brantford ExpositorA local builder says he’ll forge ahead with work on a Grand River Avenue housing project today, despite the threat of a Six Nations protest.

Mike Quattrociocchi, owner of Mayberry Homes, said he can’t wait any longer to continue construction of four duplexes his company is building at Grand River and Jarvis Street.

“I’m bringing it to a head,” Quattrociocchi said Monday. “I’m tired of delays. We are forging ahead at all costs and I won’t stop.”

A small group of native protesters shut down construction at the building site on Sept. 4, claiming the project was on Six Nations land and that the developer required permission from the Six Nation’s Confederacy before continuing work.

Quattrociocchi met with Confederacy representatives following the protest and said he was asked by natives to pay more than $50,000 if he wanted to proceed with the housing project. Quattrociocchi refused to pay and later likened the Confederacy’s request to “mafia” extortion.

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Cowering on Caledonia

National PostThe ongoing illegal actions of native protesters in Caledonia, Ont., has been the focus of many stories and columns in the Post. And in Monday’s issue, it was again the subject of a scathing editorial, titled The Scandal of Caledonia. Readers we’ve heard from have generally applauded that editorial, though few have employed as colourful language as the letter-writer below.
  –Paul Russell, NP letters editor

This was a phenomenal and timely editorial. The first-and-last issue in (any) Ontario election can be only the maintenance of “the basic rule of law” for one-and-all alike.

Mr. McGuinty’s Liberal government — smarmy, politically-correct, pusillanimous, cowering, buckpassing, sanctimonious, immensely well remunerated financially — was sworn to uphold the Law in Ontario:. They have since rendered increasing chunks of Ontario ungoverned and ungovernable, in increasing numbers of places where law-and-order are remote memories.

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Caledonia crisis is not ours to fix, Liberals say

The Hamilton Spectator
(Sep 18, 2007)

The Ontario Liberals say only Ottawa can resolve the Caledonia crisis and there’s nothing more the Dalton McGuinty government can do.

Cabinet minister Greg Sorbara also says that in the face of rising tension in Caledonia, there are certain things his government will not allow.

* “We will not respond to headlines.”

* “We will not be dragged into a dispute between residents.”

* “We will not direct police operations.” (edit: HAH too late boys)

The Liberal government also won’t participate in the next negotiation over the land claims, something McGuinty made clear as the situation escalated last week.

Read the rest of the liberal whining and lying here

Natives, developer hammer out a deal

The developer of a Caledonia subdivision hopes his face-to-face negotiations with Six Nations members protesting his development will pave the way for future agreements up and down the disputed Grand River tract.

John Kragten provided an update to Haldimand council yesterday about the agreement reached with traditional Confederacy leaders late Sunday following meetings over the weekend.

Work on the partially completed Stirling Street site came to an abrupt halt last Thursday after violence erupted between a group of native protesters and home builder Sam Gualtieri. The 52-year-old remains in hospital recovering from facial fractures and head trauma.

Yesterday, Kragten declined to reveal details of his deal with the natives but insisted there was no monetary concession involved.

Instead, he said he had agreed to provide native representatives with his “expertise” on development issues and help build bridges with other developers.

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Ontario Regional Chief Angus Toulouse responds to incident at the Stirling South Development site

TORONTO, Sept. 17 /CNW/ – I am deeply concerned about what occurred at the Stirling South Development site near Caledonia on September 13, 2007. I wish Mr. Gualtieri a full and speedy recovery from the injuries that he suffered as a result of a confrontation with Six Nations individuals. This incident is indeed regrettable and unfortunate. As the Six Nations Hodiyenehso (Confederacy Council) have indicated, the injuries to Mr. Gualtieri were the result of the actions of a few individuals which are not condoned or supported by the Confederacy.

I remain fully supportive of the peaceful actions of the Haudenosaunee Six Nations in their efforts to exercise their rights and to protect their traditional territory.

The issue of unresolved land rights and the lawful obligations of the Government of Canada is a complex one. It cannot be adequately explained in a thirty second sound bite or one editorial. Over the years First Nation land has been stolen through unfulfilled Treaty promises, outright theft and underhanded dealings. The frustration that has accumulated as a result of years upon years of inaction and neglect by the Government of Canada in resolving these legitimate claims runs very deep.

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