Natives block rail line over HST

June 21, 2010

By Jeff Parkinson

According to Native media,and the Sault Star,members of the Batchewana First Nation in Sault Ste Marie Ontario have blocked the rail line that runs from Sault Ste Marie to Sudbury in protest of the HST today.

Attacking infrastructure like this is something Natives have been threatening to do over the HST for awhile, but the Canadian government caved to their threats last week and announced that they will be exempted beginning September 1^st 2010.

Being given what they want is apparently not good enough for those who are clearly bent on wreaking havoc so they blocked the Northern Ontario line anyway.

According to the Turtle Island News “Batchewana Chief Dean Sayers says there’s no reason the exemption can’t take effect July 1.” Cry us a river over having to pay your share for 2 months you big baby.

The sweetheart deal that Ontario natives got by making threats over the hst is already having a ripple effect as natives in BC are now crying that they want the same deal. Currently only Ontario exempts natives from the pst on off reserve purchases, but since Ontario caved to threats and asked Ottawa to exempt natives here, the idea is spreading to other provinces.

This news comes in the shadow of a “red power” group announcing their intention to shut down the 400 or 403, and the Trans Canada Highway on Thursday June 24 2010 to protest world leaders meeting in Canada for the G20 summit, and just one day after Natives were allowed by the OPP to close down highway 403 at the Lincoln Alexander Parkway in Hamilton to “march peacefully” for 4 hours.

UPDATE: June 23 2010, The blockade has been removed for the time being, so there’s another pathetic attention grabbing stunt in the can. For much more on this story, and lots more whining from Natives about having to very briefly pay the same share as the rest of us, see a Sault Star article here

Also see this CBC story on BC Natives demanding an exemption.

Natives to blockade 403 or 400 during new “day of action”

June 18, 2010

By Jeff Parkinson

Two “red power” protests are being planned for June 24^th 2010 that will (hopefully) finally test the patience of the Canadian government who talks tough but does nothing to stop Native protests which at times have escalated to terrorism.

According to a wide variety of media sources including Native media, a group calling itself red power united intends to blockade highway 403, or highway 400 next week as well as the Trans Canada Highway because they don’t approve of the G20. This same group disapproved of the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver and ultimately their “peaceful” protest turned into a group of anarchists destroying property, and attacking police in the downtown core.

The 403 runs from Woodstock, Ont., to Mississauga, Ont., just west of Toronto, and Highway 400 runs north between Toronto and Barrie, Ont. A blockade of either would tie up thousands of people for no reason at all and since it is apparently designed to force a political agenda, would amount to terrorism.

Natives Occupy Catholic Church in Vancouver, Issue Eviction Notice

The following was forwarded to me and is an excellent example of the dangerous rate at which the arrogance of Natives in Canada is growing as a result of the ongoing lawlessness in Caledonia. Note the use of excessive propaganda designed to mask their abhorent behavior.

Update: March 23rd/08 – I’ve added the label of blog to this article due to the volume and nature of the comments. Thanks for all the feedback 

Squamish Territory (“Vancouver, Canada”)
16 March, 2008

Led by Hereditary Squamish Chief Kiapilano, fifty people occupied Holy Rosary Catholic Church in downtown Vancouver this morning in the midst of a high mass, and issued an Eviction Notice to the Roman Catholic Church.  (See Public Declaration, below)

Top court upholds conviction in ‘right to remain silent’ case

An interesting story that although not directly related to Caledonia demonstrates how the Police can ignore your most basic rights at will in Canada and get away with it.

Canadian Press – November 1st, 2007

The Supreme Court of Canada has upheld the murder conviction of a B.C. man in a case viewed as a test of how police interrogation tactics should square with the charter’s long-protected right to silence.

The court ruled 5-4 Thursday against the appeal from Jagrup Singh, a 31-year-old from Surrey, B.C., of his 2002 conviction for second-degree murder.

The case revolved around the question of whether police breached Singh’s right to remain silent when they persisted in questioning him about a shooting, even though he repeatedly made it clear that he didn’t want to talk.

Under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the accused has the right “not to be compelled to be a witness” against himself in criminal proceedings.

“It is not appropriate to impose a rigid requirement that police refrain from questioning a detainee who states that he or she does not wish to speak to police,” Justice Louise Charron wrote in her majority opinion.

Indian Summer

An interesting take on the situation Canada is facing at the hands of Native Terrorists by Western Standard touching on such people as Jim Prentice, Phil Fontaine, Terry Nelson,  Angus Toulouse, Mike Harris, Dalton McGuinty, John Tory, and even Gary McHale (sort of). 

Also such Terrorists attacks as Oka where Mohawks shot and killed a cop, Ipperwash where they made Dudley George a martyr for being killed during battle with the OPP (yes they said during battle.. kudo’s Western Standard), the pathetic Ipperwhitewash Inquiry,  and Caledonia.

This one is definitely worth a read. Click here or on their interpretive art of how peace for June 29th was negotiated for the full story.

RCMP apologizes for B.C. pepper spray incident

The RCMP has issued a formal apology to a B.C. First Nations community for an incident this week that saw an officer pepper-spray several residents, including children and infants.

Officers and residents struggled after the driver of a pickup truck with several children in the back refused to stop for police.

In a letter to the community, the Sunshine detachment said police had no intention of directly spraying children while trying to control adults as they were making an arrest. police have said the officers were forced to use pepper spray when angry people got too close, adding that a home video shot by the band’s own members proves that.

Read the full story here

B.C. band furious over pepper spray incident

Several aboriginal parents in a town northwest of Vancouver plan to file a complaint with the RCMP after a community celebration ended in pepper spray use and a confrontation with officers. It all happened Monday night in Sechelt, B.C., after the Sechelt band’s two youth teams won first prize at a soccer tournament in Vancouver.

The parents said it is a community tradition to celebrate with a grand entrance by honking horns. RCMP Const. Annie Linteau said Tuesday police saw 10 youths standing in the back of a pickup truck, and tried to stop the vehicle.

She said when the driver finally stopped, he approached the officers in a hostile manner. In addition, a crowd of 50 to 75 people quickly became confrontational.

“Here they are dealing with a combative suspect who is yet to be handcuffed, yet to be in a controlled environment like the police car,” Linteau said. “Meanwhile they have a crowd obstructing them in their duties and becoming combative themselves.”

Shannon Phillips said she was carrying her baby and tried to intervene on behalf of her husband, Troy Myers, who was the driver of the pickup truck.

“They pepper sprayed him and when I went to say, ‘What are you doing?’ they turned around and pepper sprayed me and Kaden — quite a few times, actually.”

Calvin Craigan, a former chief with the Sechelt band, told CBC Radio Tuesday that band members are “going to have a session with the RCMP” and demand an explanation.

EDIT: NOW.. Before we start reacting to the fact that some people got pepper sprayed here, be sure to read the full story and the many many comments on this incident from Canadian citizens and an RCMP officer.

One sample comment from a witness:

“(The child’s) parents made a decision to bring those kids there and I have to say the people who got pepper-sprayed, including the mother of that particular child, was exhibiting a very confrontational pulling of the (police) member, pushing of the members,” she said. “This is considered a combative behaviour.”

Read the full story and all of the comments here

National chief statement on potential illegal protests on June 29

OTTAWA, June 27 – I am aware of public statements in recent days about intentions to disrupt traffic during the National Day of Action in support of First Nations on June 29.

While these comments have been widely reported they are isolated comments and do not reflect the position of the Assembly of First Nations, or the many First Nations across the country, who have organized peaceful and positive events that are inclusive of all Canadians.

We respectfully urge Canadians not to criminalize First Nations people with respect to the actions they plan to take on June 29 and beyond.

(edit: Phil asks that you don’t fight back against Terrorism.. The same Phil Fontaine who Shawn Brant says told him to do this)

Read the full story here

National day of protest draws near

Like in a 1950s western movie, Canadians are holding their collective breath in anticipation of native protests scheduled to be held nationwide on June 29th. Canada’s so-called “First Nations” are planning the day of protest to draw attention to unresolved land claims, poverty on native reservations and a plethora of other issues native leaders and their advocates are claiming to be in a crisis mode.

Terrance Nelson, Chief of the Roseau River reserve near Winnipeg has vowed to block rail lines and disrupt the movement of goods and people across Canada. Nelson believes that the only way to get action is to force multinational corporations to force the Government of Canada to resolve the natives’ issues and the only way to achieve this goal is through the disruption of business.

That could well be the case. But, there is another possibility, one that maybe Canada’s first aggrieved hadn’t thought of. The whole thing might backfire, as many Canadians, particularly those who are struggling to make ends meet, just might say, “enough is enough”. If you’re the average Canadian family paying 45% of your entire income in taxes to keep this rickshaw we call Canada running, the last thing you want to hear is how poorly people who are not obligated to pay any taxes are being treated.

Not wishing to minimize the plight of aboriginals who languish in poverty on distant reservations, it is important to point out that Canadian taxpayers are coughing up somewhere in the neighbourhood of $8,000 for every aboriginal man, woman and child living in Canada today. In addition those with native status are entitled to a wealth of other benefits that include free college/university education, free prescription coverage, economic opportunities in the form of Indian-owned casino gaming venues, etc., etc. Clearly, something is amiss, but I can’t believe that that something has to do with Canadians not doing enough for aboriginal people.

Another novel thought is to hold natives to the same standard to which the rest of Canada’s citizens are being held and force natives to obey the laws.

Read the full story here

Beware of Oka-style conflict at golf course, natives warn

A prominent B.C. native leader warned yesterday that conflict over the fate of the University of British Columbia golf course – set to be ceded to the Musqueam band as part of talks with the province – could lead to an Oka-style conflict.

At the same time, two supporters of Premier Gordon Campbell who have gathered hundreds of names on a petition to express their concerns, urged him off giving up the golf course, suggesting that the Liberal government has to put any plan up for public scrutiny before signing off on it.

“When people are at the point when they feel they have to protect their natural resources, the frustration is such that those things can always happen.”

Read the full story here

Federal government comes to terms on five native land claims

The federal government has settled five specific B.C. first nation land claims worth a total of $7 million, Federal Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice announced Monday

The two largest settlements are with Skeechestn Band near Kamloops, which receives $4.8 million from Ottawa for failure by the Department of Indian Affairs to enforce a land improvement project by a private developer, and a railway trespass on its reserve.

Other settlements are with the first nations Oregon Jack Creek, southwest of Cache Creek, Osoyoos in the Okanagan, and Mamalilikulla Que Qwa Sotem on Vancouver Island.

Read the full story here

‘Degrading’ B.C. murals removed

Contentious, historic murals in B.C. Legislature coming down as show of respect for First Nations

VICTORIA–To the two Texan tourists, the murals were pretty pictures, of a history not their own, painted from a time long ago.

But when Paul and Jamie Trahan looked more closely at the four murals that encircle the grand rotunda in the B.C. Legislature, the nakedness popped out at them, as did the subtler message of the artwork.

“They make the natives look like slaves,” said the Austin resident.in Texas and throughout the U.S., paintings or murals of African Americans as slaves would be taken down because the history is still too fresh for many.

After a decade of controversy, that’s what the B.C. government is doing with the murals, which were commissioned as a gift to the province and depict four scenes from colonial history. The paintings are supposed to represent courage, enterprise, labour and justice and depict native men and women, bare-chested and working or watching as clothed colonial men sign documents or supervise.

Read the full story here

How You can become part of Caledonia Wakeup Call

In my last editorial I talked about how I came to be a part of Caledonia Wakeup Call. With the threat to our Country growing each day and the government making no effort to stop this Terrorism, it’s going to be up to us the citizens of Canada to take back control by sending a loud clear message to those who are supposed to represent us that we will NOT stand for this.

The closer we get to June 29^th, the more people are taking an interest in what’s happening as this isn’t about a little town in Haldimand County anymore. The truth is that it never was for the criminals who are behind this, and as more towns become victims, more residents will want to get involved. If you’re a Canadian you should want to be involved because this is a direct attack on your way of life!

Not everyone is able to dedicate the majority of their time to this fight, and understandably many don’t want the risks that some of us have taken, so I’m going to tell you right now how you can personally make a real difference in this fight with just a little time and effort. If you have any of the following you have the power to help us change the system.

1. A camcorder and if possible the ability to upload video to your computer.
2. A simple camera digital or otherwise
3. A pair of eyes, and ears.

Native groups plan peaceful protests – for the most part

Brantford Expositor

Canada’s native leaders are walking a fine line as they plan for a national day of protest on June 29. They hope to be dramatic enough to draw attention to poverty on reserves, stalled land claims and other issues, yet most insist they aren’t thinking blockades or confrontation. “We don’t want to cause a major disruption in the lives of Canadians, but at the same time, we also want to make sure they understand that this is a crisis,” Phil Fontaine, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said in an interview this week from Ottawa.Shawn Brant, a Mohawk protester from the Bay of Quinte First Nation who led a 30-hour rail blockade in April near Deseronto, Ont., said a group is planning an action within a “framework of economic disruption,” but were co-ordinating with other communities as to which infrastructure would be targeted.“We have our plans made, and it’s really just contingent on circumstances that come up within the course of the next seven or eight days …,” Brant said.“We’re not going to close a highway that’s already closed or a train line that’s already closed. If that’s done, then we’re going to adjust ourselves accordingly. We want to be the most effective that we can be,” Brant said. (Edit: How very peaceful)

Read the full story here

Fontaine warns possible lawbreakers

OTTAWA — Flanked by some of the top police officers in the country, Phil Fontaine issued a clear warning yesterday to aboriginal protesters plotting a wide range of mischief in the coming days.

The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations said anyone who breaks the law in protesting against native poverty should expect to run afoul of police. But he also urged police not to clamp down on those protesting peacefully as part of a long-scheduled day of action June 29.

“Freedom of expression and freedom of association are constitutional rights, and people have a right to demonstrate, to protest,” Mr. Fontaine said. “And if they so wish to engage in civil disobedience, they can, as long as they’re prepared to accept the consequences.” (EDIT: Easy to say when they all know there are NO concequences)

Commissioner Fantino said “Our issue is to diffuse, to create a peaceful environment and, yes, enforce the law and all of that, but it isn’t at all cost.” (Edit: No Julian. The cost isn’t to you or your officers, it’s to us the residents of Ontario who you fail to protect)

Read the full story here