First Nations Ipperwash Inquiry

After the release of the latest Ipperwash inquiry, First Nations people have taken advantage of the publicity to raise awareness about the poverty, land claims and racism they face.

June 29 will be a national day of action for First Nations and although it's supposed to be peaceful there are rumors of more rail blockades. The province of Ontario in Canada has not committed to returning their land so this is part of the reason more violence is being predicted.

• Native Protester Dudley George did not die in vain and Chief Terrance Nelson and Dudley's brother Sam want to make sure of that. They are simply asking for 109 acres of their land back that they used to occupy. The land in dispute was Ipperwash Provincial Park. The dispute has been going on since 1942 when it was obtained for a military camp called Camp Ipperwash. By 1995 it came to a head by natives occupying their land again and building barricades to protect it.

• A Mohawk protester named Shawn Brant summed it up succinctly: "I think it's about demonstrating the power we have in our backyards. I think it's about saying...we're never going to be disrespected, we're not going to allow for another situation like Dudley George, we're not going to drink poison water without there being consequences."

Dudley George, 38 was shot and killed by police who were shooting at natives who occupied Ipperwash Park. He was killed on September 6th, 1995 but it was just ruled in May of 2007 that the provincial and federal government share responsibility for his death. Sgt. Kenneth Deane was convicted of criminal negligence causing death and later resigned.

Dudley George was one of the leaders protesting the destruction of a sacred burial ground in Ipperwash Park. The former Ontario Premiere Mike Harris allegedly gave the ok for police to take the barricades down by force even though natives say they were unarmed.

Racist remarks were recorded the day before Dudley's death that CBC news obtained. If racist jokes and demeaning comments are accepted and encouraged by some police it makes you wonder how much of that contributed to them feeling it was ok to shoot natives rather than negotiate with them.

For more information see: Ipperwash - A Canadian Tragedy (companion website to documentary about the police killing of Dudley George at Ipperwash, Ontario, south of Grand Bend)

• Join First Nations on their National Day of Action
• Chief Phil Fontaine announcement on YouTube about the National Day of Action "A strong First Nations means a stronger Canada and that's good for all of us." Chief Phil Fontaine (May 16, 2007)

References:

CBC News (Ipperwash Inquiry, May 31 2007)

The Record - KW (Ipperwash report boosts native resolve, Canadian Press, Saturday June 2, 2007)

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