Territory name: AAZHOODENA
Our Story
We Are: The First United Original Peoples.
What: The Homecoming of the Original Peoples of Aazhoodena.
Where: The Original Meeting Place of the Grand Council of the Three Fires.
The Aazhoodena peoples lived in this territory to maintain and protect this
sacred land.
When: Our story spans the 52 years that the Aazhoodena peoples, the original
keepers, have waited for the return of this sacred land.
Why: It is time to end the genocide against our peoples.
Background Statement:
In the year 1942, the Canadian Department of National Defense, (DND), took
Aazhoodena and uprooted the Original Peoples from the land. The peoples of
Aazhoodena were forced to move their homes to nearby Kettle Point reserve,
if they were fortunate enough to acquire land. Many others had to find homes
elsewhere. Because of the lack of basic necessities during the move, six
Aazhoodena members died. The DND assured the Original People that their
land would be returned to them when WWII was over. WWII ended in 1945. The
DND and the Canadian government reneged on their promises and the land was
not returned. The Original Peoples requested many times, through
negotiations with the Canadian government, to have their land back. These
negotiations failed miserably. So, on May 6th, 19993, the Aazhoodena People
returned to their land.
Chronology of Events:
Prior to 1936 Aazhoodena was populated by the Original Peoples.
1936
1,333 acres of Aazhoodena was leased to the military for a period of 10
years or until WWII was over for $ 1.00 and was then to be returned to the
People. This tract of land was later to be the site of the murder of Anthony
O'Brien "Dudley" George. This area is directly adjacent to the existing
Stoney Point . This area is directly adjacent to the existing Stoney Point
Anishinabeg Territory.
1942
An additional 2,242 acres of Aazhoodena was appropriated under the Canadian
War Measures Act, a unilateral act of parliament, that is one-sided in the
favour of the Canadian government.
Since 1936
The People of Aazhoodena thought they had lawyers petitioning against the
government's actions, but in fact the lawyers were all members of the Law
Society of Upper Canada, sworn to uphold the Law of Canada. This same
society wrote the War Measures Act.
1956
Ipperwash Provincial Park was moved from the 1936 leased land to the
appropriated land of 1942, on to a sacred burial ground of the Aazhoodena
People. This land was re-possessed by the Aazhoodena People on September 4,
1995
The Same year 1956, Stoney Point was forcibly amalgamated with Kettle Point
Reserve without the consent or knowledge of the Aazhoodena People. This
transaction was to initiate a later conflict between the two communities.
This conflict still exists today as a result of the forced amalgamation of
the two communities creating dissention and mistrust among the People. The
Department of Indian Affairs is also responsible for creating the Indian Act
which was another unilateral act, designed for the genocide and ethnocide of
the Indigenous Peoples.
1969
Jean Chretien, then Minister of Indian Affairs, wrote a letter requesting
the DND to return the land to the Aazhoodena People; although today, now as
the Prime Minister of Canada he has no knowledge of the situation or
recollection of this letter.
1981
Kettle Point Reserve accepted a 2.4 million dollar payment of the difference
in fair market value in 1942 - plus interest. Throughout this time numerous
rallies, protests and demonstrations were held for the return of these
lands. Many changes were made in governing bodies due to electorial process
and the People had to constantly reinstate their request for the return of
the land with every new government. The Original Peoples continued to
utilize the Sacred land for ceremonial purposes and spiritual replenishing,
even though the military maintained control over these lands and denied them
physical access.
1990
Through perseverance and a true desire to return to this Land, Daniel George
Sr. was the first one home, when he was buried at the Aazhoodena Cemetery.
During the Oka crisis in the summer of 1990, a demonstration was held by the
Lakeside Cedar Peoples in support of the Peoples of Kanesatake reclaiming
their Sacred burial grounds at Oka.
1992
The first traditional wedding ceremony of Shelly Bressette and Miles
Morriseau at Moon Lake for the past 50 years.
1992 Dolphine Parks Burial
1993 Homecoming for the Aazhoodena Peoples.
1995 July 29
Major victory for the Aazhoodena Peoples when they moved the army out of the
territory.
September: Regain control of the Sacred Burial Grounds at formerly known
provincial park.
Earlier on September 4. 95, Ontario, Ministry of Natural Resources (NMR),
removed their concrete blocks to and from the park on Labour day when the
park was closed for the season. A DND employee handed over the keys to the
pump-house with instructions to maintain operations of the water treatment
plant located in the park. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) had an
organized plan with the Aazhoodena People that they would not patrol that
area. The same day the OPP arrived in full riot gear along the perimeters of
Aazhoodena Territory. Intimidation tactics were used by the OPP in an
attempt to provoke confrontation.
September 5, 1995
Police targeted and identified Anthony "Dudley" George.
September 6, 1995, 11:15 pm
Anthony "Dudley" George, 38, murder was premeditated. Dudley was murdered by
an OPP sniper with a shot to the heart, they said that he would be the first
in two small confrontations with the OPP. Family members drove him to
Strathroy, Ontario, hospital and upon arriving at the hospital OPP proceed
to assault and arrest the three (one was a 14 year old who was at the murder
scene) rather than attend to the dying Anthony "Dudley" George. Nick
Cottrelle, 16 years old was shot twice in the back also by OPP officers,
taken to the hospital and released into OPP custody and interrogated for
approximately 6 hours. Nick was later released through negotiations. He is
now recovering at home with his family. An observer, Benard George, a
councillor of the Kettle and Stoney Point was savagely beaten by police
while in custody, taken to hospital and later thrown into solitary
confinement. After being charged with attempted murder, was released. The
OPP announced that numerous charges of attempted murder were being laid on
unarmed First Nations Peoples that they presumed were in attendance. At no
time, were local cottagers asked to leave the area by the Aazhoodena People,
the OPP removed these potential witnesses.
We would like to stress that at no time were the Aazhoodena people armed.
These are families who have moved home to live within their own territory.
The People of Aazhoodena are offering to conduct a joint investigation of
the site and circumstances around the death of Anthony "Dudley" George and
related incidents.
For more information contact:
Indian Association Co-ordinating Committee of Ontario, Inc.
22 College St., 2nd Floor
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Tel: (416) 972-0212
Fax: (416) 972-0217
* Your prayer for a peaceful resolution all go to One Source.
Megwetch, (Thank-You), Glenn M. George, Spokesperson, Aazhoodena (Stoney
Point) Territory.