Update on the Aazhoodenaang Enjibaajig, the Stoney Point people.
by Tariq Hassan Gordon
Anti-Colonial Action Alliance
In memory of Dudley George, the Stoney Point First Nation held the 1st
Annual Traditional Gathering on September 6. It was one year ago that the
Ontario Provincial Police opened fire on members of the Stoney Point First
Nation during a peaceful occupation of Ipperwash Provincial Park. When the
OPP pulled out of the park, many people had been beaten, one person had
been shot and wou nded and Dudley George was fatally injured by a bullet
to the chest.
After a 10 month investigation the Special Investigations Unit released
its report in August on the shooting death of Dudley George. Out of that
report, OPP officer Kenneth Dean was charged with criminal negligence
causing death. Dean was second-in-command of the Tactics and Rescue Unit
operation at Ipperwash Provincial Park.
The officer's first court appearance was on August 13th, 1996 at the
Sarnia Provincial Court House, th e same court room that 26 Stoney Point
people are facing over 30 charges relating to the occupation of the park.
During the court appearance the Ontario Foundation of Individual Rights
and Equality [ON-FIRE] held a rally to have the charge against the OPP
officer dropped.
ON-FIRE Linked to the Mackenzie Institute
At the rally, members of ON-FIRE were passing out The Ipperwash Protests-
An Unfinished Drama, a briefing note produced by the Mackenzie Institute.
The Mackenzie Institute for the Study of Terrorism, Revolution and
Propaganda is a right wing think tank founded in 1986. The Institute is
linked to the Northern Foundation, the Centre for Conflict Studies, the
North American Region World Anti-Communist League, Citizens for Foreign
Aid Reform and many other far right organizations as well as the Reform
Party and the Canadian Armed Forces. John C. Thompson, the author of the
briefing note has also written briefing notes on the Mohawk Warrior
Society and the Oka Crisis.
In the Legacy of Oka, published by the Mackenzie Institute, it was
suggested that the Army's involvement at Oka gave the Warrior Society a
moral victory in the eyes of the public. It was then recomended that the
Canadian state hire, equip and train police forces with the idea of using
them as a counterinsurgency force to be used for any future confrontations
with First Nations. These heavily-armed police forces would be used
quickly, with no time taken for "prolonged negotiations" (Mackenzie
Institute Exposed 1995).
The role and actions of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police during the
standoff at Gustafsen Lake and the Ontario Provincial Police at Ipperwash
Provincial Park last summer suggests that the recommendations of the
Mackenzie Institute have been read by members of the government.
The direct link between the current president of ON-FIRE, Rick Shultz
(also a member of the West Ipperwash Property Association) and the
Mackenzie Institute clearly illustrates the right wing agenda of ON-FIRE.
Rick Shultz is quoted extensively by John C. Thompson and described as
`the self-restrained leader of ON-FIRE, and a leading light of West
Ipperwash.'
Dudley George Memorial Fund Closed
Unfortunately the actions of ON-FIRE are not the only opposition that the
people of Stoney Point are currently facing. The Toronto Dominion Bank
unilaterally closed the Dudley George Memorial Fund. Harry Verburg, the
Bluewater Regional Manager for the Toronto Dominion Bank stated in a
letter of correspondence to Marcia Simon, treasurer of the Fund, that the
bank did not agree to have the TD Bank `being a reference point' for
donations.
The bank has been pressured by members of the Kettle & Stony Point band
council to close the account. Kettle & Stony Point is funding a public
relations officer to coopt and counter the public support for the
recognition of Stoney Point First Nation, reserve # 43. According to
Marcia Simon, there are "two First Nation communities with one band
council administration." This was an externally imposed situation after
the federal government appropriated the unceeded territory of Stoney Point
in 1942 under to War Measures Act and relocated some of the Stoney Point
families to swamp land on the Kettle Point reserve (others became refugees
across Ontario).
The federal government only recognizes the Kettle and Stony Point band
council. They will not negotiate with the people living on Stoney Point
territory. The Federal government is manipulating the divisions of the two
communities and using the Kettle and Stony Point band council to undermine
the position of the Stoney Point people and fight a proxy public relations
war.
The Stoney Point people need urgent support for their struggle for
self-determination. The trial date for the 26 Stoney Point members has
been set for two weeks beginning October 21, 1996 in Sarnia; they are
in critical need of funds for their legal expenses. In Canada send
donation to: "Stoney Point Legal Fund" c/o The Canadian Alliance in
Solidarity with Native Peoples 39 Spadina Rd. Toronto, ON M5R 2S9 (416)
972-1573 fax (416) 972-6232 income tax receipts will be issued
In the United States
"Stoney Point Legal Fund"
c/o Indian World
1732221 Telegraph S. 207
Detroit, MI
48219-3143
(313) 535-9728
Fax (313) 535-7822
income tax receipts will be issued
For More Information Contact:
Marcia Simon
RR #2, Forest, ON
N0N 1J0
(519) 786-4052
Fax: (519) 786-6642
Anti-Colonial Action Alliance
Box 25, 197 Hunter St. W.
Peterborough, ON
K9G 2L1
email: thassan@trentu.ca