CALEDONIA
A small quiet city of 10,000 situated on the picturesque Grand River a short drive south from Hamilton.
It's name dates back to the Roman name for Scotland.
It's tranquility though was shattered beginning in late 2005 when the Six Nations Indian Band warned of violence if certain lands in Caledonia were developed as a subdivision.
Violence did soon ensue with one resident of the city so badly beaten he nearly died. Road blocks by the Tribe went up and since then, a general reign of terror has been waged against the populace.
The Province under the stewardship of Dalton McGuinty has taken a hands off approach throughout.
McGuinty also approved the purchase of the contested lands, by the Province, at an inflated value and then more or less ceded those lands over the the Six Nations.
The Indians were rewarded for their lawlessness.
And the hostilities continue.
It is not my intention to use this Blog to incite - there has been enough of that in the local papers of late documenting the terrible suffering of one particular family at the hands of the natives even though their home is situated outside of the disputed boundary.
What I'd rather do is look at this issue from two sides: first from the side of the Premier and then from the side of the Caledonians themselves.
I am not going to consider the concerns of the natives since I strongly believe that they lost the right to our sympathy once they resorted to violence. Plus, for a more thorough look at the native issue, I refer you back to an earlier Blog where I conclude the Reserve System is in need of disbanding.
Okay - The Premier's Position:
- With Ipperwash still fresh in his mind and the death of the native Dudley George, he has rightfully concluded that if he attempts to 'police' the situation in Caledonia - more death will follow.
- Given this, he has placed the natives above the law and has relegated the citizens of Caledonia to second class status.
- Finally, he is counting on the matter remaining a local concern and thereby hopes the rest of the Province will remains uninterested (read apathetic).
The Caledonians:
- The accounts that I have read indicate that the locals feel betrayed by their own provincial government - that they have been left to violent hands without police protection.
- They cannot understand that a country like Canada, which prides itself on respecting the Rule of Law and the promotion of equal rights for all citizens, can stand back and allow this insurrection to occur.
- Residents have been arrested for trying to protect themselves and their property. Some have been injured - some seriously, and many believe that one or more or their numbers will be killed before this is all settled - if it ever gets settled.
My thoughts:
If the Natives are permitted to get away with violence in Calendonia to achieve their aims - as has been the case here, it sends a message to other Tribes across the country that this is the way to go rather than waste their time with slow legal negotiations.
YOU DECIDE:
Okay, you have heard the arguments - now you decide.
Pretend you are the Premier for a day - what would you do?
a) send the police / army in to break-up the rebellion, or...
b) continue to keep a cap on things and avoid any official conflict for the purpose of avoiding more serious injury and most certainly death.
I look forward to your answers which I will publish at a later date.
"Galagher"
