Fists fly as Native standoff boils over

[Said1]

I was just watching this on the news, getting pretty nasty between the natives and the towns people. It's usually between the natives and OPP/RCMP not the locals.

CALEDONIA -- Tensions sparked by a protest by aboriginal demonstrators erupted into screaming matches, fist fights and destruction yesterday just as a blockade holding a housing development hostage was taken down and then reconstructed hours later.

A hundred riot police were on site late last night as the town declared a state of emergency.

Earlier in the day, Six Nations members had begun dismantling their contentious blockade that had stopped traffic on the town's main road for more than a month as a sign of goodwill. They had planned to reopen the road even though a resolution had not been reached.

While former Ontario premier and provincial negotiator David Peterson believed significant progress had been made in negotiations, he told reporters it was "heartbreaking" to see the sudden turn of events.

"We had very big momentum up until 10 or 11 o'clock this morning and something's happened," Peterson said, referring the reconstruction of the blockade.


"I think we have to appeal to the calmer heads to try to think carefully about the consequence of their actions," he said.

COMMUNITY 'AT STAKE'

"It's the future of the community that's at stake here."

Several hundred Caledonia residents who had amassed near the Native barrier refused to budge yesterday morning, with some trying to march past the embattled housing development onto Native land.

Anger began to rage out of control as a vehicle carrying Natives to the reserve tried to pass. Residents tried to block its path, with one claiming the driver bumped into her as he tried to inch past.

Six Nations spokesman Clyde Powless and a group of Natives approached the scene and he tried to fight his way through the crowd. But he was blocked and a skirmish broke out between the groups.

But that altercation didn't compare to the riot that broke out after the Natives, spurred on by the residents' anger, tore down a hydro tower and used it to barricade the road.

Continued

 

[Diuretic]

Got to hope no-one gets killed at this one.