Tekawennake News (Six Nations): “No evidence” of McHale association w/white supremacists

Tekawennake
Wednesday, July 14, 2010  

OPINION EDITORIAL 

Healing Two Communities: White Supremacists – Truth or Fiction?

by Doug Fleming, Merlyn Kinrade, Gary McHale and Mark Vandermaas 

[emphasis added] Ed. note. Between June 24-30, 2009 the Tekawenakke published several stories in our on-going coverage of the Caledonia conflict which might lead some readers to believe that members of the CANACE (Canadian Advocates for Charter Equality) organization, which has advocated on behalf of the residents of Caledonia, includes members or associates with Neo-Nazi, KKK or other white supremacist ties. The Tekawennake wishes to clarify that we have no evidence that Doug Fleming, Merlyn Kinrade, Gary McHale or Mark Vandermaas are associated with or sympathizers of such groups, and offer the following Op-Ed as the first in a two-part series giving them the opportunity to communicate their purpose and agenda in their own words. […]

Six Nations paper publishes op-ed series by McHale, Vandermaas et al: ‘Healing Two Communities: White Supremacists – Truth or Fiction?’

July 14/10 - Six Nations newspaper Tekawennake clarification op-ed by Doug Fleming, Merlyn Kinrade, Gary McHale & Mark Vandermaas, Week 1: 'Healing Two Communities: White Supremacists -- Fact or Fiction?' Click to enlarge.

UPDATED July 26/10 — VoiceofCanada is pleased to report that on July 14/10 the Six Nations newspaper Tekawennake printed the first in a two-part op-ed series by Merlyn Kinrade, Gary McHale, Mark Vandermaas, and Doug Fleming entitled, ‘Healing Two Communities.’

• Tekawennake News op-ed series, July 14-21/10: Healing Two Communities [PDF, 7p] (complete series)

Part 1, ‘White Supremacists – Truth or Fiction?,‘ addresses the attempts to falsely paint non-native activists as racist white supremacists and is reprinted below. Part 2, ‘What Now?’ will appear in the Teka next week. It will offer specific suggestions for healing the relationship between Caledonia and Six Nations.  

No evidence McHale, Vandermaas, Kinrade and Fleming are associated with white supremacists  

I would like to thank the Tekawenakke’s publisher for giving us the opportunity to address Six Nations residents directly with respect to these important issues, and for acknowledging that they have no evidence we are associated or sympathize with white supremacist groups. 

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Tekawennake
Wednesday, July 14, 2010  

OPINION EDITORIAL 

Healing Two Communities: White Supremacists – Truth or Fiction?
[complete series PDF, 7p]

by Doug Fleming, Merlyn Kinrade, Gary McHale and Mark Vandermaas 

Ed. note. Between June 24-30, 2009 the Tekawenakke published several stories in our on-going coverage of the Caledonia conflict which might lead some readers to believe that members of the CANACE (Canadian Advocates for Charter Equality) organization, which has advocated on behalf of the residents of Caledonia, includes members or associates with Neo-Nazi, KKK or other white supremacist ties. The Tekawennake wishes to clarify that we have no evidence that Doug Fleming, Merlyn Kinrade, Gary McHale or Mark Vandermaas are associated with or sympathizers of such groups, and offer the following Op-Ed as the first in a two-part series giving them the opportunity to communicate their purpose and agenda in their own words. 

Some supporters of the occupations in Haldimand County have tried to portray Caledonia residents and non-native activists – especially Gary McHale and his supporters – as being racist, anti-native, white supremacists.  In the beginning, it was an effective tactic. After all, which journalist, politician or community leader wants to take the chance of being associated with people who hold racist views?   

Legal notices served re CUPE protest

UPDATE July 27/10: On July 14/10 the Six Nations newspaper Tekawennake published the first of two ‘clarifications’ and an op-ed series which make it clear the paper had NO evidence that Mark Vandermaas (VoC), Gary McHale, Merlyn Kinrade and Doug Fleming were associated with white supremacist groups:

• Tekawennake News op-ed series, July 14-21/10: Healing Two Communities [PDF, 7p] (complete series)

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Last week, a number of notices under the Libel and Slander Act were served on various individuals and media outlets in connection with the June 23/09 CUPE 3903 protest in Cayuga against Doug Fleming’s Caledonia Militia/Peacekeepers concept.

CUPE 3903’s smear campaign

Members of CUPE 3903’s First Nations Solidarity Working Group – which has been involved in Caledonia for 3 years and openly supports the Haudenosaunee Men’s Fire – and their supporters did their best to paint Gary McHale, Doug Fleming and me as white supremacists for speaking out and/or acting on behalf of Caledonia’s victims. 

Media outlets take the bait

Several media outlets published some of the sleazy allegations and/or the statements on signs carried by the protesters without even attempting to verify if the statements were true or not. One media outlet also attacked Merlyn Kinrade’s character. Two other outlets named had previously published disgusting editorial content making fun of Gary McHale’s injuries after he was viciously swarmed and attacked by supporters of an illegal smokeshack in Caledonia on Dec 01/07. Another has already settled a previous action for libel brought by Gary McHale.

Are media ‘scum’? McHale letter to Dunnville Chronicle

UPDATED 1541 EST JULY 09/09

The Dunnville Chronicle, to their great credit, published Gary McHale’s scathing letter to the editor regarding their recent editorial entitled, ‘Craving Attention‘ [REPRINT]. My comment and reference material follows.

JUST EXERCISING OUR RIGHTS

July 08/09 [LINK]

TO THE EDITOR:

In a democratic society there are tens of thousands of groups seeking to get media attention for their cause. I hate to be the one to tell the Chronicle, but modern marketing is all about doing things to get media attention -it is far better than wearing masks and beating the crap out of people.

The media, on the most part, are scum. They are not truly interested in the concerns of people and are only interested in selling ad space. The bloodier the story the more coverage you get. After three years I have seen few media outlets reporting the content of any speeches, airing the footage of any peaceful protests or capturing the meaning of what people are concerned about.

Announce you are marching onto DCE and suddenly media are there to capture whether, in the course of an hour, someone swore or gave the finger -that is what will be aired.

If the Chronicle is upset by the use of the word ‘militia’ because it was used to get media attention then you need to look into a mirror and ask the following questions:

What’s that sharp-looking shiny thing sticking out of your back, Ernie?

UPDATE 2235 EST June 29/09: Regional News Comment by Bill Jackson, June 24/09: Getting both sides of the story. I’ve posted some excerpts related to Ernie and the smokeshack at the end of this post.

OH ERNIE, ERNIE, ERNIE…

Let’s take a fun stroll through the ‘Everything That Goes Around Comes Around Department,’ or, if you prefer, the ‘One Knife in the Back Deserves Another Department” and, if you have time, what about having a look at the ‘When You Lie Down With Dogs You Get Fleas Department.” They’re all good when it comes to this story:

I recently ran a post regarding my opinion that 73 year-old farmer Ernie Palmer was an honourable, law-abiding citizen who was bullied by Steve Powless into allowing a smoke shack onto his private property and then insulting Doug Fleming for announcing the Caledonia Militia after speaking to Ernie. (now called ‘Caledonia Peacekeepers.’)

•  VoC, June 17/09: More BS in Caledonia: Spectator helps smokeshacker spread it thick & wide

Since running that story, Ernie’s been busy trying to paint Powless as a great guy who had coffee with him all the while insulting Caledonia resident Doug Fleming at every opportunity. I was a little puzzled, but I was pretty sure this story wasn’t finished.

At first, I just couldn’t believe that he wasn’t intimidated. After his numerous backstabbing jabs at Doug Fleming, an honourable man who went to speak with him in good faith to try to offer lawfully permitted assistance if it was desired I began to have my doubts.

CUPE 3903 protests in support of organized crime

UPDATE July 27/10: On July 14/10 the Six Nations newspaper Tekawennake published the first of two ‘clarifications’ and an op-ed series which make it clear the paper had NO evidence that Mark Vandermaas (VoC), Gary McHale, Merlyn Kinrade and Doug Fleming were associated with white supremacist groups:

• Tekawennake News op-ed series, July 14-21/10: Healing Two Communities [PDF, 7p] (complete series)

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RELATED:

• June 05/10: ‘CUPE extremists supporting Muslim extremists supporting Native extremists.’
• CUPE and criminals work together
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by Jeff Parkinson

Admittedly when I first heard that Tom Keefer was bringing a bus load of people to protest against the Caledonia Peacekeepers in Cayuga last night, I wasn’t sure what to think. This is a union after all so I anticipated something different from the usual racist, bigoted, ignorant crowd that gathers in small numbers to protest against law & order in Caledonia. Fortunately I’m not afraid to admit it when I’m wrong and I was very wrong.

CUPE and criminals work together against Haldimand victims

UPDATE July 27/10: On July 14/10 the Six Nations newspaper Tekawennake published the first of two ‘clarifications’ and an op-ed series which make it clear the paper had NO evidence that Mark Vandermaas (VoC), Gary McHale, Merlyn Kinrade and Doug Fleming were associated with white supremacist groups:

• Tekawennake News op-ed series, July 14-21/10: Healing Two Communities [PDF, 7p] (complete series)

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RELATED: June 05/10: ‘CUPE extremists supporting Muslim extremists supporting Native extremists.’

Unfortunately, I’m too busy preparing some legal documents today to get up a fully detailed post on the protest against the Caledonia Peacekeepers presentation yesterday in Cayuga where members of various locals from the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) led by protest organizer Tom Keefer made fools of themselves in so many ways.

The left-wing lunatic fringe was definitely out in force yesterday and they didn’t disappoint,  making idiotic, false and defamatory statements that left my mouth hanging open more than once. Best of all, we caught it all on tape.