OPP watch as natives destroy Reconciliation/Apology monument, then burn Canadian flag

UPDATED: Caledonia Victims Project, June 20/11: Caledonia Milestone: DCE occupiers & OPP respsect rights of non-natives during Truth & Reconciliation Rally

UPDATED April 03/11: Video of attack on Reconciliation/Apology monument

Our recent Truth and Reconciliation rally held on Sunday, March 27/11 proves that the OPP still – after five years – will not protect the rights or property of non-natives in Caledonia.

OPP officers watched as the Douglas Creek Estates occupiers swarmed and assaulted us, destroyed and stole our Truth & Reconciliation/Apology monument, and then burnt it along with our Canadian flag. The clearly visible side, partially obscured by the flag, says ‘ONTARIO APOLOGY.’ The side barely visible in the flames, says, ‘EQUALITY FOR ALL.’ The other two sides facing away from the camera say, ‘6N (SIX NATIONS) APOLOGY’ and, ‘OPP APOLOGY.’

Jeff Parkinson releases ‘The Ernie Palmer Story’ on video

Jeff Parkinson interviews Ernie Palmer, October 13, 2010

CANACE co-founder Jeff Parkinson recently spent a day with Ernie Palmer, the Caledonia man upon whose land was situated an illegal smokeshack by Steve ‘Boots’ Powless – the same guy who once threatened to turn Brantford into ‘Caledonia Part Two.’ Jeff has just released an 8-part video series of that interview which is now available on his website.  

Here is an excerpt followed by a link to the article and some key references, including an article about the newly-launched $500M class action suit against the federal & provincial governments over illegal tobacco just announced today at Queen’s Park:  

Video: The Ernie Palmer Story

by Jeff Parkinson  

In my early days with CANACE in late 2006 and early 2007, I was on a very regular basis told stories that saddened and repulsed me. I sat and listened to each and every resident who was willing to share with me what they had endured and over the course of 4 years; I thought I had heard the worst of if not all of them.  

Steve 'Boots' Powless's illegal smokeshack on the property of Ernie Palmer, June 29/09.

One exceptionally disturbing story unfolded in the summer of 2009, and managed to fly under the radar of many including myself. Many of us heard that a smoke shack had gone up at the farm of Caledonia resident Ernie Palmer, but I didn’t know too much about it at the time. We had a particularly busy year, and by the time we slowed down to catch our breath, the shack was gone.  

I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Palmer on October 13 2010 and he generously allowed me to record that meeting. The only things I knew for sure when I arrived were that the facts were largely unclear to me, and that an interview with him would be interesting. The media reports that I had read in 2009 painted him as a collaborator, and the County had charged him with bylaw infractions for hosting the smoke shack.  

Smokeshack arrests follow CANACE warning to Fantino

I haven’t had time to comment on the recent arrests at the illegal smokeshack on Ernie Palmer’s property (photo, R), but I wanted to post links to the story and make sure readers knew that after the OPP were initially repulsed by Steve ‘Boots’ Powless and his thugs, CANACE founder Gary McHale sent a blunt fax to Julian Fantino, Dalton McGuinty, Rick Bartolucci  and the new Haldimand OPP commander John Periversoff warning that if police discretion endangers the public, then it is a criminal offence.

Given our recent success in the Courts with respect to defining Canadian law for private prosecutions, government officials can no longer simply abdicate their responsibilities without facing the possibility of criminal sanctions.

• VoC, July 02/09: McHale v. R., 2009: Gary McHale & CANACE make legal history!
• VoC feature: Caledonia Lawsuits

It is noteworthy, therefore, that the next day a number of arrests were made and some serious charges laid:

• Brantford Expositor, July 09/09: Arrests follow police raid on smoke shack  REPRINT
• Haldimand OPP News Release, July 09/09: OPP EXECUTE ARREST WARRANT
• CANACE letter to Julian Fantino, July 08/09: re: Illegal Smoke Shops
• Simcoe Reformer, July 08/09: Natives rebuff Haldimand OPP  REPRINT

Steve ‘Boot’s Powless threatened City of Brantford

Stevie’s disregard for other human beings was perhaps best demonstrated by his outrageous threats against the City of Brantford back in July 2008:

“They’re going to have one hell of a fight now,” said Steve Powless, who spoke on behalf of the protesters. “This is going to be Caledonia Part 2. They don’t understand what they’re in for.”

Brantford Expositor, July 14/08: ‘They don’t understand what they’re in for,’ native says  [PDF]

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.

More BS in Caledonia: Spectator helps smokeshacker spread it thick & wide

UPDATE 2302 EST June 29/09: What’s that sharp-looking shiny thing sticking our of your back, Ernie?

UPDATE 11:55 EST June 17/09: Doug Fleming was interviewed on CHTV today and pointed out to Lawrence Diskin and Donna Skelly that between the time he spoke with Ernie Palmer and the time he announced the Caledonia Militia, Steve Powless had erected signs to announce his new ‘business.’ Obviously, his claim that he was planning to leave at Ernie’s request, but Doug squirrelled the deal was pure, unadulterated bullshit. Gee, who could have known!
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In my last post I talked about the attempts to ignore the history of victimization of Caledonia by Six Nations and the disgusting attempts by some to portray residents as ‘inbred’ racists and white supremacists in order to discredit Doug Fleming’s decision to form the Caledonia Militia.

Well, residents should be careful where they walk if they want to avoid the latest steaming piles of bull doo doo being shovelled onto the streets of their fair town thanks to the Hamilton Spectator and Steve Powless:

Pile of BS #1: A tale of two Hamilton Spectator stories

Here are links to two PDF versions of Spectator stories about the Caledonia Militia:

• Version 1, June 16/09: Caledonia residents create milita
• Version 2, June 16/09: Caledonia farmer caught between militia, natives

You might be forgiven for thinking these are two different stories with two different titles with two different links, and that Version 2 was a fresh, new story published after the Spec gathered more information.

BULLETIN: Natives build smoke shack on private property in Caledonia

Illegal smoke shack on private property in Caledonia. Click for hi-res image.

UPDATE 2117 EST June 29/09: What’s that sharp-looking shiny thing sticking out of your back, Ernie?

UPDATE 1552 EST June 12/09: A very reliable source spoke with OPP today who say they cannot take action against the native occupiers because they have not received a complaint from the owner of the property.

UPDATED 1245 EST June 12/09

We have received several reports from Caledonia that natives have built an illegal smoke shack on private property belonging to an elderly man who has been threatened with violence if he resists. 

OPP may be aiding the natives by trying to convince the owner to allow the shack to remain instead of enforcing the law against the trespassers.