Mark Vandermaas interviewed by CBC re Tom Keefer march in Caledonia

Not long ago I finished a short, but great radio interview w/CBC radio (French) out of Toronto who wanted my perspective on today’s march through Caledonia as the founder of the Caledonia Victims Project.

 

They were given material by the organizers of today’s takeover of the streets of Caledonia by Tom Keefer and his anti-capitalist allies that left the impression today’s march was about ‘commemmorating’ the occupation, but I talked about the flyer delivered to Haldimand homes in which they make it clear that the purpose was not about commemoration, but because Gary McHale & company (of which I am proud to be one) decided to walk down a county road through DCE, and how they are using the circumstances of a mentally disturbed person who tried to commit suicide by driving his car into the house on DCE.

 

I told him that it doesn’t matter whether they’re commemorating the beginning of a reign of terror against innocent people or reacting to non-native people who dared to walk down a county road, their goal is to legitimize the use of violence against innocent people as a political tool, by denying the humanity of their victims by pretending they don’t exist, by blaming the victims for the violence against them, and by attacking those who speak out for them. I said this was the essence of a supremacist ideology and, as the son of parents who lived under Nazi occupation, I found it disgusting and despicable.

 

I made clear that the victims also include native people; I mentioned the two rapes of native women on DCE, and that as a former soldier/peacekeeper I have a duty to speak for them too.

 

Caledonia milestone: Occupiers & OPP respect non-native right to place Truth & Reconciliation monument at entrance to DCE

“I believe the greatest reason the OPP both acknowledged our Charter Rights and then protected them this past Sunday was because we have maintained a clear message of Equality under the Law for all people, that the Rule of Law demands all people obey the Law and that we have remained peaceful even in difficult situations.” – Gary McHale

Something changed in Caledonia yesterday. In a way never before seen in the history of the Caledonia crisis both the OPP and the occupiers of the Douglas Creek Estates displayed great respect for the rights of non-natives at yesterday’s CANACE/Caledonia Victims Project Truth & Reconciliation Rally yesterday, and that respect resulted in us being able to place our symbolic Apology/Reconciliation monument on the paved entrance to DCE while we made some short speeches and answered questions from the media.

The contrast between the conduct of the OPP and the occupiers yesterday compared to our Feb 27th and March 27th attempts to place our monument couldn’t have been more stark. During those attempts the OPP stood by as occupiers bumped, assaulted, and screamed insults at us from inches away, and falsely accused us of assault. During the March rally officers watched as our monument was stolen from us by occupiers, destroyed and then burnt with our Canadian flag. Yesterday’s event, however, was nothing short of remarkable.

‘Violence Against Aboriginal Women’ author agrees w/Six Nations Councillor Helen Miller re futility of blaming colonization & residential schools

Since initially publishing Six Nations Councillor Helen Miller: ‘Stop blaming colonization & residential schools‘ VoiceofCanada has been made aware of an excellent article about violence against native women by a woman – whom I have met personally – with a 30-year connection to aboriginal communities and, as she says, “great respect for the indigenous way of life.”

She wrote to tell me  how pleased she was to have read Helen Miller’s observations about the futility of constantly blaming colonization and residential schools since she had written nearly identical words in her own article – before having read Miller’s letter.

Violence Against Aboriginal Women

CounterPoise.ca, May 27, 2011

On March 25, 2011, the Canadian House of Commons all-party Standing Committee on the Status of Women tabled Interim Report: Call Into the Night: An Overview of Violence Against Aboriginal Women (the final report should be ready by the fall of 2011).  Hedy Fry (Liberal, B.C.) is the chair of this committee, and Irene Mathyssen (NDP, Ontario) and Tilly O’Neill-Gordon (Conservative, New Brunswick) are the vice-chairs.  The committee traversed the country between April 2010 and February 2011, meeting with reserve, rural and urban stakeholders.  More than 150 witnesses provided testimony.  In her press release regarding the interim report, Fry said the problem was getting worse.

Gary McHale to Six Nations: Beware what you teach your children

SEE ALSO: Six Nations Councillor Helen Miller: ‘Stop blaming colonization and residential schools’

Beware What You Teach Your Children

by Gary McHale   [PDF]
Regional News (Caledonia), June 08, 2011  

For five years the youth on Six Nations have watched their leadership, their parents and so-called community protectors illegally occupy sub-divisions throughout Haldimand and Brant County. They have listened to the wisdom of their chiefs who have repeatedly supported criminal behaviour as the means to resolving issues. Now that these youth have learned their lessons well, they have decided to follow in the same footsteps and resolve their issues using illegal behaviour by occupying the old Police Station on Six Nations. 

So far this illegal occupation has resulted in zero police officers being hospitalized, no Six Nations residents have been attacked, no tire fires, no burning of people’s private properties, no roads have been dug up, no disruption of any public services and yet, suddenly, several people on Six Nations believe it is wrong, disrespectful, counter-productive and unhelpful for such tactics to be used. 

Six Nations Councillor Helen Miller: ‘Stop blaming colonization & residential schools’

SEE ALSO: Gary McHale to Six Nations: Beware what you teach your children

“It’s no wonder so many of our youth seem lost, without direction and guidance, and are choosing the wrong road. Look at the examples they have to follow.” Six Nations Councillor Helen Miller, May 25/11

UPDATED June 11/11 — In the wake of the lawless takeover of the former Six Nations police station by youths Councillor Helen Miller has written a letter to the Turtle Island News in which she itemizes a brutally honest shopping list of reserve dysfunctionality and provides a shockingly fresh solution:

• repeated vandalism of the Veterans’ hall.
• Men’s Fire telling people provincial laws don’t apply, and that Six Nations Police have no authority, which promotes lawlessness.
• People paying kids to steal cars and sell drugs.
• Cigarette shops, some of which are fronts for drug dealers.
• ATV drivers & Poker Run organizers refuse to respect farmers’ properties and crops.
• People stealing reserve land, including the Glebe Lands.
• Domestic violence is rampant.
• Women and girls are being sexually assaulted.
• Too many kids being raised by single parents because fathers refuse responsibility or mothers deny access.
• Increased violence at sports games with racism on both sides.
• More suicides among kids in last few years than in 10 years.
• Kids being bullied at school, but no zero-tolerance policy adopted.
• Drug addictions are plaguing the community, not just youth, but moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas, aunts and uncles. Several babies born addicted to drugs, or born w/Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
• Elected council fighting with confederacy council with Mohawk Workers refusing to work with either council.

Youth barricade of ‘reclaimed’ Six Nations police station represents teaching opportunity for elders

UPDATED — A group of youths on Six Nations have barricaded and ‘reclaimed’ the old police station on the reserve, lit a ‘sacred’ fire, and are demanding that Council turn over the keys so they can use it as a ‘youth centre.’    

Chief Bill Montour is refusing to do so because he says, “the building has health, structural and safety issues that have to be fixed.”    

• Brantford Expositor, May 28/11: Kids can’t have old station: Chief
• see also: Brantford Expositor, undated (updated June 01/11): New police station reason to celebrate on Six Nations

One of the police station barricaders,  a young woman named Ojistaryo, is quoted as responding to the chief’s refusal: 

“Band council doesn’t have any proof of their claims.”     

• Brantford Expositor, undated (last updated June 02/11): Young people urged to get behind effort

Not the first occupation on Six Nations    

On page 245 of her book Helpless: Caledonia’s Nightmare of Fear And Anarchy, And How The Law Failed Us All, Christie Blatchfords recounts reading a front page story in the Jan 13/10 issue of the Turtle Island News about how a group of Six Nations residents stopped construction of the new police station:    

“Dominating the front page was a story about a group led by Dick Hill that had recently stopped the construction of a new Six Nations police station. Since Dick Hill stopping development was by then a classic of dog-bites-man, I cannot resist the impulse to ask how on earth this qualified as news”    

• Christie Blatchford, Helpless, p245 

Irony of Six Nations occupation not lost on neighbours weary of native intimidation    

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.’

Haldimand Tract land claim myth should provide sober second thought re aboriginal sovereignty negotiations with anarchist proxies

Since sending my notes about last Sunday’s Truth & Reconciliation Rally (Feb 27/11) to Natasha at MooseandSquirrel.ca who did an outstanding job in getting them up when I was so pressed for time, a great thing happened after she posted Sunday’s notes under the title, ‘Caledonia: The front line struggle against the anti-capitalist, anarchist, Marxist agenda‘ (link below).

BULLETIN: MPPs Barrett & Hillier to join CANACE, Caledonia Victims Project at Queen’s Park news conference

Co-founders of Canadian Advocates for Charter Equality (CANACE) Gary McHale and Caledonia resident Merlyn Kinrade, and Caledonia Victims Project founder Mark Vandermaas will be joined by Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett and fellow MPP Randy Hillier (Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox) at a news conference in the Queen’s Park Media Studio tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 pm.

The purpose of the event is to provide journalists with information about our upcoming ‘Truth and Reconciliation Rally’ which will be held this coming Sunday, Feb 27th at 1pm. (link to news release below)

We are very pleased that Mr. Barrett and Mr. Hillier have agreed to participate in this news conference to show their support in furthering the cause of healing for Caledonia and Six Nations residents. 

MPP Toby Barrett – there from the beginning

Mr. Barrett was one of the original speakers at Gary McHale’s inaugural March for Freedom on Oct 15/06, and so it is very fitting that he should take part in announcing this, the next stage towards resolution now that Christie Blatchford has finally recorded the ugly, undeniable history of Caledonia’s victims: the encouragement of those responsible to apologize so both Caledonia and Six Nations can begin a meaningful healing and reconciliation process that is based on truth, justice and respect for all human beings.

His devastatingly concise ‘Haldimand Proclamation for Peace, Order and Good Government‘ of February 11, 2008 surely must rank as one of the most shocking and historically-important documents ever written by a Canadian politician:

• VoiceofCanada feature: The Barrett Proclamation

Barrett has previously made the Media Studio available to us on three other important occasions: 

• Dec 04/07: Illegal Smokeshacks (Doug Fleming’s campaign vs. Illegal smokes and violence by 6N vs. non-natives, Dec 01/07) 
• March 14/07: The Ipperwash Papers (release of 400 pages of docs proving Inquiry did not study violence vs. Ipperwash residents)
• April 17/07: FantinoGate (OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino threatens Haldimand Council via email)

PC Leader Tim Hudak – a voice of reason when it counted

We should also note that, at a time when Ontario government ministers, including the Premier, were urging people not to march with Gary McHale in 2006 because they would be putting their lives “in danger,” current PC Leader Tim Hudak was the only voice of reason: 

“…Conservative Tim Hudak said the government is ignoring the situation and needs to end the ongoing occupation. The rally shows town residents have had enough, he said. “People are not only angry, they’re damn angry,” Hudak said. “It’s an incredible double standard. On the one hand, the premier is against this rally but it’s carte blanche for the occupiers on the occupied site.” The province shouldn’t continue negotiating with Six Nations as long as the protesters remain on the site, Hudak said. “There is no reason for that occupation to continue,” he said.

• VoiceofCanada, Oct 12/06: Ontario MPP Tim Hudak – a leader emerges to tell the truth about Caledonia and the March for Freedom
• VoiceofCanada, Oct 12/06: Mr. Ramsay – why would my life be in danger in Caledonia?

ANNOUNCEMENT: Representative from International Free Press Society to speak in Caledonia

We are pleased to announce that Mary Lou Ambrogio, Vice President of the Canadian chapter of the International Free Press Society – founded by Lars Hedegaard of Denmark to act as advocates for those whose freedom of expression is under attack – will be a guest speaker at our Truth & Reconciliation Rally on Feb 27th.

UofW pseudo-leftists create “surge” in HELPLESS sales publisher reports

Nazi swastika drawn on home of a Caledonia resident during the night.

Despite the shameful assault on freedom of speech and academic freedom represented by the character assassination, and intimidation that resulted in the cancellation of Christie Blatchford’s speech at the the University of Waterloo on Nov 12/10, the controversy has achieved several positive results.

Not only has it generated a storm of counter-criticism in mainstream media and blogs highlighting universities as being the front line in the battle to preserve free speech, it has – happily – dramatically boosted sales of Blatchford’s book.

Our friends at Doubleday Canada say that thanks to the Waterloo protest and the publicity it has generated they’ve had another surge of demand for the book which made it necessary to order a reprint of Helpless.

Comment by Mark Vandermaas

All who have supported our four-year long quest to expose and oppose racial policing in Caledonia owe an ironic, yet distasteful, debt of gratitude to the radicals and anarchists who have now helped to ensure that even more people will read Helpless and understand the despicable conduct of those whose lawlessness they supported, and the dangers these self-appointed censors pose to the Charter of Rights.

Sam Gualtieri - suffered permanent brain damage after being assaulted by native protesters Sept 13/07 during illegal occupation while in a home he was building for his daughter. Click image to read his family's tragic statement of claim in Superior Court.

It should be no surprise that those who support and/or actively worked to enable the native extremists who terrorized Caledonia do not want the victims they helped create to have a voice, and then vilify those of us who have been willing to speak for them. As I noted in my presentation at the 2010 New Directions in Aboriginal Policy forum:

The words ‘heartless’ and ‘cruel’ seem inadequate to describe the irony of a situation wherein an organized group from one race of people terrorized others with racial slurs, fire, violence, vandalism, and property seizures and then tormented their victims with false accusations of being white supremacists.

As the son of parents who lived in Nazi-occupied Holland I am offended to the very core of my being by the blaming of innocent victims for racially-motivated crimes committed against them.

• Mark Vandermaas presentation to 2010 New Directions in Aboriginal Policy forum, May 05/10: Listening to Victims: A Fresh Approach to Healing and Reconciliation [PDF, 21p, 8.5MB]

Part 2 of Six Nation’s Tekawennake op-ed series by McHale, Vandermaas et al: ‘Healing Two Communities: What Now?’

July 21/10 - Six Nations newspaper Tekawennake op-ed series by Doug Fleming, Merlyn Kinrade, Gary McHale & Mark Vandermaas: 'Healing Two Communities, Part 2: What Now?' Click to enlarge.

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?,‘ addressed the attempts to falsely paint non-native activists as racist white supremacists. Part 2, ‘What Now?’ appeared in the Teka on July 21/10 and is republished below. It offers specific suggestions for healing the relationship between Caledonia and Six Nations:

—————————–

Tekawennake
Wednesday, July 21, 2010

OPINION EDITORIAL

Healing Two Communities: What Now?
[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.

From the very beginning we have never believed that those who committed acts of lawlessness in Caledonia represented Six Nations or aboriginal people as a whole. That belief was reinforced by Councillor Helen Miller’s letter of July 14/09 in which she stated that “the majority of Six Nations people who I’ve spoken to are fed up with the protests, fed up with these groups of people and individuals claiming to speak for them and fed up with the smoke shops on Highway 6. So people who fear another Caledonia can put their fears to rest.” This was confirmed when Council voted to revoke the negotiations lead from the Confederacy to go in a ‘new direction.’

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. 

———————————  

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?   

Gary McHale to appear on Michael Coren Show

UPDATE June 02/10: Gary McHale’s appearance went very well. He was only allotted a half hour instead of the hour expected because Coren wanted to devote time to the Israel/Gaza situation. He did promise to have McHale on again in the future. Video now available:

• Michael Coren Show video, June 01/10: Gary McHale interview [CWUC download LINK, 30 mins, 47MB]
• JeffParkinson.ca, June 02/10: Video: McHale on the Michael Coren Show (3-10 minute segments)

——————————–

UPDATED May 31/10 — Gary McHale will appear on the Michael Coren show on Tuesday, June 01/10.

Coren had originally scheduled McHale for just a half-hour session, but after reviewing some of the documentation provided, he decided to devote the entire show to McHale and Caledonia.

My understanding is that one of the key topics to be discussed is the targeting of McHale for criminal charges by the OPP despite the lack of evidence. This will, of course, lead to a very interesting discussion about the racial policing practices used against Haldimand County residents.

The show will be aired Tuesday night at 6pm on CTS TV and again on Wednesday at 12:30 pm.

• CTS (Crossroads Television System) TV: Michael Coren Show
• Michael Coren.com : The Michael Coren Show

Tuning in across Canada

Gary McHale has sent out an email to his supporters – which live all across Canada – with this update:

The Michael Coren Show is on CTS Television – cable 19 with Mountain Cable, Cable 36 or 17 for Cogeco, cable 9 on Rogers in Toronto, ExpressVu – 651/Star Choice – 355/Look – 19.

For a full list of stations throughout Canada that will be airing the Michael Coren Show please see: http://www.ctstv.com/ontario/tuningin.php

According to Coren’s website, his show has 250,000 viewers each night.

2010 ‘New Directions in Aboriginal Policy’ forum hears Caledonia’s pain

UPDATED May 12/10 — Gary McHale and I have returned from Calgary. The ‘New Directions in Aboriginal Policy’ forum at Mount Royal University was a fabulous success at many levels thanks to great speakers, important networking, the fact that Caledonia’s voice was heard loudly and clearly, and especially because the university stood firm against those trying to infringe on academic freedom.