The late American composer Oscar Levant once cynically quipped that a politician is someone who will “double-cross that bridge when he comes to it.” Which brings us, of course, to Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and his shameless reaction to the final report of the Ipperwash Inquiry by commissioner Sidney Linden, a retired judge.
Even Linden hardly covers himself in glory with his blatant advocacy of the view that the Native protesters who occupied a provincial park in 1995 carry no shared responsibility whatsoever for the tragic events leading to the death of protester Dudley George at the hands of an OPP sniper.
Read the full story here
Showing posts with label Dudley George. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dudley George. Show all posts
Friday, June 8, 2007
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
The Strength of a woman - Mary Lou Lapratte, Ipperwash hero
If there is a hero to be found in the Ipperwash story, it is a remarkable woman by the name of Mary-Lou LaPratte. She lived through it all: crime and intimidation from natives over an invalid land claim against her home and those of her fellow residents; an eventual Supreme Court victory; threats; a home invasion; an assault; ongoing OPP refusal to enforce the law; DND failure to enforce the law; abandonment by the OPP when they fled Ipperwash to save themselves after the death of Dudley George, and psychological trauma so acute during the events of September 1995 that her hair fell out in chunks.
Despite the unbelievable stress and intimidation that caused most Ipperwash residents to suffer unbearable outrages in silence, Mary-Lou refused to be bullied. She spoke out, again and again, on behalf of her fellow citizens who were too afraid to speak for themselves.
Read the full story here Much more at www.voiceofcanada.ca
Despite the unbelievable stress and intimidation that caused most Ipperwash residents to suffer unbearable outrages in silence, Mary-Lou refused to be bullied. She spoke out, again and again, on behalf of her fellow citizens who were too afraid to speak for themselves.
Read the full story here Much more at www.voiceofcanada.ca
Don’t break the law
Letter to Editor - London Free Press: June 4, 2007
I have another recommendation for the Ipperwash report. “Don’t break the law.”
That is exactly what Dudley George and others decided to do. Dudley George’s actions and moral choices got him to where he is now.
Read the full story here
I have another recommendation for the Ipperwash report. “Don’t break the law.”
That is exactly what Dudley George and others decided to do. Dudley George’s actions and moral choices got him to where he is now.
Read the full story here
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Aboriginal leaders say Ipperwash Report will encourage planned day of protest
Aboriginal leaders across the country say the release of the Ipperwash report has cemented their resolve to use a diverse array of methods (Edit: Terrorism) this summer to raise awareness about outstanding land claims, racism and poverty faced by First Nations communities.
Chief Terrance Nelson of the Roseau River First Nation, south of Winnipeg, has threatened a lengthy blockade of CN rail lines unless the federal government moves to resolve some 800 outstanding land claims by June 29. He says the Ipperwash inquiry report justifies extreme action such as rail blockades as the only tenable way to draw attention to aboriginal grievances. “There is certainly cause for First Nations to see that the only way to get the white man to do anything is simply to take direct action, and unfortunately that’s the reality that the First Nations face.”
Shawn Brant, a Mohawk protester from the Bay of Quinte First Nation who led a 30-hour rail blockade near Deseronto, Ont., last month, agreed that direct action is the only way aboriginal people can make their voices heard, and he hopes the death of Dudley George will motivate people to “express their anger” during the planned day of protest. (Edit: Notice how yet again, they’re using Dudley George as an excuse to commit Terrorist acts)
“I think it’s about demonstrating the power we have in our backyards. I think it’s about saying … we’re never going to be disrespected, we’re not going to allow for another situation like Dudley George, we’re not going to drink poison water without there being consequences,” said Brant.
Brant says there’s little governments can do at this point to prevent what he called “something that maybe people couldn’t even imagine.”
“Unless the government can get the chequebook out and run around really quick and try and put fires out, then yeah, it’s going to be not only a day or a week of discontent, it’s going to be a summer and it’s going to be a fall and it’s going to continue until these issues are resolved once and for all,” he said.
Read the full story here
Chief Terrance Nelson of the Roseau River First Nation, south of Winnipeg, has threatened a lengthy blockade of CN rail lines unless the federal government moves to resolve some 800 outstanding land claims by June 29. He says the Ipperwash inquiry report justifies extreme action such as rail blockades as the only tenable way to draw attention to aboriginal grievances. “There is certainly cause for First Nations to see that the only way to get the white man to do anything is simply to take direct action, and unfortunately that’s the reality that the First Nations face.”
Shawn Brant, a Mohawk protester from the Bay of Quinte First Nation who led a 30-hour rail blockade near Deseronto, Ont., last month, agreed that direct action is the only way aboriginal people can make their voices heard, and he hopes the death of Dudley George will motivate people to “express their anger” during the planned day of protest. (Edit: Notice how yet again, they’re using Dudley George as an excuse to commit Terrorist acts)
“I think it’s about demonstrating the power we have in our backyards. I think it’s about saying … we’re never going to be disrespected, we’re not going to allow for another situation like Dudley George, we’re not going to drink poison water without there being consequences,” said Brant.
Brant says there’s little governments can do at this point to prevent what he called “something that maybe people couldn’t even imagine.”
“Unless the government can get the chequebook out and run around really quick and try and put fires out, then yeah, it’s going to be not only a day or a week of discontent, it’s going to be a summer and it’s going to be a fall and it’s going to continue until these issues are resolved once and for all,” he said.
Read the full story here
Intelligencer: Provincial apology nice, but not enough
An apology for the events leading to the death of Dudley George is a start, but there is a long way to go toward soothing relations between First Nations and the provincial government, says the chief of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte (MBQ).
The apology from the province that accompanied Thursday’s results of the Ipperwash inquiry is a step in the right direction, said Chief R. Donald Maracle. But the hurt still runs deep.“Obviously it won’t restore Dudley George’s life, or the unjust loss of land,” he said. “But I think the issue was investigated properly and hopefully now a healing process has begun.”
(Edit: Click here for some of how “proper” this investigation was)
At a Deseronto-area quarry, where a group of Mohawk protesters have been living since March, the inquest results affirmed what they already believed, said Shawn Brant, who has served as a spokesman for the group.
Read the full story here
The apology from the province that accompanied Thursday’s results of the Ipperwash inquiry is a step in the right direction, said Chief R. Donald Maracle. But the hurt still runs deep.“Obviously it won’t restore Dudley George’s life, or the unjust loss of land,” he said. “But I think the issue was investigated properly and hopefully now a healing process has begun.”
(Edit: Click here for some of how “proper” this investigation was)
At a Deseronto-area quarry, where a group of Mohawk protesters have been living since March, the inquest results affirmed what they already believed, said Shawn Brant, who has served as a spokesman for the group.
Read the full story here
Saturday, June 2, 2007
The IpperWhiteWash Inquiry
The official release of the government Ipperwash inquiry has had it’s designed effect. The Mainstream media fell for it and misinformed the public once again with excerpts from this politically correct, entirely slanted, one sided, useless, pre determined, tax payer funded, $25 Million report which kissed the arse of Terrorist Dudley George and bashed the OPP and Harris government for trying to uphold the law in 1995.
Their final conclusion? The events at Ipperwash were entirely the fault of everyone but the Native Terrorists who illegally occupied a Military base, and a Provincial Park. That in cases of Terrorism or any criminal activity that happen to be committed by Natives, law and order should be instantly abandoned and condemned so that Canada can be more “sensitive to Aboriginal needs”.
Every effort was made to exclude any actual resident of Ipperwash from testifying, and special care was taken to ensure that the man who witnessed Dudley George with a rifle in his hands just weeks before his death, and later witnessed Natives raking the ground and pulling things out of tree’s and the fence around the area he was shot was not allowed to testify. We can’t have something like the truth getting in the way of the political agenda behind this report after all.
Dalton McGuinty launched this bogus inquiry with the result pre determined so that it will now look like his Government made the right choice in refusing to deal with Caledonia. Notice that not one recommendation was made on how to help the citizens of Caledonia, Deseronto, Hagersville, or even Ipperwash?
The basic recommendation for dealing with Native Terrorism is to politely request that they don’t attack us and then hide under your desk if they do. If you happen to live in a town that’s taken over by these maniacs, your government simply doesn’t care what happens to you.
We should all feel good tonight knowing that the taxes paid by everyone who ever reads this article will never cover the cost of this “inquiry”.
McGuinty who had nothing to do with Ipperwash called the family of Dudley George personally to apologize to them on behalf of all of us.
Now as the 2007 Summer of Terrorism progresses McGuinty has this report to fall back on each time he fails to act, and each time the OPP stands by and watches while innocent people are savagely attacked by merciless thugs who just happen to be Native. It wouldn’t be sensitive to Aboriginal needs to enforce the law and protect Canadians you see.
Perhaps the most dangerous precedent in Canadian history has now been set. We must never defend ourselves or expect our government or police force to protect us in the event of a Native occupation. Terrorism is perfectly acceptable so long as it is committed by Natives, and not only will we not act to stop them, we will spend millions to condemn anyone who tries to stand up for law and order.
As Canada stands at the crossroads deciding which path to choose, McGuinty is desperately trying to give us all a kick in the pants down the path that leads to the absolute destruction of everything we thought we knew. At what point will you decide you’ve been kicked around enough and say NO more? We all have voices. It’s high time we start using them.
Jeff Parkinson
Caledonia Wakeup Call
Jeff@CaledoniaWakeupCall.com
Their final conclusion? The events at Ipperwash were entirely the fault of everyone but the Native Terrorists who illegally occupied a Military base, and a Provincial Park. That in cases of Terrorism or any criminal activity that happen to be committed by Natives, law and order should be instantly abandoned and condemned so that Canada can be more “sensitive to Aboriginal needs”.
Every effort was made to exclude any actual resident of Ipperwash from testifying, and special care was taken to ensure that the man who witnessed Dudley George with a rifle in his hands just weeks before his death, and later witnessed Natives raking the ground and pulling things out of tree’s and the fence around the area he was shot was not allowed to testify. We can’t have something like the truth getting in the way of the political agenda behind this report after all.
Dalton McGuinty launched this bogus inquiry with the result pre determined so that it will now look like his Government made the right choice in refusing to deal with Caledonia. Notice that not one recommendation was made on how to help the citizens of Caledonia, Deseronto, Hagersville, or even Ipperwash?
The basic recommendation for dealing with Native Terrorism is to politely request that they don’t attack us and then hide under your desk if they do. If you happen to live in a town that’s taken over by these maniacs, your government simply doesn’t care what happens to you.
We should all feel good tonight knowing that the taxes paid by everyone who ever reads this article will never cover the cost of this “inquiry”.
McGuinty who had nothing to do with Ipperwash called the family of Dudley George personally to apologize to them on behalf of all of us.
Now as the 2007 Summer of Terrorism progresses McGuinty has this report to fall back on each time he fails to act, and each time the OPP stands by and watches while innocent people are savagely attacked by merciless thugs who just happen to be Native. It wouldn’t be sensitive to Aboriginal needs to enforce the law and protect Canadians you see.
Perhaps the most dangerous precedent in Canadian history has now been set. We must never defend ourselves or expect our government or police force to protect us in the event of a Native occupation. Terrorism is perfectly acceptable so long as it is committed by Natives, and not only will we not act to stop them, we will spend millions to condemn anyone who tries to stand up for law and order.
As Canada stands at the crossroads deciding which path to choose, McGuinty is desperately trying to give us all a kick in the pants down the path that leads to the absolute destruction of everything we thought we knew. At what point will you decide you’ve been kicked around enough and say NO more? We all have voices. It’s high time we start using them.
Jeff Parkinson
Caledonia Wakeup Call
Jeff@CaledoniaWakeupCall.com
Friday, June 1, 2007
News Release: Ipperwash Papers Investigator calls inquiry “Shameful Cover-up”
Joint Media Release –
VoiceofCanada and CaledoniaWakeUpCall
June 01, 2007
According to the lead investigator for The Ipperwash Papers project, the Ipperwash Inquiry is a shameful cover-up that deliberately ignored a campaign of native crime and intimidation against Ipperwash residents that began in earnest in 1992 following the submission of a little known land claim against the homes of West Ipperwash Beach residents by the Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point.
The Ipperwash Inquiry did not call a single full time resident to testify about the trauma they experienced at the hands of natives before, during and after the events of September 1995.
During the course of an inquiry that lasted three years, a mere 90 minutes was allotted for residents to address the Commissioner in a townhall meeting that took place on the evening of June 21, 2006. Vandermaas alleges that the minutes of that meeting were “sanitized” to downplay residents’ statements in a way that strongly suggests that the Inquiry’s conclusions were pre-determined. He says that the Inquiry’s minutes of this ‘Community Consultation’ differed so dramatically from a reporter’s account of the meeting that he felt compelled to verify that she was, indeed, writing about the same event.
At least one high ranking Inquiry official had personal knowledge of how Ipperwash residents’ were suffering at the hands of native criminals, but that knowledge was never made public or used to help give residents a voice at the Inquiry.
the Ipperwash Inquiry also ‘overlooked’ a letter from the township that blamed Mr. George’s death and the “terrorizing of a municipality” on the failure to enforce the law against natives. This letter, along with hundreds of other victim impact statements written by area residents, was submitted to a federally-appointed representative in 1996.
Thirty-two of these victim impact statements form an important and poignant part of The Ipperwash Papers. They, too, were ‘overlooked’ by the Ipperwash Inquiry.
“The Ipperwash Inquiry deliberately chose to ignore the issue of native violence and the role it, and the failure of the OPP and DND to enforce the law, played in the death of Dudley George. Dudley George may have died from a police bullet,” Vandermaas says, “but it was the failure to enforce the law against native criminals in the years prior to his death that loaded the rifle.”
Read this full Must Read article here
Much more at http://www.caledoniawakeupcall.com/ & www.voiceofcanada.ca
Read the Ipperwash Papers, the True story of Ipperwash Here
VoiceofCanada and CaledoniaWakeUpCall
June 01, 2007
According to the lead investigator for The Ipperwash Papers project, the Ipperwash Inquiry is a shameful cover-up that deliberately ignored a campaign of native crime and intimidation against Ipperwash residents that began in earnest in 1992 following the submission of a little known land claim against the homes of West Ipperwash Beach residents by the Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point.
The Ipperwash Inquiry did not call a single full time resident to testify about the trauma they experienced at the hands of natives before, during and after the events of September 1995.
During the course of an inquiry that lasted three years, a mere 90 minutes was allotted for residents to address the Commissioner in a townhall meeting that took place on the evening of June 21, 2006. Vandermaas alleges that the minutes of that meeting were “sanitized” to downplay residents’ statements in a way that strongly suggests that the Inquiry’s conclusions were pre-determined. He says that the Inquiry’s minutes of this ‘Community Consultation’ differed so dramatically from a reporter’s account of the meeting that he felt compelled to verify that she was, indeed, writing about the same event.
At least one high ranking Inquiry official had personal knowledge of how Ipperwash residents’ were suffering at the hands of native criminals, but that knowledge was never made public or used to help give residents a voice at the Inquiry.
the Ipperwash Inquiry also ‘overlooked’ a letter from the township that blamed Mr. George’s death and the “terrorizing of a municipality” on the failure to enforce the law against natives. This letter, along with hundreds of other victim impact statements written by area residents, was submitted to a federally-appointed representative in 1996.
Thirty-two of these victim impact statements form an important and poignant part of The Ipperwash Papers. They, too, were ‘overlooked’ by the Ipperwash Inquiry.
“The Ipperwash Inquiry deliberately chose to ignore the issue of native violence and the role it, and the failure of the OPP and DND to enforce the law, played in the death of Dudley George. Dudley George may have died from a police bullet,” Vandermaas says, “but it was the failure to enforce the law against native criminals in the years prior to his death that loaded the rifle.”
Read this full Must Read article here
Much more at http://www.caledoniawakeupcall.com/ & www.voiceofcanada.ca
Read the Ipperwash Papers, the True story of Ipperwash Here
McGuinty apologizes
Premier Dalton McGuinty formally apologized on behalf of all Ontarians yesterday for the shooting of native protester Dudley George.
“Nothing can change the events that took place 12 summers ago or fully erase the scar that has been left on the history of aboriginal relationships for all who live here,” McGuinty said in the legislature. “On behalf of the people of Ontario, we apologize for the events that led to the loss of life. We deeply regret the death of Dudley George.”
NDP Leader Howard Hampton said McGuinty’s “rhe-toric” ignored conflicts with First Nations communities that continue under his watch.
(Edit: McGuinty will apologize to the family of a Terrorist without hesitation, but still no apology to the residents of Caledonia whom he has made a point of allowing to suffer endlessly for over 15 months now)
Read the full story here
“Nothing can change the events that took place 12 summers ago or fully erase the scar that has been left on the history of aboriginal relationships for all who live here,” McGuinty said in the legislature. “On behalf of the people of Ontario, we apologize for the events that led to the loss of life. We deeply regret the death of Dudley George.”
NDP Leader Howard Hampton said McGuinty’s “rhe-toric” ignored conflicts with First Nations communities that continue under his watch.
(Edit: McGuinty will apologize to the family of a Terrorist without hesitation, but still no apology to the residents of Caledonia whom he has made a point of allowing to suffer endlessly for over 15 months now)
Read the full story here
Report: Settle land claims
Former Ontario Premier Mike Harris misled the provincial legislature when he denied telling a high-level meeting of police and government officials that “I want the fucking Indians out of the park” hours before the massive confrontation late at night on Sept. 6, 1995, when Native activist Anthony (Dudley) George was shot dead by an OPP sniper, a provincial inquiry has found.
But Harris did not interfere or give inappropriate directions to the police during the massive police operation, Mr. Justice Sidney Linden ruled in his report.
He praised the OPP for improving communications with First Nations people since 1995, but also slammed the force for never correcting the false press releases it issued on Ipperwash that (Edit: ALLEGEDLY) incorrectly stated that Natives fired at police.
Among other recommendations;
- “The ministry of community safety and correctional services should issue a directive to all police services in Ontario, including the OPP, requiring police officers to report incidents of racism or other culturally insensitive behaviour by other officers to their superiors.”
- “The provincial government should establish a permanent, independent, and impartial agency to facilitate and oversee the settling of land and treaty claims inOntario.”
- “The provincial government should work with First Nations and Aboriginal organizations to develop policies that acknowledge the uniqueness of Aboriginal burial and heritage sites, ensure that First Nations are aware of decisions affecting Aboriginal burial and heritage sites, and promote First Nations participation in decision-making.”
(Edit: Let’s quit sugar coating this nonsnese and call it what it is. The recommendation goes as follows: APPEASEMENT APPEASEMENT APPEASEMENT APPEASEMENT)
Read the full story here Much more at www.caledoniawakeupcall.com
But Harris did not interfere or give inappropriate directions to the police during the massive police operation, Mr. Justice Sidney Linden ruled in his report.
He praised the OPP for improving communications with First Nations people since 1995, but also slammed the force for never correcting the false press releases it issued on Ipperwash that (Edit: ALLEGEDLY) incorrectly stated that Natives fired at police.
Among other recommendations;
- “The ministry of community safety and correctional services should issue a directive to all police services in Ontario, including the OPP, requiring police officers to report incidents of racism or other culturally insensitive behaviour by other officers to their superiors.”
- “The provincial government should establish a permanent, independent, and impartial agency to facilitate and oversee the settling of land and treaty claims inOntario.”
- “The provincial government should work with First Nations and Aboriginal organizations to develop policies that acknowledge the uniqueness of Aboriginal burial and heritage sites, ensure that First Nations are aware of decisions affecting Aboriginal burial and heritage sites, and promote First Nations participation in decision-making.”
(Edit: Let’s quit sugar coating this nonsnese and call it what it is. The recommendation goes as follows: APPEASEMENT APPEASEMENT APPEASEMENT APPEASEMENT)
Read the full story here Much more at www.caledoniawakeupcall.com
Sun - Lessons learned from Ipperwash
The federal government’s unwillingness to settle aboriginal land claims, the impatience of the Conservative Ontario government and the cultural insensitivity of the provincial police all contributed to the shooting death of aboriginal protester Dudley George in Ipperwash Provincial Park 12 years ago, an exhaustive public inquiry concluded Thursday.
“The federal government, the provincial government, and the OPP must all assume some responsibility for decisions or failures that increased the risk of violence and make a tragic confrontation more likely.”
“After carefully assessing the evidence, it is my view that Michael Harris made the statement ‘I want the fucking Indians out of the park’,”Linden wrote. “I agree with Premier Harris’s characterization of the statement … as racist.”
(Edit: That statement had NOTHING to do with the facts, and was ruled by even this slanted pre determined whitewash report to have had no impact on the events at Ipperwash)
Harris’s lawyer Peter Downard said the most important finding from Thursday’s report is that Harris did not interfere in the police response at Ipperwash.
“It’s easy to try to stretch things, to make it look as bad as possible for (Harris),” said Downard.“ But there is no evidence to suggest that the premier had any responsibility for Mr. George’s death.”
Read the full story here
“The federal government, the provincial government, and the OPP must all assume some responsibility for decisions or failures that increased the risk of violence and make a tragic confrontation more likely.”
“After carefully assessing the evidence, it is my view that Michael Harris made the statement ‘I want the fucking Indians out of the park’,”Linden wrote. “I agree with Premier Harris’s characterization of the statement … as racist.”
(Edit: That statement had NOTHING to do with the facts, and was ruled by even this slanted pre determined whitewash report to have had no impact on the events at Ipperwash)
Harris’s lawyer Peter Downard said the most important finding from Thursday’s report is that Harris did not interfere in the police response at Ipperwash.
“It’s easy to try to stretch things, to make it look as bad as possible for (Harris),” said Downard.“ But there is no evidence to suggest that the premier had any responsibility for Mr. George’s death.”
Read the full story here
Multiple failures at Ipperwash: Inquiry reports
After years of examining the 1995 death of native protester Dudley George at an Ontario provincial park, commissioner Sidney Linden laid blame on Thursday for the fatal shooting on the police and governments.
(Edit: All blame was kept squarely away from the Terrorists who seized the base, terrorized the town, and were seizing a Provincial Park when George was shot)
And, as Ontario’s aboriginal affairs minister offered apologies, the commissioner in charge of the Ipperwash Inquiry said: “the most urgent priority is for the federal government to return” the land to local native bands “immediately.”
In Ottawa federal Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice pledged to fulfill Linden’s recommendation.
Read the full story here
(Edit: All blame was kept squarely away from the Terrorists who seized the base, terrorized the town, and were seizing a Provincial Park when George was shot)
And, as Ontario’s aboriginal affairs minister offered apologies, the commissioner in charge of the Ipperwash Inquiry said: “the most urgent priority is for the federal government to return” the land to local native bands “immediately.”
In Ottawa federal Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice pledged to fulfill Linden’s recommendation.
Read the full story here
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