Anger and Racism: The Caledonia Experience
I am finding it difficult to write about what is happening in Caledonia and the outer area of that region. Why? Because it makes me angry, sad and fearful for my native brother's and sister's. I have, in the past, always been proud of Canada. For it's diversity and acceptance of all that are different.
I almost burst wide open with that pride, a few years ago on Canada Day. I was sitting at the beaches by a playground with my sons. As I watched them run and play I started to take notice of the diversity in that playground alone. There were black and white and native and brown people. There was a lesbian couple with three smiling children in tow. There was a gay male couple with their brand new baby girl in a pram. Not old enough to run around yet, but smiling at the wonders of the other children and that beautiful day. Everyone was smiling and happy and just enjoying those moments. No one took notice of the differences there. We were all just families. As I watched this scene I could not help but smile and think that God was smiling too.
My how things have changed from that day. As I have begun to pay more attention too and research Native issues in Canada, I have become disillusioned by Canada's "liberalism". I fear it really doesn't exist and that long ago Canada Day was an aberration.
The natives in the Caledonia area started their protest for a cause that they feel is legitimate. I tend to agree with them. The town people, for a large part, do not seem to understand the significance of the land claim or the ramifications to the native community when something that is theirs is stolen and sold. To put it in the simplest terms for them would be to say "How would you feel if you rented out your basement to a boarder. Then you come home from work one day to find out that the border sold your house and land."
The reserve that natives were forced on to many many years ago is not a large area, considering the population within it. As that population grows, the reserve becomes more restrictive. So not only has the land been stolen, but now there is quickly becoming no room in the inn.Then the OPP decided to try to forcibly remove the native protestors. Which, in the beginning, were mostly female elders. The OPP peppered sprayed and "took down" numerous natives. The force used was not printed in the papers. The fact that a woman, holding a child, was peppered sprayed and taken to the ground...that wasn't publicisized. Why?? Because then the media would have to admit that law enforcement and the government don't always do the right thing. And that perhaps the natives are not as bad as they are sometimes portrayed. Having still the fresh memories of Ipperwash and Dudley George’s murder on their minds, more natives came to lend solidarity and protection. The barricades went up. They went up as a form of protection. The natives don't want to be shot. They don't want to die at the hands of some trigger happy man in a OPP uniform. A man that will later have a commemorative shirt, pin and coffee cup in hand, for his efforts.
The town's people don't see it as protection. They see it as a personal affront to them and a blockade to their freedom of movement in their daily lives. Which began to make them angry. In that anger, arose the racist feelings that are still stirring now that the barricades have come down. They began to gather. They had a "town meetin' " and demanded the "damn natives" be dealt with. They marched from the meetin' to the barricades (all that was missing was the ropes and burning torches) and there they hurdled insults at the natives. One town youth even held a sign that read "Do not feed the animals"!! What in hell are his parents teaching him, that he would treat other human beings that way??? "WAGON BURNER" "GET OFF OUR LAND" "DAMN INDIANS"......there are more vulgar things that were said. But I will not repeat them as I refuse to perpetuate their negativity.
Days later, as a show of good faith to the on going negotiations, the natives began to take down the main barricade. This being the barricade that has made the town people so angry. And what, pray tell, did the town's people do instead of getting on with life? They threw up a barricade of their own and began to hurdle those same awful and racist insults. The native response? Up goes that barricade, because now they have to protect themselves no only from the OPP but from the community neighboring them. After all they can't expect the OPP to protect them. History has shown that they would rather use force against them, or shoot them.
A day or two later, both barricades came down. There was relief and hopes that things would now settle down. It is quieter now, but the anger and racism is alive and well and indeed thriving. But now it is being directed at and taught to the children. Intramural teams of town people are forfeiting games to the natives. This is most prominent with the baseball leagues. The coaches are being forced to forfeit games as the parents of non-native children are refusing to allow their children to play against the native kids. The coaches are unable to field teams because of this. The parents are sighting "concern for safety". Safety from native 5 and 6 year olds that just want to play the game?? Come on people. Do you think we are stupid??
Ahhh I've ranted enough for today....I will continue tomorrow, I fear if I do not stop right now I will spend the rest of the day angry and frustrated.....
I almost burst wide open with that pride, a few years ago on Canada Day. I was sitting at the beaches by a playground with my sons. As I watched them run and play I started to take notice of the diversity in that playground alone. There were black and white and native and brown people. There was a lesbian couple with three smiling children in tow. There was a gay male couple with their brand new baby girl in a pram. Not old enough to run around yet, but smiling at the wonders of the other children and that beautiful day. Everyone was smiling and happy and just enjoying those moments. No one took notice of the differences there. We were all just families. As I watched this scene I could not help but smile and think that God was smiling too.
My how things have changed from that day. As I have begun to pay more attention too and research Native issues in Canada, I have become disillusioned by Canada's "liberalism". I fear it really doesn't exist and that long ago Canada Day was an aberration.
The natives in the Caledonia area started their protest for a cause that they feel is legitimate. I tend to agree with them. The town people, for a large part, do not seem to understand the significance of the land claim or the ramifications to the native community when something that is theirs is stolen and sold. To put it in the simplest terms for them would be to say "How would you feel if you rented out your basement to a boarder. Then you come home from work one day to find out that the border sold your house and land."
The reserve that natives were forced on to many many years ago is not a large area, considering the population within it. As that population grows, the reserve becomes more restrictive. So not only has the land been stolen, but now there is quickly becoming no room in the inn.Then the OPP decided to try to forcibly remove the native protestors. Which, in the beginning, were mostly female elders. The OPP peppered sprayed and "took down" numerous natives. The force used was not printed in the papers. The fact that a woman, holding a child, was peppered sprayed and taken to the ground...that wasn't publicisized. Why?? Because then the media would have to admit that law enforcement and the government don't always do the right thing. And that perhaps the natives are not as bad as they are sometimes portrayed. Having still the fresh memories of Ipperwash and Dudley George’s murder on their minds, more natives came to lend solidarity and protection. The barricades went up. They went up as a form of protection. The natives don't want to be shot. They don't want to die at the hands of some trigger happy man in a OPP uniform. A man that will later have a commemorative shirt, pin and coffee cup in hand, for his efforts.
The town's people don't see it as protection. They see it as a personal affront to them and a blockade to their freedom of movement in their daily lives. Which began to make them angry. In that anger, arose the racist feelings that are still stirring now that the barricades have come down. They began to gather. They had a "town meetin' " and demanded the "damn natives" be dealt with. They marched from the meetin' to the barricades (all that was missing was the ropes and burning torches) and there they hurdled insults at the natives. One town youth even held a sign that read "Do not feed the animals"!! What in hell are his parents teaching him, that he would treat other human beings that way??? "WAGON BURNER" "GET OFF OUR LAND" "DAMN INDIANS"......there are more vulgar things that were said. But I will not repeat them as I refuse to perpetuate their negativity.
Days later, as a show of good faith to the on going negotiations, the natives began to take down the main barricade. This being the barricade that has made the town people so angry. And what, pray tell, did the town's people do instead of getting on with life? They threw up a barricade of their own and began to hurdle those same awful and racist insults. The native response? Up goes that barricade, because now they have to protect themselves no only from the OPP but from the community neighboring them. After all they can't expect the OPP to protect them. History has shown that they would rather use force against them, or shoot them.
A day or two later, both barricades came down. There was relief and hopes that things would now settle down. It is quieter now, but the anger and racism is alive and well and indeed thriving. But now it is being directed at and taught to the children. Intramural teams of town people are forfeiting games to the natives. This is most prominent with the baseball leagues. The coaches are being forced to forfeit games as the parents of non-native children are refusing to allow their children to play against the native kids. The coaches are unable to field teams because of this. The parents are sighting "concern for safety". Safety from native 5 and 6 year olds that just want to play the game?? Come on people. Do you think we are stupid??
Ahhh I've ranted enough for today....I will continue tomorrow, I fear if I do not stop right now I will spend the rest of the day angry and frustrated.....
posted by Kari at 7:40 AM
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