This unidentified local resident, who ripped a Six Nations flag off a car, was charged with criminal damage and resisting arrest on Monday, Sept. 1, 2008.
Tempers flare after two Caledonia road blockades
Updated Mon. Sep. 1 2008 6:52 PM ET
ctvtoronto.ca
Tensions heated up in Caledonia, Ont., after native and local protesters set up two separate road blockades Monday.
Insp. Dave Ross, from the OPP Corporate Communications Bureau, told CTVToronto.ca that the native blockade began around 10 a.m. Monday morning.
The blockade may have been sparked by reports of native arrests in Branford, Ont., which were false.
"There were a relatively small number of protesters and the OPP has subsequently detoured traffic from Argyle Street and Highway 6," Ross said.
Local residents responded by setting up their own road blockade shortly afterwards.
Tempers flared as residents shouted insults, yelling, 'Get out of here,' toward the First Nations protesters.
One local resident ripped a Six Nations flag off a car and was charged with criminal damage and resisting arrest.
The native blockade was pulled back around noon and the local blockade was finally taken down around 5:30 p.m.
The detours affected local traffic but the OPP was encouraging the public to be patient.
In the past, Caledonia has been host to violent clashes between First Nations protesters and local residents over disputed land rights.
Despite the single arrest, this round of protests has been peaceful.
"We are encouraging residents to be patient when met with delays," Ross said. "We do appreciate these are complicated matters and it is our role to preserve the peace."
With a report from CTV's Tom Hayes and files from The Canadian Press
http://www.cjad.com/news/14/781816
Ontario's top cop calls for end to blockades in Caledonia, Ont.
September 1, 2008 - 18:42
THE CANADIAN PRESS
CALEDONIA, Ont, - Labour Day was a day of blockades in this divided southern Ontario community as aboriginals and residents both brought traffic to a halt.
The aboriginal protest began Monday morning - reports said in response to the arrest of a number of Six Nations youth in Brantford, Ont.
That blockade was taken down within a few hours, provincial police said.
However, residents of Caledonia began their own protest on a main street in the town, leading provincial police Commissioner Julian Fantino to call for them to re-open the road.
"We are now in dialogue with a group of local citizens protesting on Argyle Street in Caledonia," Fantino said in a release. "I am calling on all persons to act in a respectful manner and to build upon the relationships that have been developed within the communities."
A national news agency reported that the residents ended their protest by early evening.
Fantino stressed that the blockades were unlawful.
"Our priority is to preserve the peace and maintain order, not to resolve land claims issues," he added.
Tensions between Six Nations and Caledonia residents have been high since aboriginal protesters occupied a housing development.
The occupation of Douglas Creek Estates more than two years ago has sparked several blockades and led to arrests of both aboriginal and resident protesters.
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