(The Canadian Press circulated the following story by Sue Bailey on June 29.)
DESERONTO — Mohawk protesters, who say they have guns and won’t back down, began preparations to block the main CN line and Hwy. 401 near this eastern Ontario town late yesterday, despite widespread calls that an aboriginal day of action be peaceful.
Via Rail suspended today’s passenger train service in the highly travelled Montreal-Toronto and Ottawa-Toronto corridor on the first day of one of the busiest holiday weekends of the summer.
Men, women and children in army-style fatigues, their hair braided back or shaved in traditional Mohawk style, began arriving at a makeshift camp outside the town west of Kingston, Ont. just after 5 p.m.
There were reports that dozens of provincial police cruisers had massed in the nearby city of Napanee.
Organizer Shawn Brant, a 43-year-old militant Mohawk who has done jail time for trashing politicians’ offices, is the lone voice calling for militancy on what others had hoped would be a day devoted to education about native issues.
Brant said he will lead blockades of one or both of the main traffic and rail corridors between Toronto and Montreal starting at midnight last night, or before.
He wouldn’t disclose the actual sites but confirmed that he and others were prepared to “meet force with force” if police got in their way.
‘EQUAL RESISTANCE’
“We’ve made no secret that we have guns within this camp,” he told CP in an interview.
“It’s our intent to go out and ensure a safe day. Unfortunately, previous incidents have shown that aggressive tactics by the police need to be met with equal resistance.”
Brant was referring to the 1995 death of Dudley George when Ontario Provincial Police tried to force native demonstrators from Ipperwash Provincial Park.
“Most certainly, they shouldn’t challenge us or question our resolve.”
The southern Ontario town of Caledonia was also on high alert as a 16-month occupation of a former housing development site continued.
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said he had spoken to the province’s aboriginal leaders, and everyone had agreed the day should go ahead “without incident.”
In the Maritimes, members of the Mi’kmaq Nation threatened a blockade of the Nova Scotia-New Brunswick boundary on Hwy. 104.
Via plans to offer a full refund and waive any fees for customers. Full service is anticipated to resume on the routes tomorrow.
“While we recognize the impact this may have on individual travel plans, the decision was taken after careful consideration of the uncertainty of the situation and the potential risks involved in attempting to operate under such unpredictable conditions,” Via spokesman Steve Del Bosco said in a statement.
“Via’s priority is to ensure the safety and comfort of all passengers and crew.”