Aug. 10, 2006: Bud Talkinghorn -- Caledonia

Caledonia and the rule of law

There are a lot of laws that I don't agree with, but will respect nevertheless. Judge Marshall of Ontario ruled that the native barricades in Caledonia must come down. The OPP made an initial attempt to do so, but were rebuffed by the native "warriors". Thus a stalemate ensued. The non-native townspeople are infuriated that this continues, the OPP see another Ipperwash scenario looming and the provincial politicians are cowering. The chief Ontario negotiator, David Peterson, was interviewed on CBC about the judge's decision. Peterson thought the judge's ruling was "counter-productive". While Peterson admitted that his negotiations were going "slowly", (an understatement, that) he held out hope for a resolution conducive to all parties. The weasel words "sensitive" and "fragile" peppered his rationale for ignoring the judge's previous ruling to end the barricades.

What Peterson was really saying is that the writ of Canadian law can be ignored by natives. He fears another Ipperwash or Oka situation, if police do their duty. Meanwhile the citizens of Caledonia are incensed that the cops and politicians have been foot-dragging for months, while they suffer. I lay the blame for this judicial paralysis at the feet of woolly-thinking Liberals and their cheerleading NDP sympathizers. They were the ones that came up with this "First Nations" appelation nonsense. An appelation which the liberals meant as a feel good gesture; nevertheless one which the aborigines took literally--well not enough to get off the government tit, of course. It is considered to be politically incorrect to mention that nationhood entails supporting your state's citizens through taxation and maintaining expensive government services.

Next up for criticism are the Supremes at the federal level and the top courts, provincially. These justices opened a Pandora's Box by sanctioning "oral history" claims in land disputes. Nobody except Indians can employ this dubious testimony. This dispensation is at the heart od Caledonia, as historical documents seem to prove that they have no legal claim on the disputed area. Nevertheless, the Ontario goverment has suggested buying the housing site from the developers and then turning it over to the six nations reserve. Again, the answer is to buy off any native discontent with lawful arbitration. The Ontario taxpayers will be on the hook again for this gutless acquiescence. Meanwhile the Indian lobby and its left-wing sympathizers will create new opportunities to seize land.

One other point of contention has been the Kelowna Accord, which allotted $5 million extra to the $9 billion which we shell out to natives already. This extra money was to be spent improving native education results, along with better health and housing. A typical "throw-money-at-the- problem approach of governments. The Tories scuttled this give-a-way scheme. They want more acountability for the monies dispensed. Naturally, Phil Fontaine and his cohorts were mightily displeased with this decision. He lives in a fantasy world, where this "neo-colonial" approach has no resonance with native reality. "Just give us the extra billions and we will decide how it gets spent", is his war cry. That track record has not proven to be successful in making a dent in the endless pathologies that afflict so many reserves or inner city native ghettoes. Any suggestion that assimilating to Canadian society is rejected out of hand. It is worth remembering that after the huge James Bay settlement with the Cree that 22 out of 23 reserved-based enterprises failed. Small reserve businesses simply cannot remain viable for long. Fontaine and his chiefs refuse to live in the real economic world. That mentality has to change fast or another generation of Indian youth will be lost.

Meanwhile we cannot allow Canadian law to be trumped by native threats to violently inflict their will on the populous.

© Bud Talkinghorn