Abuses Of Power And Influence

(This article is part two of Ipperwash, where the tragic death of an unarmed Native American protestor, Dudley George happened)

In 1942, with the war being waged over in Europe and the Pacific, there was sediment raised to establish an advance infantry-training base in Canada. Many areas were looked into, which could have fit the requirement. Due to the location of Stoney Point Band’s land in accordance with Lake Huron, and the fact that land acquire from Aboriginal was drastically cheaper (as proven above) it made it ideal for a military training base. At first, Government bureaucrats decided to follow the Indian act, as the Stoney Point Band members were permitted to vote on the land surrender. However, “the outcome of this vote was 72 votes were cast that evening out of the 83 voting members in the Band. The final tally was 59 votes against and 13 votes for surrender. The government proposal was soundly defeated.” (See http://ksplibrary.tripod.com/stoneypoint.html)

Yet, this democratic defeat by the people of Stoney Point was not the last ever heard of this proposal. For even after the Stoney Point Band had voted not to surrender the land, “by Order in Council P.C. 2652, the Governor in Council approved the purchase offer that had already been offered to the Band by DND. The requirements contained therein had all been met, but of course the Band had rejected the offer that this belated legislation authorized. P.C. 2652 was accepted without comment by Cabinet; this suggests that the initiative for the appropriation resided entirely with the bureaucracy rather than at the elected, political level of government.” (See http://ksplibrary.tripod.com/stoneypoint.html)

What was even more inexcusable was how the words were written in Order in Council P.C. 2652 were phrased. Under this agreement “the order-in-council stipulated that, if after the war ended and the property was no longer required by the military, negotiations would be entertained, presumably with the Kettle and Stoney Point Band and Indian Affairs, to return the land at a mutually acceptable, reasonable price.” (See http://ksplibrary.tripod.com/stoneypoint.html)

There was no fairness or equality in this agreement. What transpired next was the forceful movement of individuals, who were forced to move from the Stoney Point Band’s land over to Kettle Point. For “ in a few cases, they actually picked up the houses and carted them over to Kettle Point. In most cases, people moved without any housing - and, especially in those days, there were no extra houses on any Indian Reserve. So the Stoney Pointers had to rent space on Kettle Point people’s lots, move in with distant cousins or make other miserable living arrangements. Waiting to get a place from the Band Council seemed fruitless to most Stoney Pointers for a variety of reasons, so tension mounted to get back to their own land.” (See http://www.web.net/~inquiry/history.htm) This grossly inadequate treatment of Aboriginals from Stoney Point Band directly goes against the ideas of democracy and fairness.

Many have been confused by the agreement made between the Canadian military and the Kettle and Stoney Point Band to be worded in such a way, that the land in question would be returned right after World War II was over. However, in the art of lawyers’ words you are required to read passed the words and into the true meaning of the phrases. These words, “states that the Defendant was entitled to use the Plaintiff’s Reserve lands at Stony Point only for the purposes of an advanced training centre for the efficient prosecution of the war, and the Plaintiff was entitled to the return of those lands when the lands were no longer required for that use.” Still keeping in the same agreement and with what seems to be the fine print of the agreement, “no other appropriation or expropriation during the Second World War had any accompanying stipulation for the return of property to its original owners when no longer required for stated purposes.” (See http://ksplibrary.tripod.com/stoneypoint.html)

With the construction of Camp Ipperwash not even the cemetery within this military base was given proper respect to the death. As a witness stated when his two brother and him had, “return from fighting overseas in World War II to find their family home had been bulldozed in 1942 to make room for a military base, and that their mother’s grave site had been dug up to make way for a trench.” This witness went onto say, “that is what made it bad for us…. I always say, I found all my enemies when I got home.” (See http://www.injusticebusters.com/04/George_Dudley_inquiry2.shtml)

Roller Coaster of Injustice Sped Up as September 6th 1995 Drew Closer

Over the years, there were many excuses from the DND (Department of Defense) used in regards to the returning of Ipperwash camp to the Stoney Point Band. In one case, reports were given which suggests that, “the government has justified its continued possession of the land in a paternalistic and regulatory manner, citing the burial of the herbicidal defoliant, Agent Orange, on the grounds of Camp Ipperwash as a threat to human health and to the existence of the endangered Karner Blue butterfly that historically used the areas as a breeding ground.” (See http://www.umich.edu/~snre492/cheshire.html)

Almost 40 years after the construction of Camp Ipperwash began, “the Department of National Defense paid an additional $2,400,000 (approximate) to the Band in recognition of the fact that in 1942, DND had paid far less than the fair market value of the lands. In addition, DND agreed to return Camp Ipperwash, including the lands obtained from cottagers that were formerly part of the Reserve, to the First Nation when the lands were no longer needed for military purposes.” (See http://www.oxford.net/~onfire/prkclm.html this site is no longer available online at this time)

With these additional funds, some may think that proper compensation was given; yet that was not the question. For this Stoney Point Band did not at any time want to surrender their land, so all the money in the world would not cover for the fact that the rule of the people’s voices, which were ignored.

In 1993, members of the Stoney Point Band were not willing to listen to broken promises in regards to the returning of Camp Ipperwash to them. So these members “moved back onto the firing ranges and lived in makeshift dwellings, small trailers and tents. On July 29, 1995 they moved into the military barracks and the Department of National Defence abandoned Camp Ipperwash.” (See http://www.web.net/~ara/spoint/background.htm) Since that date, the Federal Canadian Government has closed Camp Ipperwash and is in the process of negotiating the return of the land to the Stoney Point Band.

In May of 1995, members of the Stoney Point Band moved into the Ipperwash Provincial Park and “occupied the park to protect an ancient burial ground there.” (See http://members.home.nl/aeissing/00663.html) Then in a decision that had to tear straight at the heartstrings of many on Kettle and Stoney Point Band, “On July 15, 1995 the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed the matter of land jurisdiction as being Not of public importance.” (See http://www.easterndoor.com/archives/VOL.4/4-31.htm)

Taking the decision of ‘not of public importance’ into context, immediately this seriously brings to question whether the Supreme Court of Canada had the interests of a few or the interests of the people at heart, with their above ruling?

As the date of September 6th drew closer, the situation in Ipperwash Provincial Park started to accelerate out of control. “Early in the morning of September 5th 1995, several OPP officers in tactical gear approached Dudley George and others, who were near the Park fence and shouted threats at him, “Dudley, you are going to be the first!” (See http://www.web.net/~ara/spoint/background.htm)

What came later the next night was very prophetic to the warning given to Mr. Dudley George, because he was shot and killed. Before the events led to the death of an innocent person, first a witness reported “heavily armed police turning up and taunting the band — whose weapons were sticks — with racial slurs.” (See http://members.home.nl/aeissing/00663.html)

This same witness went onto state that he saw “t-shirts and coffee mugs the police later sported, bearing racist logos which were later withdrawn following a reprimand from senior levels saying they were ‘inappropriate memorabilia.’” (See http://members.home.nl/aeissing/00663.html)

The CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) had been able to acquire videotape, under the Freedom of Information Act. “According to the CBC, the recording is on a videotape made by OPP officers posing as a television crew outside the park. The lens was covered, so the tape offers only an audio track.” Here are three examples of different racial slurs heard on this videotape. Firstly, “No, there’s no one down there. Just a big fat-f… Indian.” Secondly, “we had this plan, you know. We thought if we could get five or six cases of Labatt’s 50, we could bait them. And we would have this big net and a pit.” Then thirdly, “works in the South with watermelons.” (See http://www.diversitywatch.ryerson.ca/media/cache/ipperwash_globe_jan21.htm)

With the presence of hatred by people, who were suppose to uphold the law for all had the ultimate making for a very disastrous outcome. Only minutes before the innocent reality for many had been turned drastically darker, “Bernard had approached police to tell them they had no right to be there. Entered into evidence were photos of the 28 cuts and bruises he received that night. The court also heard that he was taken by ambulance to the hospital for treatment. However, none of the officers called to testify could recall seeing him being beaten, or recalled striking him.” (See http://www.monitor.net/monitor/free2/ipperwash.html)

While this of an unarmed individual being beaten unfolding, an OPP tactical officer said that, “he saw muzzle flashes aimed at police coming from a sandy berm near the park. He told the court he fired four shots toward the berm. He then saw Dudley George — although he didn’t know the person’s identity at the time — run from the area where he saw the muzzle flashes to the middle of the intersection. There he saw Dudley George drop to a crouched position and aim a rifle at police.” (See http://www.monitor.net/monitor/free2/ipperwash.html)

However, a fellow officer, who was only a few yards away from this officer when he discharged his weapon at Mr. Dudley George, immediately called the words of this OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) officer into question. This witnessing officer later stated, “he saw Dudley George carrying a stick or pole, not a gun, and that he did not consider him a threat. He also said he didn’t see any muzzle flashes, nor did he see any Native protestors with arms.” (See http://www.monitor.net/monitor/free2/ipperwash.html) A statement by the witnessing policeman stating that Dudley George was “carrying a stick or pole not a gun” suggested that might have been a gigantic atmosphere of injustice caused by a racist overturn.

This racism atmosphere was further back by the next events that unfolded that night of September 6th 1995. When family members were transporting Mr. George to the closest hospital, after he had been hit with bullets from a policeman’s rifle. “There were no ambulances to assist Pierre, Carolyn and Dudley. Although they spotted several OPP cruisers along the way, no officers offered assistance or even called an ambulance. On the way to the hospital, one of the rear tires on Pierre’s car went flat, yet they continued driving with hopes that they would arrive at the hospital in time.” (See http://www.web.net/~ara/spoint/background.htm)

The police are sworn to uphold the law and protect the people, with the use of the least amount of force. Yet in this tragic night many of the police ignored this basic oath. Addition examples of injustices happened, “when Pierre and Carolyn did arrive at the hospital, instead of receiving assistance for their wounded brother, they were mishandled and brutalized by waiting OPP officers. Pierre and Carolyn were taken into custody and told they were to be charged with attempted murder. Although both were held overnight, no charges were ever laid.” (See http://www.web.net/~ara/spoint/background.htm)

The policeman, who was found guilty of killing Mr. Dudley George, “was found guilty of criminal negligence causing death. He was given two-year suspended sentence and ordered to do 180 hours of community service.” (See http://members.home.nl/aeissing/00663.html)

The questions of fairness and equality should instantly be brought into question, as this was nothing less than an obvious slap on the hand to persons with power and influence who did not provide appropriate levels of justice. This has, in turn, sent a message that one set of rules is enforced for some people, and other groups within society are being treated as second-class citizens.

Conclusion

The philosophies of the past veil of secrecy have for years been permitted to fester and cultivate, within the backdoor of Canadian political scene. The end result has been that principles, which involved repression, have been permitted to have a rebirth, within the fringes of established federal and political parties. Mistakes made in the past under this darkness must not be repeated.

In order to keep our basic rights and freedoms in front of us, which have been enshrined within the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, all people must receive equality in the eyes of justice. The Charter affirms that, “everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice.” This one point should not only be cherished; but also never permitted to falter in the eyes of authoritarianism. Yet, in our current times of uncertainty, we must draw upon our past lessons that society has already learned. With the Inquiry on the Ipperwash Provincial Park now commencing at this time, questions of fairness and the whole truth of this tragic night must be addressed honestly, in order for society to make sure that this tragedy is never permitted to happen again.

All Content Inclusive, Copyright © 2005 Reginald Angus Argue (pen name Angus McLeod)

UPDATE

Presently, there is an Ontario Provincial inquiry going into the Ipperwash Incidence and the Death of Mr. Dudley George. Sadly Mr. Clifford George, a distant relative of Dudley, and a very important person in regards to one of the main driving forces into pushing for this inquiry has passed away. However, it is in Mr. Clifford George and Mr. Dudley George’s brave memory, I hope that one-day true justice is finally brought into the light.