Haldimand "Proposal"

I would like to say that when you stand on a bridge for 3 days, or when you are involved in an issue you are very fortunate to meet many people. On the most part I found that like myself most felt that their voice was "unheard". Most also care deeply, and are very proud to live in "Haldimand County".

One women I have met recently shared an idea with me on a proposal for a "Park", and I have been given her permission to share the following with you.


"Friendship Park Proposal"

I would like to suggest that the Douglas Creek Estate lands that are currently being purchased by the Provincial Government be retained by the Province in perpetuity to be used as a park for the joint benefit of the people of Caledonia and Six Nations to remember the importance of Friendship forever.

The site would be turned into a walking park called Friendship Park. There would be paths throughout the park named for each of the native bands on six nations and for the different nationalities living in Caledonia.

I would suggest that a tree be planted for every day that the occupation of the lands has been in place to remind us all of the length of time we have lost our understanding of one another’s needs, we have not respected one another, and the trust that has been lost between the two peoples. There would be one large parking lot at the building constructed at the corner of Argyle Street and 6th Line.

Friendship Park would be the centre of many joint events celebrating our peoples (e.g. Canada Day, National Aboriginal Day, Remembrance Day, Victoria Day).

1. In the centre of the park there would be a bandstand that would be used on a regular basis during the spring, summer and fall months to host events celebrating the peoples of Caledonia and Six Nations to help reinforce an understanding of one another and a respect for our differences. Around the bandstand would be the following:

 On the north side of the bandstand would be the flags from left to right of Canada, Ontario, Haldimand, the Six Nations Reserve and each of the native bands on Six Nations together in a row.

 On the east side would be a monument that has the word “UNDERSTANDING” to represent the need for understanding between the two peoples.

 On the south side of the bandstand would be a monument with the word “RESPECT” to represent the need for the two peoples to have respect for one another’s differences.

 On the west side of the bandstand would be a monument with the work “TRUST” to represent the trust that has been lost and that needs to be recaptured by both peoples.

2. At the corner of Argyle Street and 6th Line would be built a Friendship Centre. This building would contain a section that would be used to display the history of this area that demonstrates the views of both Six Nations and European settlers.

This building would also include a learning centre that would have regular learning sessions hosted by either Six Nations representatives or Haldimand representatives or both with the primary emphasis on developing a better understanding of the history and issues each face.

Finally, in this building I would propose regular meetings of the leaders of both Haldimand and Six Nations to jointly discuss plans for growth and development that will benefit both Haldimand and Six Nations.

One could take a hard-nosed approach to the Douglas Creek Estates and get nowhere or one could take a conciliatory approach and benefit both Caledonia and Six Nations peoples.

As you can see from her opening statement, this park proposal was designed in 2006, just as the Province was purchasing Douglas Creek Estates. She sent her proposal to the Mayor of Haldimand County, and some government officials that were at the negotiating table at that time.

Thank you for allowing me to share your ideas with the public.

Haldimand "My Bridge Sit In"

Well it was a very interesting three days, to say the least! It is amazing when I think of what compels a person to take a stand on any issue. For me it was the "fact that there were no facts", just "rumors and threats" about blocking all the bridges in Haldimand County. The problem with rumors and threats for me is the "unknown" and the "what ifs".

So for me as I pride myself in being a proactive person, I decided to take a stand against the "unknown". In the back of my mind I had hoped and prayed that everything would be peaceful on Friday.

My goal was to send a strong message to the OPP to uphold the law in case the "rumors and threats" of blockades on our bridges became a "reality".

A few lessons can be learned through our actions; One lesson is that not everyone will interpret what you are doing the same as you, and that needs to be respected! Another lesson that can be learned is that even the smallest action can have a "huge impact". The most important lesson that can be learned is that "we have no control" over how things will turn out!

My family and friends know me well; that I am a positive person, and I really believe that being negative is not productive. But at the same time I do call things as I see them! So I would like to step you through my three days on the beautiful Dunnville Bridge. You may need a coffee for this read.

"Day One";I arrived at the Dunnville Bridge around 2:30pm Wednesday afternoon, with my sign in hand that read "Mr. O.P.P. don’t allow "anyone" to block this Bridge".

I was only on the bridge about 20 minutes when 4 O.P.P. officers approached me. They had received a call from someone that I was there, and came to see what the fuss was about. I told the officers that my message was clearly directly to the O.P.P. to uphold the law, that I had a right to be there, and I was peaceful! They agreed.

I was asked if I had a cell phone, I said no, they told me they would be near by if I ran into any trouble. I took that exactly as it was stated to me, for my protection. What I did say to the officers was that I was standing on the Dunnville Bridge and I was okay.

I was asked my name, address and birth date. I gave that information freely, as I have nothing to hide. I was asked, "where is everyone else"? I told the officers that besides my husband and about 6 other people, there is only me. I explained that I felt that it only takes "one" person to do something good, as well as it only takes "one" person to do something not so good.

Now I will say that as I watched the officers walk towards me, my heart sank a big in my stomach, but that wasn’t out of feeling fear or intimidation, it was simply because I had never really done anything quite like this before!

The response from people driving by was incredible! People dropped off water, honked, waved and were very supportive of what I was doing. A few people approached me on the bridge to chat with me and keep me company. My husband Ted left work early, and joined me around 4:15pm. We left the bridge around 6:00pm.

"Day Two";I started my stand on the Bridge Thursday around 12:15pm with my sign in hand, and stood between the now 2 Canadian flags flying from the bridge. Wednesday there was one flag on the bridge when I arrived. Thursday there was a second flag flying. I knew the second flag would be there, as a woman who dropped off a cold bottle of water to me on Wednesday, said that she would be putting up another flag during the night, and she did! Thanks!

No O.P.P. officers approached me the entire day; they did drive by regularly, and waved as they drove by.

Again many people dropped off coffee, water, waved, honked, and I had a few visitors. I left the bridge at 5:00pm. It was a great day!

"Day Three";I arrived at the bridge at 6:15am with my sign in hand and sat between the 2 Canadian Flags.

At 8:00am I was joined by Mark Vandermaas from Voice of Canada. For those of you who are aware of Caledonia Wakeup Call, Mark was asked by Gary McHale to cover the events of the day. Mark has posted his events of the day on http://voiceofcanada.wordpress.com/.

Again the day was full of kind gestures; one woman dropped off a stool for me to sit on. One gentleman stopped to drop off a magic marker, as he said that the print on my sign was not dark enough. One person came with a case of water; others dropped off smarties, coffee, donuts, chocolate bars, ice cream, fruit, chocolate eclairs, ice tea mix, water etc…. People again honked, waved, and sent gestures of support.

I wasn’t alone on the bridge today. People joined me from the community; there were at least 5 of us on the bridge at any given time throughout the day. We were also joined by, Karen Best from the Chronicle, Bill Jackson from the Regional News, Paul Legal (hope I spelled that correctly) from the Spectator, and Al Sweeney from CHTV. The parking lot beside the bridge was also filling up with people, looking on.

The O.P.P. were also very visible today, as they drove over the bridge many times throughout the day and once again waved as they drove by.

Now a strange chain of events occurred with the O.P.P., the first was when an O.P.P. cruiser stopped on the bridge, said to me, (not his exact words) everything is being packed up, it’s over, and asked us to leave. Shortly after that, 2 O.P.P. officers walked up to us on the bridge had a bit of a chitchat, and left. The same 2 O.P.P. officers came back a short while after that, around 1:30pm, to inform us that his supervisor had asked him or as one person heard the officer say that he was "ordered to request the we leave the bridge". The question was asked of the officer are we doing anything wrong and his reply was "not yet". We were then all asked our names, addresses and birth dates. I said I would give my information last as I had already given that information to the 4 officers on Wednesday and I had nothing to hide anyway. What angered me the most was that all of a sudden because I wasn’t "alone" we were being asked to leave, my comment to a few people was that if it was that important the Supervisor should have personally come to ask us to leave. I told the officer that I was staying, and the rest stayed with me to the end of the day.

There were many "rumors" circulating during the day, and I won’t go into any detail as they were just that "rumors". In a small town news travels very quickly, and so do the rumors!

Again, thanks to all who supported my stand on the Dunnville Bridge!

Haldimand "Bridge Sit In"

Today I spent approximately 4 hours standing on the "Dunnville Bridge" with a sign that says "Mr. O.P.P. don't allow "ANYONE" to block this bridge".

The response from the public was overwhelming. Thanks to everyone that honked, waved, offered me coffee, water, and a special thanks to the young mother and her three children for joining me on the bridge for about half an hour!

Thanks to the Four OPP officers that also paid me a visit on the Bridge!

I will be back on the Dunnville Bridge "Thursday June 28th around 1:00pm until about 5:00pm". You are welcome to join me if you wish.

This is not about any issue "except to keep traffic on the bridge flowing freely".

I would ask that if you join, that you are "peaceful", "standing on the sidewalk", "NO stopping traffic" If you want to bring a sign, "PLEASE be RESPECTFUL to EVERYONE".

I repeat that my actions are of a peaceful nature.

I will be back on the bridge "Friday June 29th" at around 7:00am.

Thanks for your support
Donna Pitcher

Haldimand "Take the Fight to Where it Belongs"

Well Friday June the 29th is just a few days away, and there are "rumors" and "threats" that "all bridges" that cross the "Grand River in Haldimand County" will be blockaded.

This action in Haldimand is aimed at making "Canadians" aware of the plight of aboriginal peoples.

Now I don’t know about you, but I don’t know many people that have the "financial resources" to miss a day’s pay if they can’t cross the River! I don’t mean to "trivialize" aboriginal issues by attaching a dollar figure, but to most people they "need ever dollar" they can get!

My husband and I are average Canadians, trying to do the best we can with what we have. At the end of the day when that magical "paycheck" comes in we loose a big chunk of our hard earned money, as we are obligated to pay "Ontario Tax", "Federal Tax", "EI", "WSIB" etc. etc.

Then once a year we are "honored" to pay yet "more taxes", as we do our yearly "income taxes to Revenue Canada", which includes "Ontario Tax" if we haven’t paid enough, "Federal Tax" if we haven’t paid enough, etc. etc. etc. Oh I almost forgot the "$875.00" a year that my husband now pays for "Health Tax" thanks to the Liberals.

Now saying all that, then we get to pay "more taxes", "tax at the pumps", "tax on clothes", "tax on services", "taxes on our property", tax on tax that we already seemed to have paid taxes on. I may have forgotten a "tax" or two, but I am sure you get my point!

So correct me if I am wrong here, but what would justify "any" individual or group of "individuals" to take there fight with the Government out on the "average" Canadian?

As I live just outside Dunnville, I can tell you that I believe that the "average" Canadian will not take kindly if they can’t get to work on Friday. "Most don’t have the luxury"!

"Take the fight to where it belongs, with the Government, not the average Canadian that can’t change a damn thing on the "best" of days".

Haldimand "Should we be Concerned"?

How often have you heard the statement "if I had only known", maybe I could have done something?

The Internet is a wonderful tool; you can access multiple News reports with the flick of your finger in your comfy chair while drinking a coffee, but is it information overload? I believe that it is, but what I like to do is read all the news articles and choose the ones that relate closer to home.

The following are some articles that I read today with interest and would like to share my thoughts, although lately I do believe that I chose my site name well, so have a coffee and enjoy!
The following article was published in the Toronto Star on June 20th, 2007; you can access the complete article on http://caledoniawakeupcall.com/.

Fantino: 'We believe that terrorists are planning all the time to frustrate our security, to attack our infrastructure.'

"Of course it's a concern," Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day told reporters of the video aired Monday on ABC News. "We've always said that Canada is not immune to threats of terrorism." Admitting no security system is 100 per cent fail-safe, Day said the ability for the alleged terrorists to cross our border is "limited."

"Canadians can sleep well at night knowing that we have very effective security capabilities," he said.

"This is really no news to us, because we always plan for the worst and hope for the best," OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino said. "We believe that terrorists are planning all the time to frustrate our security, to attack our infrastructure."

"David Harris, director of the international and terrorist intelligence program at Insignis Strategic Research in Ottawa, cautioned that the threats could be valid".

The following article was published in the Winnipeg Press June 19th, 2007; you can access the complete article at http://caledoniawakeupcall.com/.

RCMP & First Nations peace protocol signed

"We are looking forward and planning for a peaceful event and we have every reason to believe that will be so and we will deal with exceptions for what they are -- exceptions,’’ Fantino said.

The following article was posted today on Voice of Canada http://voiceofcanada.wordpress.com

Letter to Minister of Public Safety, Stockwell Day

Dear Mr. Minister:

On June 08, your office was contacted by a Mr. Gary McHale who had obtained video footage of terror threats made by Mohawk Warrior Shawn Brant, a man who claims to have been paid by the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty to travel to native reserves in order to encourage natives to attack/disrupt Canadian infrastructure.

Mr. Brant has made it clear by his statements that he has no regard for the suffering of innocent citizens:

"I don’t give a rat’s ass whether I create victims or what the white man thinks of me…"

"Not until every home has suffered like we have suffered will I stop."

Recently, you have made public statements regarding the terror threats by Taliban fighters, yet you have so far remained silent regarding the internal threats posed by Mr. Brant and OCAP.

I would respectfully like to know whether your department is aware of the words and actions of Mr. Brant, and whether or not you intend to act to prevent him from carrying out his threats?

Respectfully,
Mark Vandermaas, Editor Voice of Canada

On June 13th, 2007 I wrote an article called "Frustrated in Haldimand County", I sent this to just about every official I could find. The following are the "only" responses that I have received to date.

One hour after I sent this story I received an e-mail from Dave Mclean OPP Haldimand County, this was his response;

Donna I understand your frustration. We are aware of this article in the Brantford Paper. The Hydro incident is still under investigation.
D.G. Mclean

On June 18th, 2007 Haldimand County Mayor Marie Trainer responded to my e-mail and forwarded my article to the following individuals; Julian Fantino, Monte Kwinter, Jim Prentice, David Ramsey, Ronald Doering. Barbara McDougall, Chris Maher, John Nolan. The body of the Mayor’s email stated the following; "Apparently Janie Jamieson admitted they knocked out the community’s hydro".

Well I guess that I should feel hopeful that at least I had two responses, shouldn't I?

We should not have to live everyday in fear of what "might happen". June 29th is certainly on the minds of a lot of people that I personally know.

The one factor is that we don’t seem to be privy to what is "going" to happen, or if "anything is going to happen. So we are forced to feel hostage in our own community.

One person I know is wondering whether her husband should stay home from work that day. She is concerned that if he goes to work and can’t get over the river because a bridge is blocked, how will he be compensated for the loss of a day’s pay, they cannot afford to loose? Or what happens if he is caught in the crossfire if violence breaks out? Will his employer believe him if he can’t get to work? These feelings are coming from an ordinary everyday person like you and I, "9" days before June 29th.

I just wonder how many people in Haldimand feel the same way. I have tried to reassure her that everything will be peaceful that day, the problem is I am not really telling her the truth, because I don’t know what will happen on June 29th. I can only pray that June 29th will be a day of "peaceful " demonstrations.

We read in the news recently that there are "international threats" from the Taliban against Canada, but officials have reassured us that we don’t need to worry they have everything under control!

We have been threatened from "individuals" within our own Province that apparently we don’t need to worry about either, after all we live in Canada and we are a "peaceful nation".


We may be a peaceful Nation, but the problem that I see is that terrorist threats are not from "Peaceful People".

Haldimand "Frustrated in Haldimand County"

Well I was all settled in to write an article regarding Dalton McGuinty’s blatant disregard for the residents of Caledonia/Haldimand County, but something else has come to my attention that has just plain peeved me off! I should probably just turn off this damn machine and do something constructive, as I truly believe that you should never voice your opinion when you are upset.

Yesterday there was the "big" announcement regarding speeding up the process of Land Claims in Canada, which I wanted to believe has given "ALL" a glimmer of hope!

My definition of "ALL"; every one of all people!

Then comes an article that was published in The Expositor out of Brantford that took that glimmer of hope and literally flushed it down the toilet! The article is called "It doesn’t give me hope".

This article was published "Today" and was an interview with Janie Jamieson who speaks for those who have occupied DCE for the last 15 months, and Mohawk Chief Allen MacNaughton of Six Nations.

Well it seems that Ottawa’s proposal yesterday to overhaul how land claims are handled isn’t going to change anything in Caledonia/Haldimand County according to Six Nation’s protesters. Janie Jamieson states this recent announcement doesn’t give her much "hope".
Six Nations Chief Allen MacNaughton also shares Janie Jamieson’s views.

There were two statements made in this article that have provoked me to write this article, please read the following excerpts;

(1) Over the course of the 15-month occupation, Six Nations protesters temporarily shut down a railway, blockaded the town’s main thoroughfare and "KNOCKED OUT the community’s HYDRO", SHE ADDED! (That was an admission of guilt was it not?) We’re kind of up in the air as to what statement we can make on June 29th.

(2) It certainly won’t deter anyone from setting up road and railway blockades planned for June 29th the "day of action" declared by aboriginal leaders frustrated with the slow pace of land claims, Jamieson said!

You can read the entire article that I found posted on http://caledoniawakeupcall.com/.

First thing that I would like to state is that I would hope to God as I am writing this article that the OPP have already arrested Janie Jamieson for her admitting that it was them, the protesters that knocked out the Hydro last May!

If she blatantly gets away with this statement admitting that they were responsible for Knocking out the Hydro, we need to demand the Government to bring in the RCMP and replace the OPP in Caledonia "IMMEDIATELY" as June 29th is approaching!

The next issue would be June 29th the "day of action". Up until I read this article I had hoped that "WE" were finally seeing the light at the end of the Tunnel!

I am now fearful of what will take place on June 29th, if Janie Jamieson has no fear of admitting to the public that they knocked out the Hydro, how far are they willing to go to prove their point! I am thankful that school finishes on June 28th, so there won’t be any children traveling on school buses that day.

I believe that the Natives have made their point perfectly clear to all of us in the last 15 months, and most would agree that the government has procrastinated on the Land Claims Issues. I have said on many occasions that all levels of government have failed, but I thought in my heart that headway was being made.

I am truly disappointed and bewildered at how this issue in Haldimand County will ever be resolved.

My understanding of the negotiation table is that both sides need to work hand in hand to solve an issue, we have been told on many occasions that the talks are going well, so who is lying to "US"? Well it seems perfectly clear to to me from this article that only one side is even trying. "If I am wrong, please someone correct me".

As summer is approaching and all levels of government are going to be enjoying "their" summer holidays, we in Haldimand County will not be. Maybe it is time that every resident in Haldimand County demands a rebate on our property taxes! Let our local elected officials here in Haldimand County fight that one out with whomever they wish!

I will be forwarding this article to as many levels of government I can find, to as many OPP officials that I can find and the RCMP…..Well you get the point. Please feel free to send my article to whoever you wish as well. We need to demand all levels of government to "cut short" their holidays and deal with this serious issue in Haldimand County.

Donna Pitcher

Haldimand "Welcome to the New Age"

I am a law-abiding citizen and find it absolutely "Criminal" that our Government and the OPP are condoning violence. I am sure that they would boldly disagree with my personal opinion, but their recent actions have proven me correct.

I find today that I feel helpless and dispirited for the road we are going down. When I started my blog in May of this year, it was because I had issues with our local council here in Haldimand County, I now find myself involved in much bigger issues that no level of government can get right. It seemed simple to me at the time when I got involved; all we needed to do was to ensure that there is "One Law for All".

Well that is easier said then done! Now that the Ipperwash Report is final, all "Hell" seems to be breaking loose, just read the papers! We are "ALL" being Threatened! I am not a person that enjoys being negative, but how can one not help but see that we are in "serious trouble" here!

Headlines in the News in the Last couple of days are enough to blow your mind. Even when you think that you have followed the issues closely, and there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel, it gets even worse! Here are some articles that I found alarming. Although there are many out there, these are the ones that stirred me to write about our current state of affairs.

"Native violence becomes blameless-Ipperwash report effectively legitimizes illegal protests". Published by the National Post Saturday June 02, 2007. An excerpt from this article; "So the police badly mishandled the occupation, yes. But had this particular group of natives not taken it into their heads to break the law, defy their band council, and seize the provincial park, they would never have come into conflict with the police. Yet throughout this report, Judge Linden takes the existence of this and other such native occupations as a given.

"Provincial apology nice, but not enough: Maracle". Published by the Belleville Intelligencer, Friday June 01, 2007. An excerpt from this article; With a national day of protest planned for June 29, there are a lot of similarities between now and when George was killed, Brant said. "It’s ironic that Dudley was killed in 1995 and it was during contentious times, and now it’s re-emerging at a time when there’s a crisis again".

"Aboriginal leaders say Ipperwash report will encourage planned day of protest". Published by the Canadian Press Saturday June 02, 2007. An excerpt from this article; "Aboriginal leaders across the country say the release of the Ipperwash report has cemented their resolve to use a diverse array of methods this summer to raise awareness about outstanding land claims, racism and poverty faced by the First Nations communities.

"Passing the buck". Published by the Simcoe Reformer Monday May 28th, 2007. An excerpt from this article; "Anytime our federal and provincial leaders are put to the test, the discussion degenerates into an endless round of finger-pointing".

"OPP officers issue statement on Aboriginal protests". Published by Soo Today, Tuesday June 05, 2007. This is a news release from Karl Walsh, president of the OPPA. An excerpt from this article; "As the national chief, he should publicly denounce any future activities by protesters who threaten to breach the peace or are counter-productive to a peaceful demonstration, including intimidation of private citizens, destruction of public or private property or attacks on members of the public or police officers".

Well I can give thanks to many levels of government today for the mess that we are in! There is no time left for passing the buck, there is no time left for ignoring legitimate land claims, there is no time left for ignoring third-party injustices, there is no time left for condoning lawlessness, there is no time left for excuses!

So now that all levels of government have been bitten on the "ass", what will they do next?