Nine months into an occupation at a previously non-native, privately operated gravel quarry, the Bay of Quinte Mohawks are preparing for winter. The quarry is part of the Culbertson Tract, about 900 acres, which includes much of Deseronto, ON, that is being discussed as part of the land claims process. The land is recognized as Mohawk land, negotiations are around how to return it. The feds want to pay the Mohawks for the land, the Mohawks want the land itself. Until the occupation, 800 dump trucks of gravel per month were being taken from the land under discussion. Now this has stopped, and the negotiations continue.
Shawn Brant is spokesperson for the Bay of Quinte Mohawks and is facing 12 years in jail for his part in actions that closed the CN rail lines through Tyendinaga on April 20, 2006 and 2007, and the 401 and rail lines June 29, 2007. We spoke about courage, sacrifice, federal and provincial collaboration to continue harvesting First Nations’ resources and economic disruption.
Interview with Shawn Brant, Nov. 7, 2007.
by Matt Silburn, Kingston Indigenous Solidarity Network. (mohawksupport@riseup.net)
Listen to the interview here.
For more information, solidarity action suggestions, and donations details for the Tyendinaga Legal Defence Fund go to http://www.ocap.ca/supporttmt.html
Pull Quotes for solidarity publications/media
SB: We don’t talk about it in the sense of courage, because everyone’s courage is assumed, we talk about it now in terms of sacrifice.
SB :You don’t sit at the table and discuss land and literally chew it up and truck it away on the other side of the table. We thought it was so clear… that this is absolutely inconsistent with Canadian values and it should stop.
SB: When the land is involved, it’s something that is under your feet, something you can touch, and that’s something that people will make an ultimate sacrifice to defend.
SB : I think that anybody, when properly understanding the issue, would say you have to do what you have to do. And certainly the government can step in at any time and provide that relief, before it goes to further extremes.
SB We’ve shut it down 3 times in 14 months. The likelihood of it happening again is quite high. CN should be looking a other means of developing a relationship that’s equitable with this and other First Nations communities, in order to foster an environment where the economy can be advanced and it can move through our community.
SB: Honestly, I have no feelings of betrayal by the Canadian public, I’m not speaking of organizations or individuals, but in large part, you can only be betrayed when people were there before to support you and that has never existed.
Read the rest of this entry »
