Shawn Brant’s Arrest – Statement by Sue Collis, Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory

(May 4th, 2008) Eight days ago, on Friday, April 25th, 2008, my husband,
Shawn Brant, was arrested and detained on assault and weapons charges.
Since that time, Commissioner Julian Fantino and the Ontario Provincial
Police have issued public statements that have, it seems, misstated the
events leading to my husband’s arrest.

I believe it is important to the public good for people to understand the
circumstances that have lead to Shawn’s incarceration at this time. Those
circumstances are as follows:

On Sunday, April 20th, 2008, the community of Tyendinaga responded to
threats from a Kingston developer to bring “a crew of 25 to 30 guys”, in
order to begin development on a property which falls within in the
Culbertson Tract land claim. Mohawks from Tyendinaga did peaceful road
closures on Highway 2, adjacent to this proposed development site on
Mohawk land.

My husband Shawn has been living and complied with very strict conditions
imposed when he was charged in relation to community rail and highway
blockades on the June 2007 Aboriginal Day of Action. One of his conditions
is not to attend protests. During the evening of Monday, April 21st, 2008,
my husband was some distance away from the road closures erected in
response to the Kingston developer, talking to a Tyendinaga community
member, while he also checked a nearby creek for fish.

During this conversation, Shawn became aware of some commotion down the
road, and made his way towards the commotion, parking his car some 50 feet
away from where a small group of people was gathered on one side of the
road. The first thing Shawn saw a 10-year-old girl shaking and crying
uncontrollably. He had no idea what was going on. As he approached the
scene, someone yelled “Shawn help us!” The little girl screamed, “They
hurt my Mommy! They’re gonna hurt my Mommy.” Someone else yelled, “He has
a ball bat!” At this time, Shawn noticed two trucks were parked facing
the people who were in obvious distress. Shawn returned to his car and
retrieved his fishing spear. By the time Shawn returned to where the
people were gathered, the occupants of the trucks were back inside their
vehicles. Shawn shouted at the occupants of the trucks to leave. The
windows were so tinted that he could not make out their faces. The
drivers of the trucks sped away with such force that one of their truck
tires was raised in the air, spraying much gravel and stone at the women
and the child, some of which they later discovered was imbedded in their
skin.

Shawn turned his head to avoid catching stones in the face, and held out
his spear in an effort to create some distance between the group of
Mohawks and the trucks, out of concern that those in the vehicles would
strike those on the road with their vehicles. The trucks then sped away.
That is the extent of Shawn’s interaction with the individuals he is now
charged with assaulting. To be clear, he is charged with assaulting the
men in the trucks.

A 911 call was made during this incident on April 21st, 2008, in which the
trucks’ license plates were recorded. Shortly thereafter, the women made
statements to the police, identifying the men driving the trucks as known
Deseronto inhabitants, subsequently identified as Jamie Lalonde and Mike
Lalonde. The women also testified in police statements that one of the men
swung a club at them, drove one of the trucks into them, and threatened
further violence. The women also described being injured by flying stones,
and described the trauma endured by the young girl. No one but Shawn has
been charged.

The men from Deseronto sought out this group of people, deliberately
caused them injury and issued threats of further violence. They were
targeted for assault and abuse for no other reason than that they are
Native. The actions taken by the men from Deseronto were driven by
bigotry and racial hatred. By definition, these were hate crimes. Again,
no one but Shawn has been charged.

The men are presumed to have filed a complaint against my husband,
resulting in a police search of his car on Friday, April 25th, when his
fishing spear was taken from his car, and charges of assault and
possession of a weapon – the spear – were laid. My husband remains in
prison, in maximum security, as a result.

It is our understanding that the prosecution is seeking yet another
publication ban on all future court proceedings in this matter. A pattern
has emerged with respect to my husband, Shawn Brant. The police and
prosecution make sensational and vilifying statements about Shawn in the
media, and then seek a publication ban during court proceedings, when the
actual evidence is introduced. The starkly different narrative of events
that emerges in court is withheld and the public forbidden from hearing
it. The version of events I have just presented will all but disappear.

Less than a month ago, my husband was acquitted of charges he carried for
more than 18 months. When issuing the ruling in this acquittal, the judge
described the investigative practice and evidence employed and presented
by the cops and the Crown as “problematic” and “troubling,” as they
related to Shawn. During this same period, CBC Radio aired a documentary
in which several Mohawk people recounted conversations with OPP
Commissioner Fantino that occurred during the 2007 Aboriginal Day of
Action, in which they say he threatened to “ruin” Shawn. During Shawn’s
detention at the Napanee OPP detachment last week, several different
police officers threatened to “slit his throat” and “cut off his head.”

As I deal with the tears of young children who have been robbed of their
father once again, Commissioner Fantino claims the OPP is an apolitical
and professional organization, dedicated to upholding the rule of law. The
events of the past week indicate it is anything but.

- Sue Collis
Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory

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Video added May 2.

Wed April 30

The barricades have come down. Police have backed off and Tyendinaga is no longer under siege.

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Last night, a group of settlers blockaded Highway 6 at Paisley Road in Guelph, Ontario. Our blockade consisted of a flaming barricade, construction pylons, and about 20 people. This blockade was erected to oppose and draw attention too the continued OPP siege in Tyendinaga and the continued state repression of not only indigenous communities, but all of us. We chose Highway 6 because it is the same road being blockaded by members of Six Nations, also in solidarity with Tyendinaga. These blockades are spreading and will continue to spread with growing momentum until all stolen land is returned.

It only takes a few people and last night we demonstrated that. We hope this can be a model for other communities and encourage you to respond locally. As the Railway Ties Collective said in May of 2007, "Real solidarity means shouldering some of the burden of struggle." Return all stolen land. Free all political prisoners. Abolish all hierarchies.

anonymous

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Indigenous People and supporters living on Coast Salish Territory Block Major Truck Route in Support of Tyendinaga Mohawks and Six Nations:OPP BACKS OFF!

On April 28th, 2008, about 70 people, mainly Indigenous people from across Turtle Island gathered at China Creek Park on Coast Salish Territory. Elders armed with medicines and drums led the people while Warriors flew Mohawk Warrior Flags on the parameters of the march. Mothers and fathers, children and youth, Elders and Warriors chanting "OPP out of Tyendinaga" and "OPP out of Six Nations" marched from Clark and Broadway to Clark and 12th Avenue where they blockaded the entire intersection for two and a half hours in rush hour traffic from 3pm-530pm.

The blockade was in response to an incident on April 25th, where Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) surrounded the quarries in Tyendinaga, demanding the surrender of the Mohawks. Guns were drawn and violence ensued on the part of the police. News broadcasts failed to report that a young man had both his arms broken by police and that guns were pointed Mohawk children. This was following the OPP's swarm of Mohawk Territory earlier last week; the OPP's answer to the halting of construction of a development site that encroaches into Mohawk territory that a group of Warriors had reclaimed.

On April 27th six Indigenous People protecting their Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory were imprisoned, bringing the total number of Indigenous people in Ontario jails for defending their land to 13. Ontario has thus chosen to imprison Indigenous people rather than honour their rightful title to their land. At the centre of the dispute is the Culbertson Tract, land that rightfully belongs to the Mohawks of Tyendinaga. Community members have been occupying a gravel quarry site for over a year.

On Monday April 28th, SWAT teams amassed on the Deseronto and Slash Roads, bordering the Tyendinaga quarry reclamation site. Community spokesperson Jason Maracle was told by the OPP to pull people out of the quarry because they were going in.

In support of the Tyendinaga Mohawks a blockade of Highway 6 was taken by people of the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, whom have also faced several arrests, violations and oppression via the KLANadian government for protecting their lands.

On April 28th, the same day the SWAT team surrounded the Mohawks, Indigenous people on Coast Salish Territory, on the west Coast of Turtle Island, also took a stand as a show of Unity for our Brothers and Sisters back east and as a show of force to the KLANadian government to withdraw their police forces out of Tyendinaga and Six Nations Territories. Clark Street and 12th Avenue was blockaded in the midst of full out rush hour traffic.

The location, known as the Clark-Knight Corridor Whole Route was chosen for its role as the City's primary goods (stolen and exploited from Indigenous lands) movement arterial; blocking it would therefore mean disrupting economic development in KLANada. The 3,000 trucks using the corridor each day make Clark-Knight the most important truck route in the City. The corridor also links the Vancouver Port and industrial areas on the north side of the City with industrial areas in south Vancouver, Richmond, Delta, Surrey, and beyond via Highways 91 and 99. The Port of Vancouver is KLANada's biggest port and trades $43 billion in goods stolen from Indigenous lands with more than 90 trading economies annually. In addition, trucking is Canada's dominant freight mode, accounting for an estimated 70 percent of domestic shipments by value.

The April 28th blockade was not only symbolically effective, but also economically disruptive. Money and greed is the heart and heartbeat of KLANada, hence it was factored in that such an action would make KLANada listen. Further, some commuters on their way home from work and truck drivers moving [stolen Native] goods were forced to acknowledge that while they were inconvenienced for a few hours, Indigenous people from KLANada who have had their homelands invaded and occupied for over 150 years, have been inconvenienced much longer. Maybe the every ten-minute traffic report on car radios compelled people to ask why the OPP backed by the KLANadian government attacked Tyendinaga and question why Indigenous people are still fighting for their lands.

The blockade was effective. The goal was to impact the economy, create a public awareness of the issue, and show the KLANadian government and the public that Indigenous people are unified and ready to take action to protect our families and our lands when necessary.

Police have backed off of Tyendinaga and Six Nations. Tyendinaga is no longer surrounded by OPP and SWAT teams.

Through a solid grassroots effort, Indigenous people contributed to the pressure put on the KLANadian government and police to back off of Tyendinaga and Six Nations. However, as one Onondaga Woman explained, "We must keep in mind that the government continues to deny their responsibilities to our people and continue to be in denial of our rights to the land and that this situation is far from over".

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Update: Tense Standoff Continues in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory
Shawn Brant Arrested on Trumped-Up Charges Once Again
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**please note that circumstances on the ground continue to change
constantly, so full updates are not possible at this time **

DETAILS FOR TORONTO SUPPORT DEMONSTRATION BELOW: COME OUT ON TUESDAY,
APRIL 29, 2008 AT NOON TO 720 BAY STREET

After a tense exchange this morning, in which the OPP informed Mohawk
spokesperson Jason Maracle to get people out of the area or they would
come in, the OPP instead disbanded a Mohawk roadblock erected on the
perimetre of the reclaimed quarry site. This psychological warfare on
the part of the police resulted in a tense face-off between the OPP
and community members. At present, the OPP has removed one of the
roadblocks on the Slash Road and pulled back, but remains present in
the direct vicinity of the quarry in great numbers. At the centre of
the dispute is the Culbertson Tract, land which rightfully belongs to
the Mohawks of Tyendinaga. Community members have been occupying a
gravel quarry site for over a year.

In addition, a blockade of Highway 6, taken in support of the
Tyendinaga Mohawks, continues by people of the Six Nations of the
Grand River Territory. Six Nations community members have said they
will remove the Highway 6 bypass blockade once they receive
confirmation the OPP have withdrawn from the Mohawks of Tyendinaga.
The road is now barricaded with a downed hydro tower, wires and a
telephone pole.

Important to note is that, despite the reporting in mainstream press,
Mohawk spokesperson Shawn Brant's arrest on Friday, April 25th stems
from an incident which took place on Monday April 21st. Specifically,
Shawn Brant has been charged for his role in allegedly preventing
further attacks on a woman from Tyendinaga and a young child by racist
rednecks from the town of Deseronto.

These new charges were laid less than two weeks after Shawn Brant was
acquitted of charges alleging that he threated Canadian Forces
soldiers during a demonstration to prevent development of the
Culberston Tract in 2006.

Once again, for his role as a spokesperson in the community, Shawn
Brant is facing trumped-up charges. Arrested during an interview he
was conducting with APTN, Shawn's final words during his arrest on
Friday were "This is it, justice for first nations communities: lock
us up. Anybody who speaks out, lock-em up. KI6, Bob Lovelace: lock-em
up...Don't fix the problems, lock-em up." (to watch, click on
http://www.aptn.ca/streaming/index.php?wmv=friday/six)

Supporters rushed to the quarry after watching or hearing of Shawn's
arrest. An altercation with the OPP is alleged to have ensued. Four
Mohawks were then arrested and jailed. The OPP were reported to have
drawn their guns on the Mohawk community members remaining the quarry.

According to Mohawk spokesperson Jay Maracle, "The OPP led us into
this incident by jumping five of our men, arresting them and taking
them to jail and then sticking guns in our faces, in women and
children's faces," he said.

There has been open communication between the Mohawks and the OPP but
Maracle said things will not improve unless OPP retracts a statement
indicating there are armed Mohawks at the quarry. He said there are no
guns at the site.

Matt Kunkel, Clint Brant, Dan Doreen, and Steve Chartrand remain in
custody and will appear in bail court in Napanee today. The group
includes Dan Dorene, spokesperson for the Mohawk blockade on Highway 2
one week ago, erected to prevent development on the Culberston Tract,
land which rightfully belongs to the Mohawks.

A couple from the community who were also arrested by the OPP on
Friday were later were released unconditionally.

Shawn Brant will also likely appear in court today.

This brings the total number of First Nations people in Ontario jails
for defending their land to 12.

**URGENT** Tyendinaga 9:30 am Monday morning, April 28th

We have just been informed by the Tyendinaga Mohawk community
spokespeople that SWAT teams are amassing now on the Deseronto
and Slash Roads, bordering the Tyendinaga quarry reclamation site.

Community spokesperson Jason Maracle has just been told by the OPP to
pull people out of the quarry because they are going in.

Tyendinaga Support Committee
support.tmt@gmail.com

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CALL THE PREMIER! CALL THE PREMIER! CALL THE PREMIER! CALL THE PREMIER!

Please call the premier's office immediately and urge them to:

-Honour Mohawk land, call off the OPP: Do not risk people's lives
for a gravel pit the government has already acknowledged is on Mohawk land!

-Release all First Nations political prisoners!

Premier Dalton McGuinty: 416-325-1941 (phone)
416-325-3745 (fax)
daltonmcguinty@premier.gov.on.ca

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Yesterday's Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
FROM TYENDINAGA MOHAWK TERRITORY:

Ontario Jails Five More First Nations People Involved in Land Struggles

(Sunday, April 27, 2008 -Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory) Five men from
Tyendinaga are in jail today bringing the total number of First Nations
people in Ontario jails for defending their land to 12.

Ontario, it appears, has opted for the incarceration of First Nations
people over the resolution of outstanding land issues as their status quo.

As for the Ontario Provincial Police, it appears the adoption of Justice
Linden's Ipperwash Inquiry recommendations is experiencing some delay.
While in custody at the Napanee Detachment several different officers
repeatedly informed Shawn Brant that they were going to "slit his throat"
and that he was a "dead man."

This followed a similarly disturbing incident that occurred on Monday,
April 22nd during the road closures in Deseronto when an officer on the
scene clearly and audibly commented to her colleagues "we should just
shoot them (Mohawks) all."

Meanwhile, road closures continue in Tyendinaga and Six Nations until, as
one man said, "We finish the job."

Spokesperson: Jay Maracle: 613-243-4993

- 30 -

----

Tense native standoff ends; six protesters arrested

Canadian Press

April 25, 2008 at 7:46 PM EDT

DESERONTO, Ont. — Mohawk protesters and provincial police
officers were involved in a tense standoff in Deseronto, Ont.,
on Friday after officers said they spotted at least one gun
among the demonstrators.

Police say they saw a “long gun” being pointed at them from a
location inside an occupied quarry, which protesters have
controlled since March, 2007.

The protesters said they had no weapons at the quarry.

An order was issued to all police personnel on the scene to take
cover, and guns were drawn by officers crouching behind their
vehicles, but no shots were fired.
An Ontario Provincial Police officer screams orders as he and
two other officers struggle to arrest a protester (obscured on
ground) near a disputed quarry just north of Deseronto, Ont. on
Friday.

Protester Jason Maracle said they will refuse all orders to
leave what they consider to be Mohawk land.

“We're not moving anywhere,” he said. “They're going have to
kill every God damn one of us to get us off our land. We're not
moving. ... I guess if they want another 1990 scene, then OK, I
guess we'll have one.”

Mr. Maracle was referring to the 1990 Oka crisis in Quebec, when
Mohawks staged a violent standoff with police after officers
raided an aboriginal barricade set up to protest the expansion
of a golf course onto land claimed by the natives. A Quebec
provincial police officer was shot and killed when a SWAT team
stormed the barricade.

Earlier Friday, half a dozen protesters were arrested, including
Shawn Brant, who had been under a court order to stay away from
any protests or acts of civil disobedience following his
involvement in last June's aboriginal national day of action.

Also arrested was Dan Doreen, the leader of a group that erected
a blockade Sunday on Deseronto's main road.

About 75 Mohawk protesters shut down the road to protest a land
dispute with Nibourg Developments. The disputed land is part of
a claim accepted by the federal government for negotiation in
2003.

Deseronto has been the target of several aboriginal protests in
the past.

A group of Tyendinaga Mohawks led by Brant shut down Highway 401
for 11 hours and blockaded the Montreal-Toronto rail corridor
for last year's day of action.

A similar blockade of the same busy rail line– also led by Mr.
Brant – lasted 30 hours last April, ending peacefully after a
night of negotiations with provincial police and other
officials.

----

Please forward and circulate information and mobilize networks to halt the offensive actions taken thus far by state authorities, OPP, etc.

http://intercontinentalcry.org/urgent-help-needed-mohawks-su...

CALL Ontario Provicial Police & advise world is watching:

24 hour communications center OPP: 1-888-310-1122

NO MORE GESTAPO TACTICS!

MNN: April 25, 2008. Mohawks surrounded at the quarry in Tyendinaga. Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) fully armed with guns drawn. They are yelling through blow horns ordering the Rotiskenekete to come down with their hands up, or else they are going to take them out. The Rotiskenekete have told the OPP they are not coming down from there.

We have been informed that help will probably not arrive in time. The OPP have said they are coming right away. There are 20 left at the quarry. Many have already been arrested.

DO SOMETHING QUICK! WE HAVE TO SAVE OUR PEOPLE.

FOR INFORMATION CALL:

518-358-3660

Warchief: 613-243-4993,
Jan Hill: 613-961-8515, 613-827-1547
Dan: 613-919-1354
Rotiskenekete: 613-849-1314, 613-827-4991

OPP Easter Headquarters: 613-284-4500 L.G. Beechey, Chief Supt. Commander, Eastern Region

R. Don Maracle: 613-396-3089, Cell 613-391-9249

GENOCIDE IS HAPPENING AT THIS HOUR AT TYENDINAGA.

THEIR POSITION IS THEY ARE NOT MOVING. THEY ARE GOING DOWN. THEY WILL DEFEND THEMSELVES. THEY ARE NOT GIVING UP THE LAND.

—————–

URGENT CALL: FRIDAY APRIL 25TH 2008 - MOHAWKS OF TYENDINAGA UNDER ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE SIEGE - SHAWN BRANT ARRESTED ON FAKE WEAPONS CHARGES ON CULBERTSON TRACT - OPP CRUISERS AND VANS SURROUND – 20 DOWN BY TRAIN TRACKS ON DESERONTO ROAD AND BRIDGE ST.

MNN. At 2:45 pm. today, Friday, April 25th, 2008, Shawn Brant was arrested for an incident that happened on Monday on Slash Road. He was attacked by Deseronto citizens who were trying to run our blockades. He had no weapons
whatsoever. The OPP are trying to make Shawn out to be the leader there. He is not.

DEMAND THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF SHAWN BRANT, POLITICAL PRISONER.

The Ritiskenekete have slashed OPP cruiser's windows and chased them off Deseronto Road. [Aboriginal People's Television Network] and support from Six Nations, Kahnawake are on their way. Anyone who can go there and help should call 613-391-5132 for information.

There will probably be a raid of the illegal Thurlow Quarry that the Mohawk took over a year ago.

Shawn Brant was taken to Napanee.

Needed Urgently: deer meat, fish, non-perishable food, water, Camping equipment, communications equipment, fuel, gas, propane, mobile phones, phone cards, rain coats, gas masks, towels, soap, wet wipes, tooth bushesand tooth paste, bear spray, gloves, work shoes, boots, runners, socks, radios, two-way radios, hand held radio, flashlights, tents, lanterns, wood for the fire, cooking utensils, plates and silverware, first aid.

To go there on the TransCanada Highway 401, to #49 to Slash Road, to Deseronto boundary. Or Marysville Road south to Bayshore Road, turn left all the way to the quarry.

Runners should be dispatched to go there to carry information from the site to supporters.

Supporters should contact OPP, Ontario government, band council chief to stop this aggression and attempted blood bath.

All nations council meeting tonight.

OPP heat is going on at the quarry. Need help now.

------

Tyendinaga Mohawk Aserakowa [War Chief] speaks from the front line – “We’re not leaving”. OPP: “We’re coming in at dark to take you out!”

MNN: April 25, 2008. Aserakowa: 613-243-4993 still at the quarry.

Shawn Brant was doing a media interview with APTN News in Tyendinaga on Deseronto Boundary Road. Ontario Provincial Police came along with an outstanding assault charge. They arrested Shawn. They hauled him off to jail. Then the OPP closed both ends of Deseronto Road. The Aserakowa came down to see what was going on.

Steve Flynn of Aboriginal Response Team (ART) of the OPP showed up. We talked. Flynn told the Aserakowa about Shawn. By then we had men at both ends of the road. He talked about opening the road. Flynn said, “You walk away and we’ll walk away. Okay?” Both Flynn and the Aserkowa agreed.

“We will get in our cars and you’ll get in yours”, said Flynn. It turned out to be a set up. The Rotiskeneketeh started moving off the road. Suddenly about 10 OPP jumped about 5 of our guys, threw them in the ditch, beat them up and arrested them. They hauled them off to jail. No reasons were given for the arrests or assaults. The OPP is certain[ly] not operating on an honorable nation to nation model. It is not even offering the kind of fiduciary protection for indigenous rights as it is supposed to, according to the supreme Court of Canada.

Since when have the colonial institutions ever acted to protect Indigenous people?

After behaving like thugs and beating up our guys, the OPP pulled out their weapons and pointed them at us. For our safety, we retreated back to the quarry. We didn’t want to get shot.

Once we got there cops swarmed us from every direction. They were everywhere as far as we could see, armed to the teeth with their guns pointed directly at us all the time.

Then they came over with loud speakers, told us to come away from the quarry, down the hill, with our hands up in the air “where we can see them”.

We told them, “Fuck you. This is Mohawk land. We’re not leaving”. They raised their weapons and aimed at us again.

“You’re going to have to shoot us”, we told them.

Then there was more build up. They told us they are coming in at dark to take us out. They are moving Mohawk people off Mohawk lands at the end of a gun barrel.

The Mohawks are unarmed.

The OPP have SWAT Teams, ambulances, dogs and we can’t see if they [have] ships in the water.

Arrested are Clint Brant, Steve Hill, Dan Doreen, Shawn Brant and Mac Kunkel. We don’t know where they’ve been taken.

Six Nations people have closed down three roads. Akwesasne guys are on the International Bridge. In Kahnawake there will be closures.

They will be coming after us at about 8:30 pm EDT, as soon as it gets dark.

We’re not moving. We know that.

We don’t know what’s going to happen. This is Ipperwash, 1990, Gustafsen Lake, Six Nations, the list goes on. If they harm any of those guys at Tyendinaga, there’s no saying what will happen.

The message from the men is that we will defend the land. That’s our duty according to the Kaianerekowa, Great Law of Peace, the law of Turtle Island.

SEND URGENT OBJECTIONS TO PREMIER MCGUINTY OF ONTARIO; PRIME MINISTER STEVEN HARPER; JULIAN FANTINO, COMMISSIONER OF THE OPP: tell them to call off their thugs and stop breaking the peace. They have an obligation under international law to resolve any disagreements peacefully. They have an obligation to keep the peace, not to break it.

LIVES ARE AT STAKE.

MNN Mohawk Nation News