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July 27th, 2006, 10:23:26 AM
On a visit to Hamilton, Monte Kwinter said all that remains is a symbolic occupation of the housing development in Caledonia. "At the present time, there is no occupation," he said. "I'm not aware of any mayhem."
Kwinter said barricades across the town's main thoroughfare have come down and, while aboriginals still camp out on the site, the situation is not inconveniencing anyone.
Caledonia residents can go about their business, he said.
Six Nations members occupied the site in late February, claiming it was wrongfully taken from them by the Crown more than 200 years ago. The occupation halted work on a subdivision on the site.
In June, the province bought out the developer for $12.3 million, but the land has not been turned over to the aboriginals and remains held in trust by the province. Kwinter said Ontario is now seeking a "long-term resolution" to the dispute at the negotiating table.
"That property is now owned by the province," he said. "There is no reason for anyone to go in there. It isn't as if someone is being inhibited from going in and doing something."
But Kwinter's comments outraged many residents, who said the occupation is still very real to them. They said that although the blockade is gone, they live in fear that violence which erupted over the past few months will reignite.
http://www.torontosun.com/News/Canada/2006/07/27/1704619-sun.html
Kwinter said barricades across the town's main thoroughfare have come down and, while aboriginals still camp out on the site, the situation is not inconveniencing anyone.
Caledonia residents can go about their business, he said.
Six Nations members occupied the site in late February, claiming it was wrongfully taken from them by the Crown more than 200 years ago. The occupation halted work on a subdivision on the site.
In June, the province bought out the developer for $12.3 million, but the land has not been turned over to the aboriginals and remains held in trust by the province. Kwinter said Ontario is now seeking a "long-term resolution" to the dispute at the negotiating table.
"That property is now owned by the province," he said. "There is no reason for anyone to go in there. It isn't as if someone is being inhibited from going in and doing something."
But Kwinter's comments outraged many residents, who said the occupation is still very real to them. They said that although the blockade is gone, they live in fear that violence which erupted over the past few months will reignite.
http://www.torontosun.com/News/Canada/2006/07/27/1704619-sun.html