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Aug
7, 2003
PERMIT
GRANTED TO CAMP IN THE VALLEY
The
Showstoppers Union continued to maintain picket lines at
the access points to the valley areas scheduled for construction
of the Greenhill Interchange. Attempts by Dufferin Construction
to enter the site were peacefully turned back this morning.
At the suggestion of the Showstoppers, the City of Hamilton
agreed to hold exploratory discussions at a neutral location.
It
was also agreed that Dufferin Construction would not seek
to enter the valley while these discussions were taking
place. The discussions began about 12:30 this afternoon
at Valley Park Community Centre and continued for approximately
three hours. They were attended by representatives of the
Haudenosaunee people, the City of Hamilton, the Showstoppers,
the Red Hill Neighbourhood Association, and Friends of Red
Hill Valley, as well as by other individuals and members
of the media. The discussions were conducted in an atmosphere
of respect and mutual exchange of views and positions. It
was agreed that a further meeting will take place as soon
as possible and will be chaired by the neutral community
facilitator employed by the City.
David
Cohen, a member of the Showstoppers
and of Friends of Red Hill was interviewed
this morning on the national CBC radio
program “The Current”. There
was also extensive media coverage in
the weekly Brabant newspapers, the Hamilton
Spectator and local electronic media.
We
also want to share with you the following
release which was issued late on Tuesday
evening, August 6, 2003:
Haudenosaunee
Permit Granted to Showstoppers and Friends
of Red Hill
A
permit to camp in the Red Hill Valley
has been granted to representatives
of two groups who are interested in
protecting the ecology of the valley.
The Friends of Red Hill and the Showstoppers
have been granted permits by the Haudenosaunee
(People of the Longhouse), who have
inherent Aboriginal rights to camp,
hunt, and fish in the Red Hill Valley.
Along with the right to use the valley,
the Haudenosaunee have the responsibility
of protecting the valley for future
generations. The Haudenosaunee people,
whose traditional territory stretches
between modern-day United States and
Canada, lived in harmony with the natural
world for hundreds and thousands of
years, but in today’s world, we
face new environmental problems that
our ancestors never had to consider.
The Haudenosaunee Environmental Task
Force was formed about ten years ago
to work towards solutions of some of
these environmental problems. More information
about the Task Force can be found at
http://www.hetfonline.org/.
Norm
Jacobs, Delgate of the Haudenosaunee
Task Force, is currently in hospital
in Hamilton and was unable to personally
attend the rally in Red Hill Valley
yesterday. On behalf of Norm Jacobs
and the Haudenosaunee people, yesterday’s
rally was opened with the traditional
Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving address,
by Al Loft. Mr. Loft gave some background
information about the Haudenosaunee
Environmental Task Force and announced
that permits had been granted to the
Showstoppers and to Friends of Red Hill.
The
permit is valid only if the permit-holders
abide by both Kaianara:kowa (the Haudenosaunee
Great Law of Peace), and the Showstoppers
"Basis of Unity". The Basis
of Unity consists of the following six
points:
-
Our
attitude will be one of openness, friendliness, and
respect towards all people we encounter.
-
We
will use no violence, verbal or physical, toward any
person.
-
We
will not damage any property.
-
We
will not bring or use any drugs or alcohol other than
for medical purposes.
-
We
will carry no weapons.
-
We
will make decisions by consensus.
The
Haudenosaunee have never granted a permit
to the City of Hamilton, and have not
signed any agreements with the City
of Hamilton about the Red Hill valley.
The City of Hamilton signed an agreement
with the Six Nations band council, as
represented by Chief Roberta Jamieson,
on June 30, 2003. The City of Hamilton
and Six Nations have agreed to appoint
a city-paid facilitator for discussions
about archaeological activity in the
Red Hill valley. However, the Six Nations
band council is only one of the stakeholders
with regard to archaeological activity
in the valley, and the City of Hamilton
also has a responsibility to consult
with other stakeholders including the
Haudenosaunee, the Mississaugas of the
New Credit, and others.
For
more information, please contact:
Aug
7, 2003
PICKETING CONTINUES
The
picketing continued today at Greenhill
and Harrisford, and at the western end
of Albright (two blocks west of Mt.
Albion). Trucks from Dufferin Construction
were turned back for the third consecutive
day by a large picket line.
The
meeting with the City did not materialize,
but now has been set for Friday morning
at 8 am in the Kings Forest Golf Clubhouse
(south end of Cochrane Road near the
escarpment on the west side of the valley).
This is open to the media and the public.
There
is also an open invitation for anyone
who would like to camp this weekend
on the edge of the valley (near the
Greenhill deadend where Monday’s
rally was held).
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