“Until now, we have worked very hard to reach agreements in a peaceful and honourable way and we will continue to do so,” said Fontaine, whose words were the mirror opposite of Shawn Brant, a rogue Mohawk who has done jail time for his militant protests before.
“This is the first time ever we’ve shut down the 401, and I don’t believe it’s going to be the last,” said a defiant Brant, a wiry 43-year-old father of three who wears his hair long under an ever-present battle-fatigue cap.
“It was certainly a good test run for us.”
The Aboriginal Day of action as it played out on the rails and roads of Eastern Ontario on Friday was disgraceful and serves as a another reminder of how disjointed the Aboriginal community is. Even as National Council leaders called for peace, rogue Mohawk members cause as much disruption as possible, and proceed with veiled threats, announcing that the members holding the roadblocks were armed "for defense". With the misguided notion that annoying inconveniencing and at worst intimidating the general public will somehow open Canada's eyes to the travesty that exists on some many reserves is foolish at best. This "action" served only to turn more hearts and minds away from our people, reinforced stereotypes and will result in not action but more conflict.
There is no debate when one side is behind a barrier, masked and armed, demanding to be heard and unwilling to listen.
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