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Reclamation commemorated 8 years later By Jim Windle KANONHSTATON - The early morning of Febru- ary 28th, was bitterly cold, similar to Friday, Febru- ary 28th, 2006, when the planned development site was taken over and even- tually stopped by the peo- ple of Six Nations. Many of the same fac- es that were there that cold morning eight years ago were back again for the 8th anniversary march and potluck at the former Douglas Creek Estates, now rebranded as Kanon- hstaton, a Mohawk word meaning "the protected place." The day started, like every February 28th - since the "conflict in Caledonia" became news across all of Turtle Island and even into Europe - with a sunrise ceremony at Kanonhstaton, followed by a breakfast before the march from Sixth Line Road to Highway #6 and onto the reclamation site, and a potluck lunch. Now, eight years later, the site looks much differ- ent. The Six Nations' and Caledonia town-folk's bar- ricades have been down for several years. All but one of the partially com- pleted houses have been torn down, and life has re- A reunion of sorts took place Feb. 28th at the main gate of what was once a battleground during the 2006-2007 Con- flict in Caledonia when Six Nations reclaimed land earmarked for a housing development. From left are Kanonhstaton veterans, carol Bomberry, Jan Longboat, Bebby Jamieson, Janie Jamieson, Mindi Maracle, Doreen Silversmith and Donna Powless. PHOTO BY JIM WINDLE turned to a form of peace- ful co-existence, albeit a volatile one. There are a few tell- tale signs of those turbu- lent months of riot police and stare-downs across manned barricades block- ing Highway #6. A burned out tractor-trailer, set ablaze by Caledonia res- ident, late· one night still stands as a stark remind- er of the standoff between neighbouring communi- ties. A section of hydro tower, adorned with a Mo- hawk Unity Flag and a Hi- awatha Flag, still sits in two pieces at the edge of the entrance to the proper- ty, ready to be used again as an instant barricade should it be needed. There is also the no- ticeable emotional scars of those who faced-off against angry Haldimand citizens and an army of heavily armed OPP, in riot gear, 24/7 for weeks and months on end. Among those in atten- dance this year was Janie Jamieson, one of two Mo- hawk women who, along with Dawn Smith, became the face and the voice of the reclamation in its early days. 'So why not just let the situation die and forget about it,' some would say. But Jamieson believes it is important not to forget what happened, and more importantly, why it hap- pened. "A big part of our his- tory is overlooked in the mainstream," she said. "One of the biggest issues is the lack of awareness and education about the true, shared history we have. We are still here. This is our land, it was nev- er sold, never surrendered and this should be a con- stant reminder." Jamieson want's to see an end to the colonial mentality of the federal, provincial and municipal governments. "I would like to see an acknowledgement from the mainstream education system to start educat- ing, so our children can be taught to walk shoulder to shoulder with non-Na- tives and for our children to know their history," she says. "They will always criminalize us. It's the only way to silence us. Now they are making the move to starve us out through that Bill C-10. That tactic has been around for thousands of years, but we always find ways and means to survive." Ultimately, that's why I come here (every anni- versary) because who we are is tied to this land." Jan Longboat wt1s also at ground zero eight years ago and she too believes it is important that her peo- ple never forget. "It's to celebrate that we are still here as a peo- ple and we are not going anywhere," said Longboat. "We're going to be here forever and it's important that we protect our land, because it's part of our cul- ture for the coming faces of future generations." ... CONTINUED ON PAGE 17