Stoney Point, Ontario - SUNRISE AT AAZHOODENAANG
Sept. 15, 1998
by Joel Klassen

On September 6, members of CPT Ontario participated in a sunrise ceremony at
Aazhoodenaang [Ah-jhoo-DEH-nang] First Nation, at the place where three
years earlier an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer had killed Dudley
George. George was part of an Aazhoodenaang group that had reclaimed some
of their historical lands.

Aazhoodenaang (also called Stoney Point) lies on the beach-ringed
southeastern shores of Lake Huron. Visitors from around southern Ontario
came for the ceremony, and later enjoyed a day of conversation, delicious
meals, playing at the beach, and more community ceremonies. By
participating in and learning about aboriginal traditions, CPT'ers gained
appreciation for the resilience of that culture.

In 1942, desiring an army training base in the area, the federal government
forced the Aazhoodenaang Nation from their land, promising to return it
after the war. After waiting for 51 years, a group of Aazhoodenaang
re-occupied the land in 1993. Two years later some of them occupied
Ipperwash Provincial Park, attached to the same land. They had lost what
became the park under contested circumstances in the 1920's. The province
had promised to protect traditional burial grounds there, but neglected to
do so.

Although the earlier occupation of the army base occurred peacefully, and
although there was no evidence that Aazhoodenaang had firearms, the
provincial police responded to the occupation of Ipperwash Park by sending
in 400 heavily armed officers. According to Aazhoodenaang people who were
there, police beat an elder from a nearby First Nations community who had
gone to calm them. In the ensuing melee, Acting Sergeant Kenneth Deane shot
and killed Dudley George. A juvenile was also wounded. Deane has been
convicted of criminal negligence causing death and sentenced to 200 hours of
community work.

Information has become public since the shooting which indicates that senior
officials in the provincial government played a significant role in the
events leading to George's death. Aazhoodenaang people have called for a
public inquiry into the matter. The call has been echoed by other First
Nations, major faith groups, opposition parties, community groups, organized
labour and Amnesty International.