'Right thing to do'

Fri, December 21, 2007
Ontario is returning the land of Ipperwash Provincial Park to the Kettle and Stony Point First Nation.
By JENNIFER O'BRIEN, SUN MEDIA


Ontario's Aboriginal Affairs Minister Michael Bryant stands between Sam George, left, and Tom Bressette, chief of the Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, at Kettle Point where the province said it's returning Ipperwash park land to the First Nation. George's brother Dudley died in a protest in the park in 1995. (DEREK RUTTAN, Sun Media)
KETTLE POINT -- Twelve years after native protester Dudley George was killed by police at Ipperwash Provincial Park, the province is returning the land to the Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation.
While George's brother Sam said his death "sped up" the return of the disputed land, Ontario Aboriginal Affairs Minister Michael Bryant said that's not how the province will resolve future land claims.
"Where there is conflict and violence and death, it does not provide for a more expeditious result," he said in Toronto.
"It leads to complete entrenchment and tragedy, bitterness on both sides that you have to see to believe. It's going to take a long time for these communities to heal."
Ipperwash Provincial Park was a "particularly special" case, Bryant said. The land may have "significant nostalgic value" to the surrounding community, but returning it to the First Nation is the right thing to do," he said.

A complete transfer of the park land could take years, but will begin immediately, Bryant said later at Kettle Point, near the park, where he also met with First Nations elders.

Octavian Paler

„Îmi iubesc ţara doar atunci când nu mă uit la televizor şi nu merg pe stradă!” Octavian Paler