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[source: NativeNews; Wed, 23 Feb 2000 23:27:24]

From: Ann Pohl <annpohl@interlog.com>
Subject: Media Advisory from Ipperwash Coalition

Coalition for a Public Inquiry into Ipperwash
February 23, 2000
 

Media Advisory
 

THE  FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MUST ACT NOW
TO STOP THE ESCALATING VIOLENCE AGAINST
ABORIGINAL PERSONS AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS CANADA.

Allegations of police violence towards Native people are surfacing across
the country this week.

Allegations that federal Cabinet Ministers are covering up information and
not fulfilling their responsibility to the electorate are being hotly
debated in the media and in Parliament.

But neither of these stories is new.

When Dudley George was shot and killed by the Ontario Provincial Police
almost five years ago, he became the first Aboriginal person to die in a
land claims dispute in Canada in the 20th century. Yet, clearly this was not
an isolated event and the human rights situation in Canada is getting worse.

Neither the provincial nor the federal government has called a public
inquiry into what happened at Ipperwash, an inquiry that would recommend
protocols to lessen the likelihood of a recurrence of this kind of tragedy.
While provincial governments have jurisdiction over policing, the federal
government has a constitutionally mandated fiduciary responsibility for
"Indians and lands reserved for Indians".

Federal government inaction has strengthened the national climate of
intolerance , a climate in which police and non-Native citizens can commit
acts of violence towards Aboriginal persons with impunity. At fault, in
particular, in this regard are the current and past Minister of Indian
Affairs, Robert Nault and Jane Stewart, who have direct responsibility for a
cover-up of the Ipperwash events.

As a last ditch effort - before returning to the international human rights
arena - the Coalition for a Public Inquiry is appealing to the Prime
Minister of Canada to act on the human rights issues of Aboriginal persons
by mandating a federal inquiry into Ipperwash.

Coalition strategy, the letter to the Prime Minister, and materials received
through Access to Information will be released at the:

Media Conference
Thursday, February 24, 2000, 11:00 a.m.
Media Studio, Main Floor, Legislative Building, Queen's Park

-30-

For more information: Robin Buyers: 416-658-7485 or Ann Pohl: 416-537-3520
 
 

*** Uphold Aboriginal Land and Treaty Rights ***
Postal: Box 111, Station C, Toronto, Ont., M6J 3M7
Website: http://www.web.net/~inquiry
Telephone: 416-537-3520
Fax: 416-538-2559
Email: annpohl@interlog.com

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