Church Native

April 30, 2008 , CKWS-TV News

 MEMBERS OF A DESERONTO CHURCH ARE SPEAKING OUT AGAINST RECENT NATIVE PROTESTS NEAR THE TOWN. 

THE CHURCH'S REVEREND SAYS THERE IS GROWING CONCERN AMONG RESIDENTS THAT ONLY ONE SIDE OF THE STORY IS BEING TOLD.

NEWSWATCH'S LIZ COOK REPORTS. 

REPRESENTATIVES OF THIS CHURCH IN DESERONTO ARE SPEAKING OUT ABOUT A SIMMERING LAND CLAIMS DISPUTE THAT BOILED OVER LAST WEEK. 

SEVERAL MOHAWKS WERE ARRESTED FRIDAY AFTER REFUSING TO TAKE DOWN ROADBLOCKS IN A LAND CLAIMS DISPUTE. 

FATHER BRAD SMITH SAYS A SETTLEMENT CANNOT BE ACHIEVED THROUGH VIOLENCE. 

FATHER BRAD SMITH:

"DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, ASSAULT POLICE OFFICERS AND THEIR VEHICLES, WHO KNOWS IF ALL THE ACCUSATIONS OF GUNS ARE TRUE, BUT NEVER THE LESS THERE IS THE FEAR OF VIOLENCE." 

FATHER SMITH -- WHOSE PARISH IS PROMINENTLY MOHAWK BUT ALSO INCLUDES NON-NATIVES SAYS THE NATIVE ACTIVISTS ARE UNDERMINING THE LEGAL LAND CLAIM PROCESS BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND BAY OF QUINTE MOHAWKS. 

FR. BRAD SMITH:

"THERE ARE PEOPLE STANDING THERE CLAIMING TO REPRESENT THE MOHAWK NATION, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF ALL THE PEOPLE OF TYENDINAGA AND I GUESS I HAVE TO GO OUT ON A LIMB AND SAY "THEY DON'T" I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE TERRITORY, BOTH PARISHIONERS AND TOWNS PEOPLE FOR WHOM THESE PEOPLE DO NOT SPEAK." 

DESERONTO MAYOR, NORM CLARKE IS PLEASED MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH ARE MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD. 

HE SAYS IT IS A PROMISING SIGN THAT THE TWO COMMUNITIES ARE COMING TOGETHER. 

NORM CLARKE:

"I THINK BOTH TERRITORIES, BOTH DESERONTO AND THE TERRIOTRY ... THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING IF THERE IS A LEGITIMATE LAND CLAIM, LETS GET IT SOLVED AND GO BACK TO OUR LIVES AGAIN." 

FATHER SMITH'S PARISH PLANS TO HOLD A PRAYER VIGIL IN DOWNTOWN DESERONTO TO DELIVER ITS MESSAGE. 

FR. BRAD SMITH:

"WE BELIEVE THE INJUSTICE EXISTS, THAT THE LAND CLAIM IS VALID, BUT IT'S A QUESTION OF HOW WE CORRECT THE PAST INJUSTICE WITHOUT CREATING NEW INJUSTICES?"

LIZ COOK, CKWS NEWSWATCH, DESERONTO.

MUNICIPAL LEADERS IN DESERONTO RECENTLY MET WITH A FEDERAL NEGOTIATOR TO TRY AND RESOLVE THE LAND CLAIMS DISPUTE.