Blood spilled at Ontario Provincial Park

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A protest at a provincial park in Ontario turned deadly when Chippewa Anthony (Dudley) George was shot in a skirmish with police.

He was one of a number of people occupying Ipperwash Provincial Park when Ontario Provincial Police opened fire on Native protesters Sept. 6. Two other people were injured in the attack.

Ovide Mercredi, grand chief of the Assembly of First Nations, and Thomas Bressette, chief of the Chippewas of the Kettle and Stoney Point First Nation, called for an impartial inquiry to determine what happened.

"We want the truth, we just don't want the publicity," said Mercredi.

Natives had been occupying the park since Labor Day, insisting that the land is the site of a sacred burial ground. While at first the Ontario government had dismissed the Natives' claim, documents newly uncovered by his staff and released by Indian Affairs Minister Ron Irwin apparently backed up the Aboriginal position.

Sept. 17 saw the 40 protesters, known as the Stoney Pointers, allow the police onto the camp to collect forensic evidence into the shooting death of George. However, police are doubtful whether the investigation will ever lead to the truth.

The occupiers said that George was unarmed and was retreating from a confrontation when he was shot by police. Police say that they were fired upon first.