ANISHINABEK NATION – Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Glen Hare says the best way to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the shooting death of Anthony “Dudley” George at Ipperwash by an Ontario Provincial Police sniper is through continued public education.
“On September 6, 1995, we lost a warrior. His fight was to protect the land of his people of Ipperwash. This loss is another example of systemic racism that we continue to fight today; working with our people who are dealing with years of treaty rights infringement, inherent rights not acknowledged and unsettled land claims,” states Grand Council Chief Hare.
Since the unarmed protestor’s death on September 6, 1995, there has been a public inquiry and some 100 recommendations from the report of the Ipperwash Inquiry that was released by Justice Sidney Linden on May 31, 2007. The Anishinabek News online featured a summer series comprised of 16 articles that examined themes such as history, policing, heritage and burials, public education and treaties. All of the articles are intended to reflect on what happened and what is happening today.
“From the report of the Ipperwash Inquiry, it was found that there is a lack of recognition and respect of inherent, aboriginal and treaty rights and how these exhaustive issues together pose a barrier to maintaining healthy relationships between Anishinabek First Nations, government, and police services,” says Grand Council Chief Hare. “Frequently, Anishinabek people who exercise their treaty and aboriginal and inherent rights find themselves under the scrutiny of not only police services, but by a public ignorant to the history of First Nations people and colonialism who have not received or sougheducation on First Nation treaty and aboriginal rights. A way to counter ignorance and to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the shooting death of Dudley George and the legacy of his brother Sam is through continued public education efforts.”
Efforts put forth by the Anishinabek Nation for public education include lobbying and participating in the inquiry, commemorative events, news releases, books, teacher’s kits, Treaties Recognition Week events and participating in the bi-lateral table relationship with Ontario. Next spring will see a full launch of treaty education web-based resources.
