[IPSM] Six Nations man likely to make bail today after six months in jail

[fiona at resist.ca]

A Six Nations man who has been called a prisoner of war is
expected to get out of jail today.

Trevor Miller has been in the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention
Centre for six months.

Miller was arrested in August on the Grassy Narrows reserve in
Northwestern Ontario.

Miller's detention has been a bone of contention for supporters
of Six Nations people occupying a partially built subdivision in
Caledonia.

His bail is being reviewed this morning at the Cayuga
courthouse.

Miller was charged with assault and two counts of robbery after
two incidents in Caledonia June 9, one involving the assault of
a CH TV cameraman and another a scuffle with American law
officials.

"I did nothing wrong," Miller said. "They've done their best to
make it hard for me," he added, referring to how long he's been
in jail.


Native accused may get out

Trevor Miller has been in jail six months since he was arrested
for alleged assault on CH man
By Marissa Nelson
The Hamilton Spectator
(Feb 9, 2007)
The native man who has been called a prisoner of war and whose
detention sparked protests in Toronto and Hamilton is expected
to get out of jail today.

But in an exclusive interview in the Hamilton-Wentworth
Detention Centre, 31-year-old Trevor Miller said he has learned
during his six-month incarceration not to get his hopes up.

"It's out of my hands," he said shrugging in his prison-issued
orange overalls. "There's nothing I can do about it."

Miller hasn't seen his 11-month-old son since he was found and
arrested in August on the Grassy Narrows reserve in Northwestern
Ontario, not far from the Manitoba border.

"It's hard being away from my family," he said, tears welling in
his eyes. "I'll just hope for the best. That's all I can do."

Miller's detention has been a bone of contention for supporters
of the Six Nations people who have occupied a former
subdivision, because he's been behind bars for so long.

His bail, which was earlier denied, is being reviewed this
morning at the Cayuga courthouse.

Each time Miller has appeared in court his family have been
there to show their support and Miller has worn a traditional
ribbon shirt and Mohawk headdress.

He was charged with assault and two counts of robbery after two
incidents in Caledonia June 9, one involving the assault of a CH
TV cameraman and another a scuffle with American law officials.

"I did nothing wrong," Miller said. "They've done their best to
make it hard for me," he added, referring to how long he's been
in jail.

Miller's lawyer Justin Griffin didn't want his client to say
much about the events of June 9th, though Griffin said there is
evidence it wasn't Miller involved in the assault.

Griffin admits, however, that part of the delay in Miller's
release was that his previous lawyer did not apply for a bail
review. Today's hearing was also delayed because the court
reporter needed time to produce transcripts of the first
hearing.

Miller believes authorities are making it tough on him so that
he's an example to others.

"I'm sticking up for who I am and they don't want us to do
that," he said. "Before I go to bed it runs through my head --
why, why, why? I can't question. The Creator has chosen this for
me and I have to deal with it," he said. "I'm learning to deal
with it."

Miller has become a cause celebre. Griffin has written to a
foreign consulate to ask them to intervene in the case.

Miller is frank about his past -- one he says he isn't proud of
but one he has left behind. He's also open about pleading guilty
to an assault charge laid in early 2006 when he was accused of
assaulting his son's mother who was seven-months pregnant at the
time.

Miller said he tried to forcefully remove her from his house and
shouldn't have done it.

mnelson at thespec.com

905-526-2409




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