[IPSM] Tyendinaga: Brant out on bail

[mtl six nations sol]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Audrey Huntley <audreyhuntley at rogers.com>
Date: 03-May-2007 23:58
Subject: [six_nations_info] Brant out on bail
To: six_nations_info at masses.tao.ca


Printed from www.intelligencer.ca web site Thursday, May 03, 2007 -  (c) 2007
 Belleville Intelligencer
 ------------------------------

*Brant out on bail
*
*By Samantha Craggs*

*Thursday, May 03, 2007 - 10:00 **
**
**Local News *- NAPANEE — The spokesman in a Mohawk protest at a
Deserontoquarry

is out on bail on the condition he not participate in any unlawful protests.


Shawn Brant has been ordered to keep the peace and not participate in any
protests that block roads, railways or other thoroughfares on or off
Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. He will appear in court again June 26.

Brant is charged with mischief, disobeying a court order and breach of
recognizance in connection with a 30-hour blockade of a Canadian National
rail line April 20. The warrant for his arrest was issued five days later.

Both Crown Attorney Bob Morrison and Brant's lawyer Peter Rosenthal agreed
to bail, which was posted by Brant's wife. But Morrison argued for the
amendment regarding protesting, citing media articles where Brant "in fact
promised" to reoffend by taking the occupation of the Thurlow Aggregates
gravel quarry to local highways, railways and the town of Deseronto if the
quarry's licence is not suspended.

The blockade caused about 3,500 passengers to make alternate travel
arrangements without notice, and Canadian National has said its financial
losses are in the millions, Morrison said.

But Rosenthal said Brant was promised immunity from any charges by Ontario
Provincial Police officers if the blockade was removed by 6 a.m., which it
was. Orders to lay charges anyway, he said, came directly from OPP
Commissioner Julian Fantino. Rosenthal read a written account from
NapaneeOPP Insp. Ron Van
Straalen, who said he could see how the conversation would be interpreted as
promising immunity.

Rosenthal, a social justice lawyer who represented the family of slain
aboriginal Dudley George in the 2004 inquiry in the Ipperwash stand-off,
said he will bring that up at the trial. It is "another broken promise to
the First Nations community," he said.

"I'm astonished this is taking place at all and that we're before you
today," he said.

Brant has been the spokesman for a group of native protesters who have
inhabited the quarry since March 22. The quarry is located on the Culbertson
Tract, 923.5 acres currently subject to land claim negotiations between the
federal government and the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte. The protesters say
they will stay until the quarry's licence is revoked.

Brant turned himself in to Napanee OPP Thursday morning in a surrender
previously negotiated by Rosenthal and police. The surrender happened
without incident, except it was initiated by a detective other than the one
Rosenthal had arranged for, to which Rosenthal objected. Brant, Rosenthal
and an officer waited about 15 minutes to complete the arrest until the
detective was on the scene.

Before turning himself in, Brant said he and fellow quarry occupiers made
the decision because they feared the warrant would detract attention from
their cause.

"We don't run, we don't hide and we don't want that suggestion to be made,"
he said.

Brant appeared at the bail hearing later that day, handcuffed and sitting
quietly during the proceedings. The audience was filled with Brant
supporters, many of them First Nations people.

Jason Maracle, one of the protesters, said the arrest does not impact the
occupation. He was, however, quieter about their future plans.

"We'll leave that up to Canada's spy agencies," he said. "We'll leave it to
the experts to figure it out."
ID- 513449
 ------------------------------

(c) 2007 , Os

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