The Tyendinaga Support Committee is a group in Toronto working to gather support for the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte (Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory) in their struggles for land and justice and against criminal prosecution. To get involved, to lend your support, or if you have any questions, please email: support.tmt (at) gmail.com
 Past Updates
- CN construction destructive, land claim unresolved (Feb 20, 2010)
- A Night on Water Justice (Sept 12, 2009)
- Struggle Continues Against Armed Border Guards in Akwesasne (June 29, 2009)
- UPDATE: Seven Mohawks remain in prison after OPP assault (June 12, 2009)
- OPP Assault on Mohawks: Mohawk Women re-take Skyway Bridge (June 12, 2009)
- Tyendinaga Answers Akwesasne's Call (June 7, 2009)
- CN: Drop your racist lawsuit! (Apr 2, 2009)
- Amnesty International Open Letter (Nov 12, 2008)
- Warrants Issued: 30 Mohawks Facing Arrest (Nov 5, 2008)
- Crown Buys Fantino's Silence with Brant's Freedom (Sept 29, 2008)
- The OPP and Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory (Sept 29, 2008)
- 11th Hour Decision: Court of Appeal Throws Out Publication Ban Again (July 19, 2008)
- Press Conference Announcement (July 18, 2008)
- Shawn Brant Released from Custody! (June 27, 2008)
- Public Event - Ipperwash Inquiry: Lessons Unlearned? (June 17, 2008)
- Two Tyendinaga Mohawk Prisoners Released (June 5, 2008)
- CUPE Ontario Passes Resolution in Support of Tyendinaga (June 5, 2008)
- Update from Quinte Regional Detention Centre (May 28, 2008)
- More Charges Laid: Clampdown Intensifies (May 20, 2008)
- Punchclock Showcase No. 2: Shawn Brant is No Criminal (May 16-17, 2008)
- OPP Weaponry and Escalation:
Update on the Struggle for the Culbertson Tract (May 13, 2008)
- Shawn Brant's Arrest - Statement by Sue Collis, Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory (May 4, 2008)
- Tense Standoff Continues in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory (April 27, 2008)
- Ontario Jails Five More First Nations People Involved in Land Struggles (April 27, 2008)
- Hollow Victory: Shawn Brant Acquitted of Threat Charges (April 18, 2008)
- Prosecution Seeks Minimum 12 Years of Federal Penitentiary Time (October 15, 2007)
- Shawn Brant Released from Custody (August 30, 2007)
Media
- Protesters win another round in police battle (Belleville Intelligencer, October 9, 2009)
- School water issue heating up (Belleville Intelligencer, October 6, 2009)
- Shawn Brant gets five-month sentence (Belleville Intelligencer, Jul 22, 2009)
- Ontario bridge reopens after tense native-police standoff (Canwest News Service, June 12, 2009)
- Ontario bridge protest remains `volatile' (Canwest News Service, June 12, 2009)
- Aboriginal rail blockades justified, serve to raise awareness: lawyer (Canadian Press, Apr 7, 2009)
- Second Lawsuit Launched (Belleville Intelligencer, Dec 23, 2008)
- Mohawk residents file $74M lawsuit against band council, owner of operation (Belleville Intelligencer, Dec 16, 2008)
- Post office takes a flyer (Toronto Star, Nov 27, 2008)
- Police station delivery thwarted by protesters (Belleville Intelligencer, Oct 30, 2008)
- Mohawk protester Brant gets light penalty for blockades (CBC News, Sept 29, 2008)
- New Mohawk police building put on hold after protesters set up blockade (Belleville Intelligencer, Sept 24, 2008)
- No polls on reserve Oct. 14 (Belleville Intellgencer, Sept 23, 2008)
- Police Posing as Reporters Erodes Press Freedom, says CJFE (July 30, 2008)
- OPP forgets lessons of Ipperwash (Toronto Star, July 30, 2008)
- No progress made on Culbertson Tract (Belleville Intelligencer, July 26, 2008)
- Police chief sues OPP over firing (Brantford Expositor, July 25, 2008)
- Media Reports and Documents on Commissioner Fantino and OPP Wiretaps (July 2008)
- No compromise from Mohawks (Belleville Intelligencer, June 26, 2008)
- Kingston developer faces 45 days in jail (Napanee Guide, June 23, 2008)
- Police hoped to keep Brant behind bars: defence lawyer (Belleville Intelligencer, June 20, 2008)
- Report slams Fantino (Belleville Intelligencer, June 4, 2008)
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June 27, 2008
Shawn Brant Released from Custody!
After 62 days in jail, Shawn Brant has finally been released from custody! Shawn was being held on trumped up charges alleging he had assaulted a white local businessman during recent road blockades aimed at stopping a development planned on stolen Mohawk land. The blockades succeeded in convincing the developer to back off.
Charges arose when eager OPP officers learned that Shawn had challenged two racist locals (the LaLondes) when they attacked a small group of mainly Mohawk women and children. LaLonde flew into a rage when he was turned back at the roadblock, wielding a bat at protesters, and hitting a woman with his car. Although Mohawks called 911 the police never laid any charges against Lalonde.
Instead they focused in on Shawn, who had come upon the scene and demanded that the attackers leave. Shawn was arrested and held in pre-trial custody. His trial began yesterday when he was released as part of a plea bargain.
The trial was proceeding extremely well and a plea was brokered. Shawn pled guilty to possession of a dangerous weapon (his fishing spear) and breaching the conditions of his previous release. He was cleared of the assault charge. If the trial had proceeded he may well have been found innocent of all charges--however, given that the courts can't be trusted to do justice and Shawn has already served over two months away from his children including his infant son he decided to take the plea.
Shawn was released on time served. The Crown will not seek to revoke his previous bail. He will also serve 12 months probation on terms similar to his already existing conditions.
Resistance continues in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, despite the repression. The quarry reclamation is holding strong and people continue to meet and organize around the Longhouse, the traditional site of Mohawk governance.
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