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 29, 2009
Update: Support and Stay Tuned:
Struggle Continues Against Armed Border Guards in Akwesasne
To see photos of the Skyway Bridge protest aftermath, go to:
http://picasaweb.google.com/jmkane1220/TyendinagaAftermath
On June 1st, the Harper government’s decision to
allow Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) border guards carry
sidearms was scheduled to be enforced, but the community resistance of
Akwesasne Mohawks resulted in the closing of the border by the
Canadian government. Since then, the Mohawks of Akwesasne continue to
resist the imposition of armed border guards by the CBSA. Throughout
the Mohawk Nation, actions have been taken demanding that the Canadian
government enter into negotiations on the issue.
On Sunday June 7, Mohawks shut down the Skyway Bridge, which links
Prince Edward County to the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory near
Belleville, Ontario, in solidarity with the community of Akwesasne.
Despite tremendous police pressure, Tyendinaga Mohawks held the bridge
until early Friday morning when local police and the OPP moved in and
ended the blockade. Thirteen people were charged and several Mohawk
protesters sustained minor injuries. Two people were taken to
hospital, but were later released into police custody.
Out of the thirteen arrested, three Mohawks are still in jail. All of
them are being held at the Quinte Regional Detention Centre. Paul
VanHooser and Charles Kloestra have been denied bail and are detained
until trial on mischief charges. The Crown is seeking a 6-month
sentence for each of them. Shawn Brant, who was still living under a
conditional sentence for participating in previous blockades, is also
being held in custody at least until he serves out his conditional
sentence in prison, until the end of July. He is charged with
mischief and breaching his conditions. A trial date has not yet been
set in his case, and there is no decision yet on whether he will be
held in custody until trial.
After the OPP ended the Skyway Bridge blockade, women from the
community of Tyendinaga returned to the site and retook the bridge for
the remainder of the day, as a further show of resolve to see that
this issue is dealt with in good faith, through respectful
nation-to-nation negotiation.
Please show solidarity by writing to Paul VanHooser, Charles Kloestra,
and Shawn Brant still in custody at:
Name of Person
c/o Quinte Regional Detention Centre
89 Richmond Blvd.
Napanee, ON
K7R 3S1
**Please note: your letters of support are much appreciated but the
jail WILL NOT accept any of the following: photocopied materials,
anything with staples, coloured paper, pictures, newspaper or magazine
articles. Thanks!
- Tyendinaga Support Committee
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