And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: Date: Thu, 17 Jun 1999 07:42:39 -0400 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: Lynne Moss-Sharman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Protest brings Toronto expressway to a halt Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Gardiner brought to standstill Native protesters block expressway in funding protest June 17, 1999 By Peter Small Toronto Star Staff Reporter Native protesters blocked yesterday morning's rush-hour traffic on the Gardiner Expressway for 1 1/2 hours in a battle over who controls federal job-training funds for urban aboriginals. ``It's only the start of this issue,'' said Vince Hill, executive director of the Niagara Peninsula Aboriginal Area Management Board, one of the native organizations that participated in the protest. ``If they think they had a problem at Oka, that was a family picnic,'' Hill said, referring to the 1990 armed standoff with Mohawks in Quebec. At stake is who controls more than $3 million a year in federal funding for native employment services and skills training in the Golden Horseshoe. Thousands of commuters heading downtown were caught in the rush-hour chaos as about 75 demonstrators blocked the eastbound lanes, chanting, banging drums and carrying Mohawk flags and protest signs. Police finally forced them to leave the Gardiner at Spadina Ave. about 9:30 a.m. `If they think they had a problem at Oka, that was a family picnic.' - Vince Hill Executive director, Niagara Peninsula Aboriginal Area Management Board The protesters, most of whom wore red T-shirts, had marched on to the elevated expressway at 8 a.m. from a ramp at the west end of Exhibition Place, accompanied by a pickup truck. They initially occupied one lane and then, as cars slowed down to take a look, were gradually able to occupy all three, said Toronto police Staff Sergeant Michael Fenwick. Police didn't make any arrests or lay charges, judging it safer to allow the demonstrators to proceed to the nearest exit rather than risk a potentially dangerous confrontation on an elevated road, Fenwick said. ``We did the best we could, given the resources I had under my disposal. I don't have an army,'' Fenwick said. About 20 officers were sent to the scene and they were backed up by traffic police. After occupying the Gardiner, the protesters made their way up Spadina Ave. and over to Nathan Phillips Square for a rally. Leaders said they had no other way of getting government attention. ``Yes, we regret that those drivers were inconvenienced going to work. We only regret that we didn't have work to go to when we're shut out of this government,'' said Roger Obonsawin, a spokesperson for the Aboriginal Rights Movement, made up of supporters of the threatened job training programs. It was their second protest in recent weeks. On Victoria Day, protesters blocked the Queen Elizabeth Way near Burlington, delaying holiday traffic for more than an hour. The Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training, on Yonge St., administered $3.2 million of federal money last year for native programs in Toronto, said executive director Nancy Martin. The programs include job counselling, academic upgrading and computer training. ``What's really successful is it's aboriginal people helping aboriginal people,'' Martin said. Miziwe Biik and the Niagara Peninsula Aboriginal Area Management Board fear that local control of the system will disappear now that the federal government has changed the method of providing funds. Starting Oct. 1, funding for federal job training will be controlled by two other groups, the Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres, a network of 27 centres, and Grand River Employment and Training, on the Six Nations Reserve. After winning a bidding process, these two groups will have the right to control the delivery of the services across Ontario for the federal government. Reached in her Six Nations office, Elvera Garlow, director of Grand River Employment and Training, said the two successful bidders have sent a letter to Miziwe Biik, inviting it to continue delivering services and administering funds as it does now in Toronto. Miziwe Biik's executive director said she had not yet seen the letter, but added: ``It's good if that is happening.'' Martin said her experience with such offers is that they sound good but that often ``it's not what they say.'' At the square, the protesters said they wanted to meet with Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman. Lastman, who was attending a ceremony in Scarborough, said he was unaware of any invitation but is willing to meet with the protesters. ``I'll meet with anybody who's trying to help themselves,'' he said. The mayor said it was unfortunate that the protesters had disrupted traffic to make their point, ``but people do things out of frustration.'' The groups are also demanding a meeting with Human Resources Minister Pierre Pettigrew and say he has not responded to their requests. Bob Howson, of Human Resources Development Canada, said the minister has instructed him and another official to deal with the issue. Howson said the two groups are not necessarily out of the running to continue delivering the programs. ``They could, or they could not,'' Howson said. Howson said the change in funding is not a reflection on the quality of the work being done by the two Indian organizations, but part of a national reorganization. Thursday, June 17, 1999 Gardiner plugged by native protest By ZEN RURYK AND ANNE DAWSON, TORONTO SUN Rush-hour traffic was delayed more than an hour and backed up for kilometres by a native protest on the eastbound Gardiner Expressway yesterday. About 80 demonstrators -- upset by what they believe are federal plans to cut training programs -- paraded onto the expressway at the Jameson Ave. ramp about 8:20 a.m. and brought traffic to a standstill. They marched slowly for about an hour to the Spadina Ave. exit and then proceeded to City Hall, where they hoped to meet with Mayor Mel Lastman. He was elsewhere and missed them. Police laid no charges, although it's illegal to obstruct the use of a highway. The natives said they held the protest to bring attention to a federal decision to cancel job-training funds by Sept. 30 that go to two native employment services in Toronto and Hamilton. Nancy Martin, the executive director of Miziwe Biik, a Toronto-based employment service, said Ottawa plans to replace $3.2 million in job-training money with job counselors. Without the funds, the Anishnawbe Health Centre won't be able to train community health workers and the Native Skills Centre will have to cancel job courses, she said. Joe Hester, executive director of Anishnawbe Health Toronto, said about half of Canadian aboriginals live in cities and make up a large proportion of the unemployed and homeless. Ottawa isn't shutting down job-training programs but is changing the way the programs are delivered, said federal human resources ministry spokesman Bob Howsam. "Let Us Consider The Human Brain As A Very Complex Photographic Plate" 1957 G.H. Estabrooks www.angelfire.com/mn/mcap/bc.html FOR K A R E N #01182 who died fighting 4/23/99 [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.aches-mc.org 807-622-5407 Reprinted under the fair use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html doctrine of international copyright law. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
