Coalition for a Public Inquiry into Ipperwash
Box 111 Station C, Toronto, On M6J 3M7
June 5, 2002We're Taking Ipperwash to Geneva
RE: Report to the United Nations on Racism and the Case of Dudley George
Dear Friends and Allies,
On September 6, 1995, Dudley George, an Aboriginal man of Pottawatomi
heritage, died during a non-violent protest. He was defending the land,
treaty and cultural rights of his People - the Aazhoondenaang Enjibaajiig
or Stony Point People. Dudley George, an unarmed man, was gunned down by an
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer.
Millions of Canadian and First Nation citizens, in their collective voices
through more than 100
organizations, have called for a Public Inquiry into Ipperwash. The Ontario
Tories have made it clear they have no intention of ever calling an
Ipperwash Inquiry, leaving the complete burden for uncovering the truth to
private citizens such as Dudley George's family, legal counsel, and
activist organizations. After exhausting all avenues for an inquiry, we are
taking this matter to the United Nations Committee responsible for
reviewing Canada's performance on implementation of the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD). This
international human rights hearing will be held in Geneva, August 13 and
14, 2002. The actions that took place at Ipperwash violate the
International Convention On The Elimination Of All Forms Of Racial
Discrimination (CERD) in various ways.
For example, the very nature of the OPP response was racist by definition,
violating Article 2.a of the CERD. The State authority targeted the Stoney
Point protestors and used excessive force because the protestors were
Aboriginal. One of the reasons we say this with certainty is because of
documents obtained by the Coalition for a Public Inquiry through federal
Access to Information legislation. These documents show that the Department
of National Defense (DND) was collecting information that linked the Stoney
Point occupation to other Native "standoffs" in which firearms were used.
OPP correspondence with DND at the time repeatedly stresses reports of
firearm use in the Park both prior to the shooting of Dudley George and
following. These reports were never substantiated in the many criminal
court cases associated with the police assault at Ipperwash. On the
contrary, the justice system concluded that the Stoney Point People were
not armed. This judgement concurs with the conclusion reached by Jim Moses,
the informer planted by federal authorities, who reported the same
observation to federal "intelligence" authorities more than one month
before September 6th. The OPP were aware of Moses'
conclusions.
One of the ways that international human rights bodies, such as the UN
committees, get meaningful and honest accounts on the real situation in
member nations is through what is called a "Shadow Report". As we did with
the Ipperwash issue in regards to the
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Coalition for a Public Inquiry
into Ipperwash will prepare a "Shadow Report" on Ipperwash for the UN
Committee that monitors the CERD.
We trust no government - Ontario or Canada, both of whom were involved in
preparation of Canada's 1993-1997 report on the CERD - to speak the truth
about the racism underlying the attack on the Stoney Point People and the
death of Dudley George. We will go ourselves to tell the truth, as we know
it from almost seven years of work on this issue, directly to the United
Nations Committee members.
Over the next two months we will need to raise approximately $10,000: CPI
Budget to reach the Geneva UN Hearing on Racism in Canada
Flight $1,600.00
Accommodation $1,000.00
Food $ 700.00
Local Transit $ 200.00
Office Expenses $1,000.00
Translation Costs $1,000.00
Legal Costs $ 500.00
Honorarium $4,000.00
TOTAL: $10,000.00
This money will be used to research, write a report, and send a First
Nations CPI representative, Sharon Gmitroski-Menow (Cree, Norway House), to
present our evidence to the United Nations. Because we believe racism is
the primary problem facing Aboriginal people
in Canada, we are also offering to present to the UN on your behalf any
reports of Racial Discrimination against Aboriginal people that you or your
organization may wish to write. Donations are payable to the Coalition for
a Public Inquiry into Ipperwash with "CERD project" in the memo line. Any
additional funds will be forwarded to the Ipperwash Justice Fund.
We hope that you will join our movement, by:
· supporting Coalition strategy and funding requests;
· educating others about the opportunities international forums provide; and,
· initiating strategies of your own to participate in these forums.
For more information or to make a donation, please contact us at:
Box 111, Station C
Toronto, Ontario
M6J 3M7
Phone: 905-421-9567
Email: stonedancer1@yahoo.ca
In Solidarity,
Robin Buyers, Sharon Gmitroski-Menow and Ann Pohl
(for the Coalition for a Public Inquiry Core Group)