Indians get an apology

Council aghast at mayor's suggestion protestors on welfare
McGuinty calls for calm as tensions mount in Caledonia

Apr. 26, 2006. 06:28 AM

PETER EDWARDS
STAFF REPORTER

CALEDONIA, Ont. — Haldimand County Council has swiftly distanced itself from comments made by Mayor Marie Trainer suggesting that Indians blocking a highway and occupying a disputed tract of land don't work for a living.

The council apologized to members of the Six Nations Territory yesterday, hours after an ugly exchange near a barricade on Highway 6 between Trainer and Clyde Powless, a Six Nations spokesperson.

Powless was incensed with comments Trainer made on CBC Newsworld yesterday, which he interpreted as saying protesting Six Nations residents are welfare recipients.

"How do my people have money coming in automatically? How? Answer that. Answer it," Powless said near the barricade site as he thrust his finger toward the mayor.

Mayor loses speaking role on Caledonia
Remarks about Six Nations protesters sideline Trainer, prompt council apology

KATE HARRIES AND JAMES RUSK

From Wednesday's Globe and Mail

CALEDONIA and TORONTO — Haldimand Mayor Marie Trainer was dumped yesterday as the spokeswoman for her municipality on the Six Nations issue for remarks about aboriginals getting welfare payments.

On the day after a community meeting degenerated into a near-riot, four county council members walked to the barricade on Highway 6 — erected last week after police swooped in on protesters occupying a disputed piece of land — and apologized to Six Nations representatives.

"We wish to assure the public that the personal views of the mayor do not reflect the views of Haldimand County Council," said deputy mayor Bob Patterson, who has replaced Ms. Trainer as the municipality's spokesperson on the issue.

Ms. Trainer made the remarks during a television interview yesterday morning from the blockade site, metres away from a group of aboriginals. "They don't have money coming in automatically every month," she said of tradespeople who have lost work on the Douglas Creek estates, land Six Nations claims was stolen. "They have got to work to survive."

She was confronted on air by Six Nations spokesman Clyde Powless. "I'm deeply saddened by comments I've heard you made about my people waiting for a monthly cheque," he said. "I'm shocked at you and I will never want to address you again."