Kettle & Stony Point First Nation remembers Dudley George and monitors Ipperwash Report recommendations
ADMINISTRATION OFFICE, Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation (September 3, 2015) – The members of the Chippewas of Kettle & Stony Point First Nation communities continue to remember and acknowledge the death of Dudley George on September 6, 1995. Twenty years have passed since Dudley was shot and killed by an Ontario Provincial Police Officer in what began as a peaceful demonstration at the Ipperwash Provincial Park; yet we continue to watch as the efforts of the federal and provincial governments fail to implement the Ipperwash Inquiry recommendations
Subsequent to the events that took place in September 1995, the Ipperwash Inquiry was commissioned and part of the mandate was to “make recommendations directed to the avoidance of violence in similar circumstances”. The Ipperwash Inquiry, released on May 31, 2007, produced 100 recommendations which according to the province of Ontario’s website claims that “Most of the report’s recommendations have been carried out or are in the process of being addressed.”
In response to the claim made by the province of Ontario, Chief Thomas Bressette stated “It’s been 20 years, and we still have not seen the majority of the Ipperwash Inquiry recommendations implemented”. Referencing Justice Sidney B. Linden’s finding which called for a resolution of the Ipperwash Provincial Park lands, Chief Bressette commented “It’s 2015 and neither the Ipperwash Provincial Park nor Camp Ipperwash have been transferred to the First Nation.”
As the anniversary of Dudley George’s death nears, the First Nation people will remember his sacrifice in defending our traditional lands and being the driving force which brought about the existence of the Ipperwash Inquiry recommendations.
The Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation is located along the shores of Lake Huron, 35 km northeast of Sarnia, Ontario. It has two land bases, one of which was the focus of a half century long land dispute that would have repercussions across the country.