Nine months into an occupation at a previously non-native, privately operated gravel quarry, the Bay of Quinte Mohawks are preparing for winter. The quarry is part of the Culbertson Tract, about 900 acres, which includes much of Deseronto, ON, that is being discussed as part of the land claims process. The land is recognized as Mohawk land, negotiations are around how to return it. The feds want to pay the Mohawks for the land, the Mohawks want the land itself. Until the occupation, 800 dump trucks of gravel per month were being taken from the land under discussion. Now this has stopped, and the negotiations continue.

Shawn Brant is spokesperson for the Bay of Quinte Mohawks and is facing 12 years in jail for his part in actions that closed the CN rail lines through Tyendinaga on April 20, 2006 and 2007, and the 401 and rail lines June 29, 2007. We spoke about courage, sacrifice, federal and provincial collaboration to continue harvesting First Nations’ resources and economic disruption.

For more information, solidarity action suggestions, and donations details for the Tyendinaga Legal Defence Fund go to http://www.ocap.ca/supporttmt.html

MS: I don’t feel like regular Canadians, understand that what seems like an increased militancy on indigenous territory within Canada is coming from a cultural revitalization. Or that’s how it seems to me anyway, I wonder if you’d speak to that.

SB: Well it’s interesting because I think the cultural revitalization comes from the militancy and not the other way around. I think that what has happened even in the last year has created a sense of pride and optimism that wasn’t otherwise available to young people living in First Nations communities. Particularly when the demographics show that 50% of the community is under the age of 22. There really wasn’t a belief that learning the culture, learning the language, learning that attachment to the land was important because there was no pride that was being taken in the community or from leadership or a direction that promoted that. I think in the last year, young people have come to realize that there are options available rather than the status quo and waiting for things to happen and it’s that whole taking control of your life and making things happen. I think that that has allowed for what we see now, that community, that culture, that integrity and that pride. And people are seeing that in First nations communities just because you’re poor, doesn’t mean that you’re lacking of character and integrity and culture. And it’s nice. It’s a nice change. We know that those are the types of feelings that reduce the number of suicides. And even if there isn’t any immediate financial relief, there needs to be immediate an social relief. And that’s best demonstrated by the actions that have been taken, and militant action.here and listen to the interview here.