The inquiry into the death of Dudley George, an Ojibwe activist who was killed during a police siege in 1995, will be hearing from a big witness over the next four days.
Mike Harris was the premier of Ontario when a group of Native activists, including George and other members of the Stony Point First Nation, staged a peaceful occupation of Ipperwash Provincial Park. They wanted the land returned to the Ojibwe people.
Even through the group was unarmed, the Ontario Park Police opened fire on the Native activists on September 6, 1995, killing George, who was 38 at the time. An officer was later convicted of criminal negligence causing death and resigned from the force.
At issue for Harris is the level of political involvement in incident. Recorded tapes and testimony by others at the inquiry indicate the police were being by "redneck" political leaders to deal with the situation.
"They are f*** barrel suckers, they are just in love with guns . . . they couldn't give a **** less about Indians," a police inspector said on one tape. A second officer said: "They just want to go kick ass."
Charles Harnick, who was attorney general of Ontario under Harris, testified that he heard Harris make an angry remark about the activists. He told the inquiry that Harris said "I want the f------ Indians out of the park" during a high-level meeting.
Get the Story:Mike Harris to give evidence at Ipperwash inquiry (CBC 2/14)
Four days set aside for Harris (The London Free Press 2/14)
Harris testifies at Ipperwash Inquiry (CP 2/14)
OPP didn't plan to `take that park' (The Toronto Star 2/14)
OPP brass rips police 'war' talk (The London Free Press 2/14)
History: Background of the Ipperwash land claims (CTV 2/13)
Ipperwash Inquiry: Looking into the death of Dudley George (CTV 2/10) Relevant Links:
Ipperwash Inquiry - http://www.ipperwashinquiry.ca
Who Killed Dudley George - http://www.whokilleddudleygeorge.ca
Dudley George and Ipperwash, CBC News - http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/ipperwash
Dudley George information - http://www.turtleisland.org/news/news-dudley.htm Related Stories:
Inquiry: 'I want the Indians out of the park' (11/29)
Explosive tape aired at inquiry into Native man's death (05/19)
Judge holds back tapes in Native man's death (10/13)
Inquiry opens into police shooting of Native man (07/14)
Racist statements by police prompt criticism (01/22)
Tape catches police making racist comments (1/21)
Ont. calls inquiry into death of Native man (11/14)
Native family settles death suit with police (10/03)
Civil trial over Native man's death delayed (09/19)