Blackbear

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FROM: THE BRANTFORD EXPOSITOR NEWSPAPER

_http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=13909
7&catname=Local+News&classif=News+Alert_
(http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/web...assif=News+Ale
rt)

One Dead Indian: New Movie Explores The Ipperwash Tragedy

By Elizabeth Yates, expositor staff
Local News - Thursday, December 29, 2005 @ 01:00

The police slaying of native protester Dudley George is explored in a new TV
movie which offers a gripping and insightful exploration of the Ipperwash
crisis.

But, at least according to actor Gary Farmer, one of the best potential
scenes was left out of One Dead Indian, which airs Jan. 4 on CTV. Based on a book
by Toronto Star reporter Peter Edwards, the movie examines what happened in
September 1995, when members of the Stoney Point First Nation moved into
Ipperwash Provincial Park to demand return of their land containing an ancestral
burial ground. A steadily mounting police presence was deployed to handle the
occupation, which ended when protester Slippery George was violently beaten
and Dudley was shot dead by an OPP officer.

Movie scenes depicting the conflict between teams of police wielding
automatic weapons and riot gear and a small group of unarmed natives are harrowing.
It’s even harder to watch as Dudley is shot, and then lies gasping for breath
in the back of a car as his sister pleads for him to stay alive during the
long drive to hospital.

The brutality is stark, convincing and deeply disturbing.

But Farmer feels another encounter conveys the shocking reality even more
vividly. The book describes a grandmother, mother and child who flee Ipperwash,
drive to a pay phone and call for help. They tell the operator, "Oh my God,
they’re shooting at us." The operator says she’ll send the police. "No, it’s
the police doing the shooting," is the women’s response.

"It’s such a stark moment," says Farmer, who portrays a cousin of the slain
protester in One Dead Indian. As Judas George, he is a calm elder statesman
who tries to calm the younger, rasher Dudley, played by Dakota House.

"When something like that happens, and people who are undefended get
assaulted, the reality of it is pretty crazy."

"Most citizens believe that justice is a given. But who do you turn to when
it’s them the police turning on you?"

The versatile actor, who appears in everything from major Hollywood movies
to modest indie flicks, is particularly pleased to be part of this film.

(http://network.realmedia.com/RealMed...ia/ron/roc/ss/[PAGE]/1621707712/x18/247Canada/2005-856-FS-Ent-All/2005-856-FS-RON-Bo
x3.flash.html/34303063373430383433356438623930)


It’s a story he has been close to on many fronts: as a native he is a member
of the Cayuga Nation from Six Nations; as a longtime acquaintance of Dudley’
s brother, Sam; and as a journalist and publisher. During the Ipperwash
Crisis, he assigned writers to cover the story for his magazine, Aboriginal
Voices, which operated from 1993-1999. As a performer, he participated in
public-awareness events and fundraisers focusing on Ipperwash striving to get the eye
of mainstream media.

Landing support from the unions representing public school teachers was
critical, he recalls. "They realized that it was, indeed, a justice issue. And
that changed the fate of the story to the point that it’s now a TV movie, which
is great."

One Dead Indian is a collective effort, involving not only the usual team of
producers and directors, but also Dudley George’s family, whose relentless
efforts led Premier Dalton McGuinty to call the ongoing provincial inquiry
into Ipperwash. The movie’s airing is expected to coincide with testimony from
former premier Mike Harris, whom some accuse of ordering police to shoot at
the protesters.

Filming the controversial story was fraught with challenges, including legal
ones, Farmer notes.

"This story has taken a long time to be told and it’s nice to see a Canadian
network stepping up to do it."

"It’s a good story for people to see," he says, noting that viewers outside
Ontario will be largely unfamiliar with the crisis.

That ignorance and the persistent plague of racism in Canada continues to
motivate Farmer after 30 years in the public eye.

After launching the magazine, he turned to the airwaves, founding Aboriginal
Voices Radio in 2002. He has since turned the Toronto-based network over to
other hands, but education and empowerment remain a prime focus for Farmer,
who will hold workshops on television for youth on Six Nations next month.

"I’m going to teach them how to use the media I’m trying to help give the
tools back to the people, so they can use them."

Tall, with a sturdy physique, Farmer is an imposing presence, exuding a
calm, thoughtful confidence during an interview at The Expositor. He’s also
observant, commenting on the lack of colour among newsroom staff evidence which
supports his disdain for mainstream media and its selective silence on native
issues.

"To me, it’s us against the world," says the 52-year-old. "I have fought so
hard for native people to have a voice in our own systems, in our own
bureaucracy."

That fight began in 1974, when Farmer was first exposed to filmmaking while
working at the Woodland Cultural Centre. It was his job to watch and
catalogue the centre’s collection of movies; those duties led to a fascination with
the medium and to shooting new works, including films about traditional events
and individuals, such as the snowsnake tournament and a lacrosse-stick
craftsman.

Later, he attended theatre school in Toronto "and fell in love with the
process of the theatre." That led to work with a professional theatre company and
touring plays across the country.

Since then, the Everyman with the open, expressive face has told countless
stories on stage and screen. His resume as character actor ranges from
appearances opposite Hollywood heavyweights such as Robert DeNiro and Marlon Brando
in 2001’s The Score to quirkier fare such as Dead Man, a Jim Jarmusch feature
which won the European Academy Award for best foreign film in 1997.

Extensive TV credits include CBC’s The Rez and Buffalo Tracks on APTN, which
he directed and executive produced. Theatrically, notable performances
include Tomson Highway’s Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing and, on Broadway,
Guys and Dolls.

"I can cross over a lot," Farmer says of his versatility. "I can play cops
or detectives or doctors or bad guys. Dress me up and I’m all right."

His professional, political and philanthropic accomplishments have been
multiply honoured, including induction to Brantford’s Walk of Fame, in 2004, and
a tribute from the IMAGeNation Aboriginal Film and Video Festival earlier
this year.

With a home base in Ohsweken, Farmer spends a couple of months a year in Los
Angeles, seeking acting jobs which are generally better paying than in
Canada. It’s a risky business, though, especially for a middle-aged native.

"It’s getting harder to go to work for a couple of hundred bucks a day,"
says the actor, estimating his acting gigs consume only 70 days a year. "I’m
just trying to survive."

The coming months have him at least looking busy, though. The release of One
Dead Indian will be followed by CBC TV’s airing of The Oka Crisis: Indian
Summer later this year.

In his first role as an Iroquoian "I’ve played every nation but my own"
Farmer portrays the lead negotiator for the Mohawk Warriors.

Little has changed since 1990, when Mohawks in Kanesatake erected barricades
to protest the town of Oka’s plans for expanding a golf course on their
lands. The longrunning confrontation escalated into violence, including the death
of a Quebec police officer.

Land disputes continue in Quebec, where the movie was filmed. And, in an
ironic twist, Oka’s current mayor is an owner of the golf course which sparked
the uprising.

"You have to develop a kind of toxic sense of humour, because the cultural
arrogance of non-natives just becomes outrageous," muses the actor, who
describes himself as tired and frustrated with Canada. "The depth of colonization
just becomes astounding."

"You have to laugh, or you’d just be crying all the time."

__________________
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Indianz.Com. In Print.
URL: http://www.indianz.com/News/2006/012698.asp


Key witness in death of Native man killed in accident
Monday, February 27, 2006

A former police officer who was convicted for shooting Ojibwe protester Dudley George to death was killed in a car accident on Saturday, just two weeks before he was to testify about his involvement in the controversy.

Kenneth Deane, 45, was acting sergeant for the Ontario Provincial Police at the time of the September 6, 1995, raid on Ipperwash Provincial Park. He shot and killed George and later served two years community service for criminal negligence.

George's death is now the subject of a high-profile inquiry that recently heard from former Ontarior premier Mike Harris. George's family believes Deane would have provided key testimony about the scandal.

Get the Story:
Crash kills police officer who shot native protester at Ipperwash (CBC 2/26)
Car accident claims life of Ipperwash officer (CTV 2/26)
Key Ipperwash player dies (The London Free Press 2/27)

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:
Ex-premier concludes testimony to inquiry (2/21)
Opinions and Views: Mike Harris on the stand (2/21)
Ex-premier denies running a 'redneck' government (2/16)
Ex-premier testifies at inquiry into Native man's death (2/15)
Big witness to testify about killing of Native man (2/14)
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)

Copyright © 2000-2006 Indianz.Com

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Be blessed - got love???

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www.myspace.com/akayo

Joe G

There is also a pretty good book available about this "One Dead Indian.. the premier, the police, and the Ipperwash crisis" ..by Peter Edwards, McClelland and Stewart (2003) Ltd., The Canadian Publishers, 481 University Ave, Toronto Ontario M5G 2E9....or www.mcclelland.com
If anyone wants to know more about this as well.

streamhawk

It's good that Canadaian television is making this relevant film. I've been a big fan of Farmer for along time, particularly like his role in Dead Man. It'll be hard to see the film though, don't think it will get alot of distribution, maybe IFC (Independent Film Channel) on cable will show it, I saw Cowboy's and Indians: the JJ Harper Story with Adam Beach filmed in Canada on IFC.

rezgranny

I saw the movie and it was pretty good. I also saw the documentry that they made and it was pretty intense. It's also pretty interesting to note that three of the police officers involved in Ipperwash have died in traffic accidents.
Some say Karma others say NDN medicine at work. I say they got what was coming. What goes around comes around.

~*~MizzQaqimat~*~

I saw the movie too, it was on CBC I think, can't remember. It was really good though. I also saw "Death at Ipperwash" on APTN where they had the different hearings and stuff. Didn't get to watch it all though, just bits and pieces whenever it was on. But this movie was good, and I encourage people to try to see it if they can.

Kim

__________________

TARHEEL BORN, TARHEEL BRED, WHEN I DIE I'LL BE TARHEEL DEAD!

MizzQaqimat's Space

**Summer_June**

I've seen the movie, and read the book. I liked the movie but it has the same actors as North of 60 including Gary Farmer my dance teachers brother who I think is talented along with the Farmers I know. Overall I think the movie left out some parts & I would recommend reading the book & watching the movie. I personally am into this issue and have read many articles and projects on it. I think it was a very tradgic event.

__________________
~*PowWows.com Princess 2006-2007*~

**Summer_June**

This article I got from the Edmonton Sun:
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Cana...64596-sun.html

Protester's killer dies in car crash

By CP

TORONTO -- The public inquiry scrutinizing the death of Dudley George has lost a central witness to the decade-old tragedy following the death of the former police officer who fatally shot the native protester.

Kenneth Deane was to testify within weeks at the judicial probe into George's death when he was killed Saturday in a car crash in eastern Ontario, a tragic event the George family said could leave some key questions unanswered.

"We had known from the (criminal) trial that Ken Deane was the one who pulled the trigger that killed (my brother)," said Sam George.

"What we were wanting to know was: Why was he there? Who put him there? We were hoping that he would be able to answer some of these questions when he took the stand."

George was fatally shot Sept. 6, 1995, when provincial police officers clad in riot gear advanced on a group of natives who had seized control of Ipperwash Provincial Park. The group was convinced it was the site of an ancient aboriginal burial ground, claims verified the following week. Two years later, Deane was convicted of criminal negligence causing death and handed a two-year community sentence.

On Saturday, the former provincial police sniper was driving in whiteout conditions along Highway 401 near Prescott, Ont., when his Ford Explorer was struck from behind by a tractor-trailer, police said. Deane, 45, was pronounced dead at the scene, while his male passenger remained in hospital yesterday in stable condition.

Deane is the third provincial police officer involved in the Ipperwash crisis to die before testifying before the inquiry.

Sgt. Margaret Eve was hit by a transport truck on Highway 401 near Chatham, Ont., in June 2000, while Insp. Dale Linton, the officer who activated Deane's unit that night, was killed in a single-vehicle accident near Smith's Falls, Ont., in October 2000.

While Deane's testimony was no longer critical in the sense his role has been dealt with by the courts, "We would have asked some tough questions," said George family lawyer Murray Klippenstein.

__________________
~*PowWows.com Princess 2006-2007*~

badmaninc

The problem with watching these types of movies when you're an ndn is that you end up just getting all angry and frustrated all over again. I remember this story; the Donald Marshall Jr. story; the JJ Harper story. I lived through this and was in my 30's when all of this occurred. In your teens you think you can conquer anything; in your 20's you try to conquer the world; in your 30's you reluctantly accept you can't do everything; in your 40's you realize no matter how hard you tried, most things were going to happen anyway. I believe we need to try and make a difference but we also have to accept that changes aren't sweeping, they happen in little increments. I remember when that young man died in Ipperwash, I felt like I lost my brother. The same when Oka happened, I felt helpless when our youth and elders were being stoned. I have since met Wonique Horne-Miller and was proud to have met this incredibly nice young lady. When everything happened in the Shushwap area a few years ago, it was the same. I was friends with one of the young men who served a federal sentence. I have started to realize that to have lived during these times is to understand the suffering our parents, our grandparents endured. The problems we face are so much less than they did. We fight because they did; we continue to seek a better way of life for ourselves and for our children. Hopefully Summer June when you have grandchildren, we will all remember only good things.

Kiwehnzii

Good points badmaniac, Aye.

But.............. I don't see a end to all this madness. There will always be something that someone wants. We'll continue to fight. Summerjune will take up where we left off. There are issues in and around her rez where land rights are in question, burial grounds are being disturbed, good clean water is being difficult to obtain. Right now, our people in northern Ontario are dealing with mining issues - diamonds and platinum.

I live only 2 hours from SJ's rez. I know her family and know that she is being taught to stand up - fight back. That's why I am so glad that she's the pw.com princess. She is a good representative of the youth.
Here on our rez, it is an issue of good air, good water, cancer in our families. We have to fight big corporations who have only on thing on their minds - money. I recall hearing a phrase which ends - then and only then, they will realize that money cannot be eaten. Anybody remember that? Post it if you have it.

So......... it's just not fighting for land rights. We all have to breathe, drink, eat. That's why I can't get too excited about other matters like funky arts & crafts being sold by wannabes. There are more important issues that we have to deal with.

My nephew got shot in the back at Aazhhoondena. You know it by Ipperwash.




I had to come back and edit. I wrote plutonium instead of platinum. I just get kinda steamed when I think/write about this stuff.

Kiwehnzii

I want to say that some other issues I mentioned are also important like the one about fake art, fake Indians. They are very important to some people and I respect that. It is my personal feelings on other issues that make those important to me.

Mato Winyan