IPPERWASH CRISIS BEGINS IN ONTARIO
For the duration of World War II, the Canadian Government expropriated reserve land from the Ojibwe of Kettle and Stoney Point First Nation to use for military training. In the 1980s, the training facility was still in use. The First Nation sought the land’s return and claimed that adjacent Ipperwash Provincial Park contained a burial ground. On September 4, Natives occupied the Park. On September 6, police confronted protesters and a riot ensued. Alleging that gunfire came from vehicles coming to aid the protesters—a claim disputed by the protesters–police fired on the vehicles wounding 2 protesters and killing Dudley George, an unarmed Ojibwa protestor. The officer who shot George was later convicted of criminal negligence. A public inquiry began in November 2003. In December 2007, Ontario announced its intent to return the Park. On May 28, 2009, Ontario signed over control of the Park. Settlement was finalized on April 14, 2016, along with a $95 million payment.
Source: Tabitha Marshall, “Ipperwash Crisis,” The Canadian Encyclopedia, 8/14/2013. Retrieved 7/12/2019, https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ipperwash-crisis
Map: NordNordWest, 7/26/2009. Kettle and Stoney Point First Nation, Southern Ontario near border with Michigan on Lake Huron. Permissive use pursuant to Creative Commons 3.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/nl/deed.en. Modification (addition of star) by R. J. Sheehan.