Moldy Peaches

Canada is not immune from the racial tension seen in the United States, Asia and many parts of Europe.

Hundreds of Caledonia, Ontario (near Hamilton) residents and masked natives stared each other down last night. About 300 white residents taunted nearly as many natives, mocking them for wearing masks and telling them to go home. The occupiers, many wielding pieces of wood, shovels and bats, mostly watched, speaking up to order the Caledonians back if they ventured too near.

Meanwhile, the standoff continued between native protesters and police at the construction site, although tensions appear to have eased.

More than 200 protesters (some equipped with Tim Hortons) moved in Thursday, setting up barricades of burning tires, after Ontario Provincial Police staged a pre-dawn raid to remove native demonstrators from the disputed tract of land they had been occupying since late February.

Demonstrators first occupied the site on Feb. 28 to stop construction by Henco Industries on land they say was stolen from the Six Nations more than 200 years ago. The province says aboriginals gave up the land in 1841 to make way for a new highway, an agreement a Six Nations spokesperson said was only meant to be a lease. Six Nations filed a land claim suit over the area in 1999.

Nearby, a historic wooden bridge was set on fire. Police refused to comment, but one native said protesters did it to prevent the OPP from using it.

Dalton McGuinty has come under fire in Queens' Park and there are whispers of Ipperwash.

Caledonia last night appeared like a town under siege. Tensions grew steadily after the pre-dawn raid, in which dozens of OPP officers swooped down on a handful of protesters at the subdivision they have occupied for eight weeks in Caledonia.

Just for good measure - train service is now suspended between Montreal - Ottawa due to a show of solidarity from another Aboriginal group.

Update:

Federal and provincial representatives have been meeting with native protestors behind closed doors at a Burlington Hotel since 10 a.m. this morning, but there is no sign when talks might end

There are some great photos here.

A live blogging account here and here.