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Six Nations Confederacy Shows Solidarity with Travelers

Dale Farm Bulletin #3
June 26, 2007
For Immediate Release

Contact: Grattan Puxon, Secretary of Dale Farm Housing Association, +44 01206523528

Native American representatives from the Six Nations Confederacy in Canada meet yesterday with twenty Travelers from Dale Farm and other community members to discuss their successful struggle against the development of their land by the Canadian Government.

The Six Nations Confederacy is the latest group to show solidarity with the Travelers at Dale Farm as the July 6th deadline for the forceful eviction of members living on eleven properties in the middle of the community draws closer.

Dale Farm Housing Association spokesman Richard Sheridan drew parallels between the plight of the Six Nations Confederacy and Dale Farm, stating that, “the human cost in both situations is terrible. The appalling conditions that both communities face need to be brought to light and peace restored once and for all.”

The Dale Farm Housing Association is currently working towards issuing a judicial review on the Basildon District Council’s Development Control and Traffic Management Committee’s decision to undertake forceful eviction proceedings against eleven properties at the center of Dale Farm. According to the Association’s Secretary, Grattan Puxon, a judicial review could come as early as Thursday. The association hopes that a judicial review of the committee’s decision to forcefully evict the eleven yards will be amalgamated with a previous judicial review that currently covers the other 45 yards at Dale Farm and is scheduled to be decided upon by the High Court later in the year.

As members of the Confederacy spoke about how they were able to overcome the intimidation, harassment and beatings they experienced from the Canadian Government in order to remain on their land, many of the Travelers present drew confidence and strength that their struggle to remain at Dale Farm would have a similar conclusion. 

The Six Nations Confederacy is engaged in a long-standing battle with the Canadian Government over the ownership of land they claim was given to them in 1784 after they fought with the British in the Revolutionary War. The visit was part of a larger tour of the England, Ireland and Scotland in which members of the Confederacy hope to promote their cause which shares many similarities with the current struggle faced by Dale Farm.

• The Dale Farm Bulletin is produced on behalf of the Dale Farm Community Association by Grattan Puxon, Secretary of the Association, and Zach Scott, a 2007 Peace Fellow of The Advocacy Project. For more information, contact Grattan Puxon or Zach Scott. For the Dale Farm chronology and Association news, visit Dale Farm's partner page.

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