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Writer's pictureJohn Hawke

CHARGES WITHDRAWN FOR LOCAL INDIGENOUS ACTIVIST


Anishinabek Clans to Invoke our Nation 81 Ogema Miikan, 

Christian Island, ON L9M 0A1

705 247 2120

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday January 27, 2022

CHARGES WITHDRAWN FOR LOCAL INDIGENOUS ACTIVIST

CHRISTIAN ISLAND, ON – An Ontario Provincial Crown Attorney serving the Ontario Court of Justice in Midland withdrew Mischief and Breach of Probation charges on local Indigenous Rights Activist, Johnny Hawke; a member of the Beausoleil First Nation for a cultural encampment he set up on contested lands in Tiny Township during Summer of 2021.

Hawke who was Self Represented filed a Notice of Constitutional Question in October 2021 on the Federal and Provincial Crown arguing his arrest and charges were in violation of his inherent rights that are protected by Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms in which he cited several abuses.

Hawke erected two cultural awareness camps with teepee’s on June 21, 2021 at Thunder Beach and throughout the summer at Balm Beach and eventually on Private Property at Nottawaga Beach on the 13th Concession in Tiny Township where he was arrested and removed on July 25, 2021.

“The camps were to educate and create an organizing collective of the Beach Rights Group, Advocates of the Alliston Aquifer and the Indigneous Community under the underlying outstanding land claim issue’s” says Hawke

Above: Thunder Beach, Hawke carrying Flag brought together an estimated 300 people from the Local Indigneous and Non-Indigneous Communities at an event that gave space for Indigneous Grandmothers and Women to Educate, July 1 2021. 

Hawke says his community filed a claim with Canada’s Specific Claims Branch in 1990 on outstanding grievances but was rejected.

“My Community is part of the Chippewa Tri Council who are the Clans that make up Beausoleil, Rama and Georgina Island communities and known by the Crown in Pre-Confederation Treaties as the Chippewa of Lakes Huron and Simcoe.”

The Chippewa Tri Council alleges that in Pre-Confederation Treaties Number 5, 16 and 18 with the Crown that includes significant regions in Simcoe County and Thunder and Tiny Beaches were never properly surrendered nor compensated justly.

In 2019 Hawke blocked access into Ontario’s Awenda Provincial Park for 5 weeks to raise awareness on the same issues and was arrested with Mischief.

The Indian Act Elected Council of Beausoleil, Rama and Georgina Island have been unsupportive but says many from the local Non-Indigneous Communities and members of the three First Nations support his efforts says Hawke.

“If those in positions of leadership feel that I am doing things in the wrong way or question my actions the fact the Crown withdrew the charges as I self represented myself shows a lot.”

Says Hawke.

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