And How Can A Man Die Better!

by Ezrom Serame Mokgakala.

Dudley George: Smiling in his grave.

Although Dudley George died an angry man, he must be smiling in his grave, for his blood was not shed in vain. He has been vindicated. He will be remembered as the only brave man killed in a land dispute in Canada, in the 20th Century, for he was shot and killed while defending the burial-grounds of his forefathers from the clutches of a heavily armed Ontario Provincial Police Force. On December 20, 2007 the Ontario Government announced that the disputed land will be e returned to his people.

Dudley George was shot and killed while protesting the refusal of successive Canadian Governments to honour a commitment made to them more than half a century ago-in 1942 to be more excat-. Using the War Measures Act, the Government seized the land for use as a Military Training Camp with a promise that it will be returned to its owners at the end of the war. The War ended and that promise was not kept until Dudley George and his compatriots chose to peacefully occupy it and demand that it be returned to his people. An angry Ontario Government ordered they be removed by the Provincial Police from the land when a stand off ensued, leading to the violent death of an unarmed and peacefully demonstrating Dudley George.

By some accounts this could not have happened at a worse time for the protestors as Ontario had a very reactionary “red-neck” government which preferred the use force and in the words of one leading government official to drive the “F.. .. natives” out the camp. The then Premier of Ontario, Mr. Mike Harris to whom the words were attributed has vehemently denied using any racist words in addressing the land dispute.

Dudley George was shot and killed by Kenneth Deane, who was himself killed in a road accident just before giving evidence before the Commission. However, as the Minister of Indian Affairs made the announcement about the return of the land, I could not help but imagine the late Dudley George smiling in his grave and remembered the famous words of Thomas B. Macaulay who said, “and how can a man die better, that facing fearful odds for the ashes of his fathers and the temples of his gods.”

We can all hope and pray that Dudley George’s soul will now rest in peace.