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OPP commissioner defends officers’ actions in Caledonia

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The head of the OPP is defending his officers’ conduct at the site of an Indigenous land dispute in Caledonia.

Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Thomas Carrique says the group protesting a housing development have “falsely blamed” the force for escalating the conflict.

On Sunday night, he tweeted that he is proud of what he calls officers’ “measured response” to the situation.

The occupants at the land reclamation camp, known as 1492 Land Back Lane, say Carrique’s post is an out-of-context attempt to reframe the violence.

“Honest and fruitful dialogue is the path forward here, not more police action,” spokesperson Skyler Williams said on Monday.

They say the development near Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation is on unceded land and violates the sovereignty of the Haudenosaunee people.

They have been occupying the site since July.

Nicole Martin will have more on this at 6 p.m.