Case Study: Ipperwash

The Ipperwash Crisis was a land dispute in Ipperwash Provincial Park, Ontario, in 1995.

The park was established in 1936, but in 1937, a burial ground was discovered on the site. The Stoney Point band asked that the land be fenced and protected, but instead, the park was built on top of the burial site. In 1942, during World War II, the Canadian government wanted reserve land from the Stoney Point Band to build a military camp. They offered to buy the land for $15 per acre and promised to return the land after the war ended. The native people refused to sell their land, but the government took it over anyway. Forty-five years later, the land had still not been returned to the native people.

Band members began moving back onto land in 1993. Shortly thereafter, the military withdrew. Band members barricaded part of the neighbouring park to protect the burial ground. This led to a violent confrontation between protestors and the Ontario police who killed protestor Dudley George.

The land claim was settled in 1998. The former military site was supposed to be cleaned up, but this is difficult because of unexploded ordnance (ammunition). Each band member was to receive between $150 000 and $400 000 in compensation.