DESERONTO, Ont - A Mohawk chief in eastern Ontario appealed for calm Saturday as five Mohawk protesters arrested during a tense altercation with police were remanded in custody until Monday.
One of the protesters, Shawn Brant, was the organizer of blockades of the Montreal-Toronto CN rail corridor last April and June.
He was arrested during a traffic stop Friday afternoon near Deseronto, Ont., and supporters rushing to the scene ended up clashing with police.
Two officers were slightly hurt and a cruiser's window was smashed.
Brant, 44, faces charges of assault with a weapon, mischief, breach of recognizance and weapons dangerous.
The other four -- all from the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory -- face various charges, including assaulting police, assault with a weapon and mischief.
The group includes including Dan Doreen, 34, who led a group that erected a blockade a week ago on Deseronto's main road as part of a longstanding land dispute.
Two other adults who were arrested were released unconditionally.
Police were restricting access to the area Saturday but the situation was calm.
"The hard work and dedication of our officers in protecting the citizens of this community cannot go unnoticed,'' OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino said in a statement.
"Those responsible for criminal activity will be held accountable.''
One aboriginal leader distanced himself and community leaders from actions of some of the protesters Saturday.
"The council did not sanction nor support Monday's blockage, or any blockage of the roads, to Highway 2 and Deseronto Road, nor do they condone violence,'' Chief Donald Maracle of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte told CTV.
"Our people have has a long history of being peaceful and diplomatic, and the recent events are not representative of our community,'' he added.
"People must take responsibility for their own actions.''
Maracle insisted community leaders don't believe blockades or violence will resolve what he calls "170 years of injustice done to the Mohawk people'', and pointed out negotiations continue to try to settle the land claim that's sparked the occupation of a quarry that's been ongoing since March 2007.
"The land was never surrendered by the Mohawk people and remains part of the reserve, and continues to be ever since 1793,'' Maracle said.
Meanwhile, a release issued late Saturday from Six Nations protesters near Caledonia, Ont. says there are "no immediate plans'' to take down a blockade of Highway 6.
It was set up Friday night as a show of solidarity with the demonstrators in Deseronto, and the statement insisted the Six Nations action was peaceful.
