OPP raid Caledonia smoke shack

The farmer whose land has been occupied by a native smoke shack says he'll bail the arrested operator out of jail today.

Stephen "Boots" Powless, 43, and three others -- including two of his sons -- were arrested yesterday morning at the Highway 6 property, just south of town. OPP had tried to evict the Ohsweken resident Tuesday from Ernie Palmer's farm but backed away when a reported 30 or more supporters of Powless arrived.

Powless, a well-known native activist, faces three charges -- including resisting arrest -- and is scheduled to appear in Cayuga court this morning.

At his home just up the driveway from Powless' smoke shack, Palmer stressed last night he and Powless get along. He points to towers of Tim Hortons coffee cups in his garage to show the copious amounts of the beverage consumed between the pair during negotiations to have Powless remove the shop. Powless argues the shop is on land Six Nations never legally surrendered in the 19th Century to colonial officials.