CKRZ NEWS
01 SEPT 06
(Native Radio News)
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty says his government will stay at the table negotiating a settlement to end the Caledonia Standoff as long as it can but wants the protesters to show good faith. The premier says a letter has been sent to Six Nations Chief Allen McNaughton, asking him to stop the protesters from harassing Caledonia residents. McGuinty says the biggest irritant is with lights and noise late at night. David Ramsey, the provincial minister responsible for native affairs, says harassment of local residents causes concerns for their safety. And he says it puts the land claim negotiations in jeopardy.
Meanwhile, the province has agreed to pay project developer Henco Industries another 3.5 million dollars for so called fair market value of the land, plus 300 thousand dollars in legal and consulting costs. That’s in addition to the 12.3 million dollars Ontario taxpayers’ forked out earlier to buy the Douglas Creek estates from Henco.
(BN)
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The Grand Chief of Akwesasne wants an exemption for the reserve from plans to arm border customs officials. The Mohawk council has lobbied the federal government to give special consideration for the eastern Ontario reserve. It straddles Quebec, Ontario and New York, and a customs building is situated on First nations land. Grand Chief Tim Thompson says they hope for an exemption because all of the confrontations they’ve had with the federal government. The building is currently patrolled by Akwesasne Mohawk Security Force. The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne has sent letters of invitation to discuss the situation with the Ministry of Public Safety, however they have yet to reply. Mohawks often cross the border as many as five times a day to travel to work, school or to visit with family and friends. Customs Excise Union president Ron Moran says all border guards should be armed.
(CP)
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A dispute dating back to 1938 has been settled by Long Lake No. 58 First Nation and Ontario Power Generation. Long Lake announced the signing of a monetary settlement agreement Thursday which resolves past grievances band members had against the former Ontario Hydro regarding the loss of a portion of their traditional land. The amount of the settlement has not been disclosed, but Long Lake’s lead negotiator Narcisse Kakegabon said it was in the range of “seven figures.” “This settlement comes as a result of a lot of hard work, cooperation and dedication by all involved,” OPG executive vice president John Murphy said in a release. “It recognizes the past and allows both parties to move forward together.” The signing is expected to pave the way for potential hydro power projects between OPG and Long Lake, and Kakegabon said he hopes it will convince other industries to try working with them on resource development projects.