Chief issues 'dark' warning; David General says opponents' focus on two issues hurting Six Nations community

Susan Gamble
Brantford Expositor
Wednesday, September 27, 2006 - 01:00

There's a dark side on Six Nations that the community needs to know about, warns Chief Coun. David General.

General issued a lengthy news release Tuesday that names people who are lined up against him and his initiatives. He said the "Dark Side," which became known during the tenure of former chief Roberta Jamieson, is well-known to Six Nations insiders.

But at least one member of General's "Dark Side" dismissed the release as laughable, wondering what episode of Star Wars the chief is in.

"I think everybody needs to know how complicated things are on Six Nations," General said after releasing his letter to major newspapers in the area. "The community keeps asking what's really going on. Somebody has to not be afraid to say it."

His comments come on the heels of council's vote last week to cut the salary of the chief's political adviser, Darrell Doxtdator, who turned around and said big money was behind the orchestrated moves to create a poisoned atmosphere.

In his news release, General outlines the two agendas that have emerged on Six Nations over the last 10 years. One is a political agenda controlled by 'Big Money,' which is pushing for gaming and protection for cigarettes. The other is a more aggressive push toward nation building. The contrary ideals of the two have been brought to a head over the Caledonia protest at Douglas Creek, he said.

General said the two agendas aren't mutually exclusive and that both could thrive and benefit the community.

But, he added, moves by the Dark Side are waylaying all efforts to proceed in areas that are just as critical as land, to the detriment of the community.

"We need to talk about substantive things - clean drinking water, health, housing and education."

General's letter says the Dark Side includes two current councillors and a former councillor, a former band chief and a fired band employee "to name a few."

The fired employee is Phil Monture who, said General, is a prime example of the Dark Side's efforts to get their people back on the inside. Monture has been sitting at the Douglas Creek negotiating table after being involved by the Confederacy leaders.

Monture was terminated, without cause, by former chief Roberta Jamieson after running the band's lands and membership office for years, detailing the various land claims Six Nations had against the government.

But General - who sat on the council at the time - says in his letter that there was just cause for the termination.

"Insubordination would have served as grounds for the cause," wrote General, noting Monture was directed to stop pursuing an off-reserve gaming project and didn't.

In response, Monture said he feels sorry for General. "I think something is wrong with the man to be honest with you. I don't know what Star Wars episode he's into."

Monture said he was asked by community members to get involved with Douglas Creek.

He also dismisses the idea that he was shown to be insubordinate.

"I guess that's why I won my lawsuit and got my settlement," Monture said.

Monture and General agree on one thing.

"We have a wonderful opportunity here to put the political agenda aside," said Monture. He wants to do that in order to bring in land experts and "go at" Canada and Ontario.

General wants to do the same but prefers to establish a system that gets certain processes away from politics.

"The Douglas Creek Estates occupation was created to derail the exploration process," wrote General, saying the process was moving toward a negotiated settlement on two claims and would have been bringing them to the community for a final decision.

"The DCE protesters achieved what they wanted months ago. We need to get back to other important priorities."

General sets out a list of items that need to be addressed, and includes a poll of Six Nations members to determine the level of support for the occupation and a plan to honour those who held vigil at Douglas Creek once they have left.

"We must never allow our territory to be ruled in anger and spite. We have the attention of the world - what message are we sending?"