The federal Department of Justice is still reviewing a Six Nations claim that it never surrendered land that has been the subject of a 10-month occupation.
The Six Nations Confederacy presented federal officials last month with an 80-page report on its claim for Douglas Creek Estates on Argyle Street South. It was expected Ottawa would file a response yesterday as talks at the main negotiation table resumed, but federal officials have promised to present Six Nations with a formal written response before the next meeting on Jan. 11.
"We take it very seriously and it is being analyzed at the very highest level," federal negotiator Ron Doering said. Ottawa maintains Six Nations surrendered and sold the land in the 1840s, but Six Nations says its members were duped. While Doering said last month Ottawa felt pretty confident with its position, he said it can be altered, "now that we've heard their side of the story."
All sides remain optimistic the dispute can be resolved. "There's building goodwill," said Mohawk Chief Allen MacNaughton. "It takes time."