Wed Feb 28, 6:25 PM
By Chinta Puxley
Canadian Press
A lack of political will to settle a land claim that's fuelled a contentious year-long aboriginal occupation has protesters considering further standoffs in southern Ontario, a Mohawk chief warned Wednesday.
The federal and provincial governments are stalling talks aimed at ending the occupation in Caledonia, Ont., because they are betting Six Nations will tire and walk away, said Confederacy Chief Allen MacNaughton.
"It's the ... will of our people to keep this movement going, people have had enough," MacNaughton said at a press conference to mark the one-year anniversary of the occupation of a former housing development south of Hamilton.
"It has been a challenging year and we believe we are on the threshold of a just resolution of this case, if Canada's political will is there."
If the negotiations don't pick up, MacNaughton said Six Nations protesters will consider occupying other disputed sites around the Grand River.
"If (the governments) continue to show the disrespect to the leaders of our people, then the people are going to tell our leaders to sit back and let them take care of it," he said.
Both Ottawa and the province need to make a goodwill gesture, said Cayuga subchief Leroy Hill. Recognizing the land claim would be a good place to start, he added.
"Our leaders have demonstrated goodwill. It's now time for your government," Hill said.
The notion that Ottawa isn't taking negotiations seriously doesn't reflect the reality of the situation, a spokeswoman for Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice said.
"Absolutely there is political will on behalf of the federal government to see this dispute come to an end," said Deirdra McCracken, adding it takes time to resolve a 200-year-old land claim.
"I don't think any of us went in thinking we could solve it overnight."
Although the province now owns the disputed land, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said it's up to Ottawa to step up with a real proposal to end the occupation.
"Until the federal government comes to the table in earnest with a solid proposal and a determination to resolve this, that situation will continue," said McGuinty, adding he would be "delighted" to hear from the prime minister on the subject.
Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Julian Fantino echoed McGuinty's comments, saying the federal government has been "missing in action" on the issue and police officers are taking the blame.
Over the past year, some 5,000 officers have been rotated through the site, which totals about 480,000 police hours, added Fantino.
"We've been targeted, I've been targeted," Fantino said. "It seems as if we've become the true meat in the sandwich in all of this and all we've ever done all along, and will continue to do, is preserve the peace."
While Wednesday's anniversary was a celebration of resistance for some at Six Nations, it was mourned by others in Caledonia. Hydro poles, street signs and cars were decorated with black ribbons marking the day some say their town was taken hostage.
The town's main thoroughfare and a railway line had been cut off by aboriginal barricades last spring and police have had to keep the peace during several tense clashes between residents and protesters.
"The Caledonia people have done absolutely nothing wrong but yet they are being held hostage for the rest of Canada," said Haldimand County Mayor Marie Trainer.
"They're very frustrated. It's hard to understand how something could be so complicated and how it can take so long."
In the meantime, the occupied site remains lined with aboriginal flags and Six Nations protesters hunker down in half-constructed houses.
The Confederacy chiefs say they have government documents that back up their claim that the land was never surrendered to the Crown.
Six Nations isn't looking for a pile of money, they just want their community and cultural pride restored by having their claim acknowledged, Hill said.
The anniversary of the occupation was relatively calm. Early in the day, about two dozen flag-waving Six Nations protesters marched near the spot where the dispute began.
The crowd was dispersed without incident.