March 13, 2007
Hamilton Spectator
The Six Nations community has to sort out its internal differences before talks aimed at ending a year-long aboriginal occupation in southern Ontario can get back on track, Ontario’s aboriginal affairs minister David Ramsay said Tuesday.
Government negotiators ended a meeting early last week after Six Nations Chief David General — who has spoken out against the occupation of a former housing development site in Caledonia, Ont. — was barred from attending the negotiations by several aboriginal community members.
The Six Nations community is divided over the occupation, Ramsay said. While others have complained negotiations are being stalled because Six Nations isn’t speaking with a united voice, Ramsay said he hopes this internal disagreement won’t prolong the occupation further.
“We know there are different points of view on Six Nations about all of this,” he said. “That’s not really my business. My job is to get this thing solved. We’re determined to work it out at the main table.”
Talks were held Tuesday, and are scheduled for March 19, 21 and 22. But Ramsay wants General allowed to return. The chief is one of only a few representatives the provincial and federal negotiators agreed to negotiate with, he added.
“That’s something for Six Nations people to work out,” Ramsay said.
Anne-Marie Flanagan, a spokesperson for Ramsay, said the talks were not dependent on Six Nations resolving their differences. But Ramsay's suggestion did lead to confusion, she admits.
Six Nations protesters have occupied the former housing site for over a year, claiming the land was illegally taken from them more than 200 years ago.