March 26, 2007
by Joseph Quesnel
The First Perspective
The federal government has announced it will be appointing a new official to deal with the Mohawk's specific land claim on the Bay of Quinte in Ontario.
This past Friday, about 125 Mohawk activists began an occupation, or what they term a reclamation, of a gravel quarry on a disputed tract of land located along the northeastern outskirts of Deseronto.
Jim Prentice, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, recently said that he will be appointing Douglas Forbes as Community Liaison Official on the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte's Culbertson Tract Specific Claim. Forbes will support the federal negotiating team by facilitating information sharing with the public about the ongoing negotiation process on this specific claim, reads a government news release.
According to the Mohawks involved, the demonstrators say they are reclaiming a small part of 925 acres known as the Culbertson Land Tract, a parcel of land that they claim was illegally taken from the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte (MBQ) in 1832.
The reclamation activities come without the approval of the local Mohawk band council.
The government has said is is eager to enter into negotiations and resolve the outstanding issues involved.
"Canada's New Government is committed to working with the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte at the negotiating table to resolve this claim," said Minister Prentice. "We will continue to engage the municipal and provincial governments and other key third-party stakeholders as these negotiations proceed. The work of Mr. Forbes will be a key part of these overall efforts to share information and ensure that our negotiation process considers local issues and concerns."
Minister Prentice also thanked his Caucus colleague, Member of Parliament Daryl Kramp (Prince Edward-Hastings) for what he called "constructive involvement" on this issue: "Daryl is a strong leader who has helped to maintain calm and good relationships in the community. I thank him very much for his hard work."
The First Nation's claim alleges that approximately 827 acres of land, referred to as the Culbertson Tract, were improperly alienated from the First Nation in 1837. The Government of Canada accepted the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte's claim under its Specific Claims Policy in November 2003. On January 9, 2007, Minister Prentice appointed Sean Kennedy as Chief Federal Negotiator to advance the work to resolve the claim.
The Government of Canada outlined its position on the claim recently by stating that "it is committed to honouring its lawful obligations to First Nations by resolving outstanding grievances to the benefit of all Canadians. Private property is not expropriated to settle claims. If land changes hands as a result of a land claim, it will only take place on a willing-buyer/willing-seller basis. Negotiated settlements bring economic benefits to First Nations and local communities."