Marissa Nelson
May 23, 2007
Natives protesting a housing development in Hagersville have left the site. The group arrived at
The natives agreed to leave if the construction company stopped work and removed heavy equipment. The company also agreed to continue negotiations with the Six Nations Confederacy to find a long-term solution to the dispute.
The site is across from the Hagersville water tower, north of Hwy. 6.
About 20 native activists arrived at the former Northview school property around
Janie Jamieson, spokesperson for the native people, said the situation was similar to Douglas Creek Estates in
She said builders didn't consult the Six Nations and the subdivision is part of the
"People are getting frustrated," said Jamieson.
Toby Barrett, MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant, said the occupation set a "bad precedent."
"This is an even worse precedent than
"All you have to do is show up and it's enough to threaten and intimidate the construction company to haul thousands of dollars worth of equipment off the site. Everybody turns around and leaves when they see the Warriors flag."
Haldimand Mayor Marie Trainer said she was very disappointed by the latest protest, calling it an act of bad faith on the part of the natives.
Developer Dan Valentini, from
The developer planned to build 85 townhouses and semi-detached homes, which he hoped to have occupied by this fall.
Valentini said they didn't think the property was within six miles of the
"It's a peaceful demonstration and that's the way we want to keep it," said Valentini shortly after he arrived at the site.
"Our government has to take responsibility and settle these land claims. I've got my life savings tied up here."
Land claims have become a "crisis" in the development industry, he said.
"More and more people are getting hurt."
Ginette Albert, senior communications advisor to the Minister Responsible for Aboriginal Affairs David Ramsay, said provincial negotiators attended a scheduled meeting with the Six Nations this morning.
"The negotiators expressed their displeasure with what happened this morning," said Albert. The government cancelled the rest of the meeting. She said today's occupation will be discussed at a meeting next week.
Clyde Powless, of Six Nations, said the federal government is being "two-faced" in allowing development on lands over which it is negotiating.
Dawn Smith, one of the original protesters at Douglas Creek Estates, said the dispute shouldn't affect ongoing talks.
"This has been going on more than a year and we're back where we started," said Smith. But as soon as the equipment was gone, Six Nations protesters would be, she said.
Hagersville is about 15 kilometres from