KATE HARRIES
May 24, 2007
Globe & Mail
HAGERSVILLE, ONT. -- Six Nations protesters halted construction at a Hagersville building site yesterday, prompting federal and provincial negotiators to signal their displeasure by walking away from a meeting, part of year-long negotiations aimed at resolving the occupation of a
"This kind of behaviour is not acceptable," said David Ramsay,
The protest, quickly defused when developer Dan Valentini halted work on the 13-acre site, sparked accusations on all sides that deals had been violated. Deirdre McCracken, spokeswoman for Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice, said there had been an agreement at the start of the
But Confederacy Chief Butch Thomas, one of those who started the nine-hour protest, said the fact that development is proceeding apace in the Haldimand tract makes negotiations meaningless, because land that's been built on will never be returned.
"There was an understanding in place about no development going on while we were at the table, and each day I drove by, I see more happening," Mr. Thomas said. "The government, the communities are showing no respect or concern for the natives that are the true owners of this property."
Lars Eedy, spokesperson for the provincial Aboriginal Affairs Ministry, said the province tabled a consultation protocol in March that would provide for Six Nations and
However, there is the Grand River Notification Agreement, first signed in 1996, which provides for
Haldimand County Mayor Marie Trainer said the elected band would have been notified of the Hagersville development. One of the difficulties at Six Nations is a blurred division of responsibilities - with the traditional Confederacy chiefs handling negotiations to end the 15-month
Ms. Trainer said there are many more divisions, blaming a group of "young radicals" holding sway at the
But Mr. Valentini said there has to be a simple way of finding out whether a property is the subject of a land claim.
His company, ABJ Ventures of Stoney Creek, has plans for an 85-home development aimed at retirees and empty nesters on Hagersville's main street, which is also Highway 6, which is also
Six Nations maintain they never surrendered the half-mile strip on either side of the highway where it runs through the Haldimand tract, land along the
The federal government insists that the
Last week, federal negotiator Ron Doering said he would be bringing offers on two of the claims - the
Mr. Valentini said he had no idea his property, a former school in this town of 2,800 people, was part of the
"I'm in shock, it was a total surprise," said Mr. Valentini, who hopes to meet with Six Nations representatives soon.
"This isn't the way we should be doing business in this country," he said, adding the land-claim issue never came up during the planning and rezoning process.
"My lawyers can't tell me, the title doesn't have anything registered on it, the township doesn't tell you anything," he complained.