Monte Sonnenberg SIMCOE REFORMER
Thursday May 24, 2007
During a day-long occupation of a construction site in Hagersville yesterday, a native spokesman said Six Nations has extended its land claim to include half a mile on either side of the Hamilton Plank Road.
Hamilton Plank Road was the original name of Highway 6. When it was built in the early years of the 19th century, Hamilton Plank Road extended from Port Dover to Hamilton.
"It gets interesting, doesn’t it?" said Six Nations protester Wesley Elliott.
Elliott and two dozen others converged on the site of the former Northview Public School around 7 a.m. The school was demolished nearly three years ago and was being prepared for a townhouse development.
The protesters informed developer Dan Valentini that the land was disputed and was the subject of negotiations related to the 15-month native standoff in the south end of Caledonia.
The protesters agreed to vacate the property if Valentini halted construction. Valentini consented to do so. R.F. Almas & Co. Ltd. of Hagersville finished removing its equipment in the afternoon.
Haldimand Mayor Marie Trainer said yesterday that the Hamilton Plank Road claim is invalid. Trainer said the protesters responsible for yesterday’s occupation were the same ones who chased a paving crew from a parking lot of a Baptist church in Caledonia last week. Trainer said the rogue group has no standing with Six Nations’ official negotiating team.
"It’s pretty upsetting and disappointing," Trainer said. "But I understand it’s a bunch of 20- and 30-year-olds who don’t represent anyone. Hopefully this doesn’t cause a big kerfuffle. Hopefully the Confederacy can get them in line."
Trainer added that federal negotiators have made clear to Six Nations that the Hamilton Plank Road allowance was bought and paid for in the 1800s and is no longer up for discussion.
The move on Hagersville comes 15 months after protesters from Six Nations occupied the 100-acre Douglas Creek Estates subdivision in Caledonia. The occupiers claim the Caledonia subdivision is part of a 12-mile tract along the Grand River granted to natives in 1784 for their service to the British during the Revolutionary War in the United States.
Federal and provincial representatives have been seeking a negotiated settlement with Six Nations since the Caledonia occupation began. However, government officials walked away from the table yesterday when told of the move on Hagersville.
"This kind of behaviour is not acceptable," said David Ramsay, the minister responsible for native affairs in the McGuinty cabinet. "We should have peace and we should not have further escalation.
"Ontario expressed its displeasure with the occupation that had happened earlier in the morning. In fact, we said we felt this was so counterproductive that it was not going to be any use to continue the side-table consultations today."
Ramsay added the McGuinty government is losing patience with Six Nations and its inability to respond to a proposal last fall that would establish protocols for new construction in the disputed Grand River tract.
OPP were in Hagersville yesterday keeping the peace. Bystanders accused officers of aiding and abetting illegal behaviour on the part of natives.
There were indications several weeks ago that Highway 6 would become an issue when a native smoke shop went up along the roadside near Caledonia. The shop was constructed without the consent of Haldimand council or the county building department. A man shot there last week suffered minor injuries.
"Soon as they put that illegal smoke shop up on Highway 6, I knew we were in trouble," said Pamela Schmidt of Hagersville. "I said we’re next. The government doesn’t want to give anyone a bloody nose so the army is out of the question, so I think we should take away all the money we give them. Let them sink or swim on their own. They don’t recognize our laws, but they recognize our currency. It sounds harsh, but harsh measures are needed."