Caledonia offer: $125M

May 31, 2007 04:30 AM

Rita Daly
Staff Reporter
Toronto Star

Ottawa has offered $125 million to the Six Nations to settle four land claims in exchange for an end to the longstanding Caledonia dispute.

"We feel this is a very significant offer" with a variety of conditions, chief federal negotiator Ron Doering said last night.

One condition is that there will be no final settlement until protesters move off the former housing development site in Caledonia, he said.

He also said Six Nations representatives must demonstrate a "strong consensus" in the community in support of the agreement, signalling no further occupations.

Doering said the offer was made yesterday but the Six Nations representatives said they needed time to review it. Negotiations involving Ottawa, Queen's Park and Six Nations are to continue today.

"The province made it clear they are impressed with Ottawa's leadership in this offer," he said. "We believe it demonstrates that Canada continues to do all it can to get a resolution of all of these claims."

Haldimand County Mayor Marie Trainer said she was hopeful for a settlement, but noted some natives at the table have said they are only interested in the land and not cash.

Last night, a Six Nations negotiator dismissed the offer and said natives have made it clear from the start of talks they only wanted land. "The only positive thing about it is it was an offer," said Mohawk Chief Allen MacNaughton.

"It being an initial offer, we realize initial offers are never accepted anyway. I guess it's a starting point to talk about things and I guess the only positive is it's obviously a recognition they owe us something."

The offer involves the settlement of four of 27 existing land claims: the former Moulton township, the flooding of lands in Dunnville to accommodate the Welland Canal, the former Burtch correctional facility in Brant County and the Grand River Navigation Co. claims.

Trainer said a settlement is long overdue, adding the Caledonia occupation has for months caused enormous strife in the community.

"If it gets the ball rolling in the right direction and we can stop the occupations and settle the land claims, then I'm all for it. It's a show of good faith on all four sides."

But Trainer cautioned that the federal government "has got to stop rewarding criminals. They've obviously come to the conclusion there has to be dollars there."

However, Doering said the offer settles legitimate land claims.

"Canada has done an assessment and feels there was a breach of some lawful obligation" involving the four claims, he said.

Natives say they reclaimed the Douglas Creek Estates in Caledonia, which the province bought from the developer for $16 million last year, over a claim involving the building of the Hamilton-Port Dover Plank Road (Hwy. 6) in 1843.