KAREN BEST
Dunnville Chronicle
Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 05:00
Local News - Coun. Lorne Boyko's first priority as chair of the newly established First Nations Relationship Committee is contacting leaders in Six Nations.
He hoped to make direct contact with Six Nations Confederacy chiefs, Six Nations band council members and other groups within their community as soon as possible to inform them about the committee and its purpose.
Boyko is chair of the committee set up to coordinate and address First Nations land claim issues and actions affecting the county.
The committee will also work with leaders in Mississaugas of the New Credit, a First Nations community near Hagersville.
In considering the committee's role, Boyko wanted to promote a flexible framework differing from methods employed in the past. "You've got to be fluid," he said.
By building a working relationship, the committee hoped to move the county and the two First Nations communities forward from an environmental, economic and social perspective.
The county's committee will also lobby the Canadian and provincial governments for timely and fair resolution of land claims affecting the county.
During council discussions, Coun. Buck Sloat said this committee would not be necessary if dialogue was established a very long time ago.
He and Boyko hoped the mandate of the committee would change especially as land claims were resolved.
The committee is expected to lobby for direct county involvement in negotiations particularly on side tables dealing with items of interest to the county.
Members will also ask the federal and provincial government to provide residents with more information as soon as it is available. Along with maintaining effective working relationships with First Nations decision making bodies, the committee will arrange regular or special joint meetings to discuss matters of mutual concern.
Council unanimously endorsed the committee's terms of reference and began suggesting agenda items including land titles.
At this month's Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference, Coun. Craig Grice emphasized the need for Ontario to stand behind land titles and the land registry system.
He also expressed frustration at Ontario aboriginal minister David Ramsey's response to council's request for a consultation protocol so development can restart in the county.
Sloat believed the minister promised that Ontario would set up constructive solutions.
When he met with Ramsey at the conference, Sloat spoke to him about establishing a moratorium on First Nations occupations.
After Haldimand Norfolk MP Diane Finley requested notification about agenda items of interest to her office, council members decided to forward agendas to let her staff decide on attendance.
Council talks about the impact of the Six Nations issue every week, noted Sloat who again wondered how informed Finley was.