Media Release :
Communiqué:
For Immediate Release
Sept.,6, 2007 Confederacy optimistic but, wants halt to development on crown lands within track
GRAND RIVER TERRITORYSIX NATIONS- Six Nations Confederacy Council negotiators are optimistic movement may be coming from Canada, in right of the crown, over Six Nations land rights.
However, at the same time Confederacy Royanni (Chiefs) are calling for a halt to all development on crown lands within the Haldimand Tract, while negotiators work on a formula to determine how the amount of restitution to Six Nations, will be arrived at. Royanni met in a full day’s session with Canada and Ontario representatives at the Oneida Business Park Thursday.
Six Nations Confederacy Council lead Negotiator, Mohawk Chief Allen MacNaughton said he is optimistic with Thursday’s discussions. “Canada realizes we have land rights here and it is now a case of developing a formula that will determine what restitution will be or is worth.” Chief MacNaughton said the Canada has not ever adequately explained how it came up with the $125 million offer it made several months ago. “There was a ballpark figure thrown out of $125 million, with no explanation, that is not and has not been satisfactory. There was no formula used, there is no satisfactory explanation.”
As a result he said , “it will be up to Haudenosaunee Six Nations, to gain, come up with a solution. We will be working for the next 30 days on a formula .” Mohawk Chief Allen MacNaughton says Six Nations Haudenosaunee want to see an end to direct action being taken by developers on disputed Six Nations lands.
“Canada and Ontario see the civil actions, our people take against development on our lands as direct action that threatens the talks. However, they do not see that their developers are committing the same kind of action on our lands. Development of Six Nations lands, without our permission is direct action that we do not take kindly to,” he said.
He said “the table has agreed there must be discussion started to stop development on lands the Crown holds under its Ontario Reality Corporation. There is land, without third party interests, there, that once cleared of development could be returned to Six Nations.”
Chief MacNaughton said, The Confederacy is also developing a process to work with developers who are caught up in a void being created by Canada and Ontario’s failure to resolve Six Nations land rights. The Six Nations Haudenoniso (Confederacy Council) will continue to work towards a peaceful, fair resolution of its more than 200 year old land rights issues throughout Southern Ontario.
Mohawk Chief Allen MacNaughton
Confederacy Council Lead Negotiator
Mohawk Chief MacNaughton will be available for interviews Friday, Aug.,
7, 2007 between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. call for schedule.