TORONTO, Sept. 17 /CNW/ - I am deeply concerned about what occurred at the Stirling South Development site near Caledonia on September 13, 2007. I wish Mr. Gualtieri a full and speedy recovery from the injuries that he suffered as a result of a confrontation with Six Nations individuals. This incident is indeed regrettable and unfortunate. As the Six Nations Hodiyenehso (Confederacy Council) have indicated, the injuries to Mr. Gualtieri were the result of the actions of a few individuals which are not condoned or supported by the Confederacy.
I do not believe that violence will enable First Nations people to resolve their longstanding grievances any more expediently or effectively than through the pursuit of peaceful and reasonable measures.
I remain fully supportive of the peaceful actions of the Haudenosaunee Six Nations in their efforts to exercise their rights and to protect their traditional territory.
The issue of unresolved land rights and the lawful obligations of the Government of Canada is a complex one. It cannot be adequately explained in a thirty second sound bite or one editorial. Over the years First Nation land has been stolen through unfulfilled Treaty promises, outright theft and underhanded dealings. The frustration that has accumulated as a result of years upon years of inaction and neglect by the Government of Canada in resolving these legitimate claims runs very deep.
Consider that First Nations submit a claim to government which drags on for years with no resolution and then have to watch as their land continues to be sold off and developed while the claim remains unresolved. I cannot emphasize enough that this is the source of considerable frustration within First Nation communities. This is wrong and must be given immediate attention.
The general public needs to understand that these unresolved claims are not new requests for more land or more money. They are lawful obligations that the Government committed to and failed to fulfill, or only partially fulfilled. This is what First Nation people mean when they talk about "the honour of the Crown". The Crown has not lived up to their end of the bargain while our people continue to be mired in poverty and continue to have their rights trampled on. First Nations are not asking for more -- we are simply reclaiming what is rightfully ours. The land is who we are; it is central to our identities and this will not change. First Nations people view their access to their land and the resources within it as the key component to their survival and as a way to pull ourselves out of the grinding poverty which far too many of our First Nations people experience.
Yesterday the United Nations (UN) General Assembly voted to approve the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This is significant for many reasons. Firstly, that it acknowledged that First Nation people "have suffered historic injustices" as a result of colonization and the dispossession of their lands". Furthermore the UN Declaration reaffirmed that "Indigenous people have the right to own, use, develop and control the lands, territories and resources that they possess by reason of traditional ownership or other traditional occupation or use." Although Canada opposed the Declaration, it is expected that as a member of the UN, of the UN Human Rights Council and a member of the international community, that Canada will therefore respect the decision of the international community.
It has been reported that the Provincial Government is considering leaving the main Six Nations (Caledonia) negotiation table as a result of this latest incident. I strongly encourage Premier McGuinty to ensure that Ontario remains at the table as it is certain that no resolution on this matter will be reached if the parties are not participating in negotiations. The progress made on the negotiations to date must not be lost as a result of the actions of a few individuals acting on their own.
I encourage all parties to remain patient and committed to the Six Nations (Caledonia) negotiations. I feel strongly that with good faith on all sides and the necessary political will an agreement will be reached that is acceptable to all.