Six Nations will make a counter-offer to Canada on its $26-million offer to settle a two century-old compensation claim.
"It could be $100 million," Mohawk Chief Allen MacNaughton said yesterday at the end of the latest negotiation session with Ottawa and Queen's Park.
"I will say that. It could be more."
Six Nations negotiators have had realtors and financial analysts reviewing the $26-million offer Canada made two months ago to settle a claim involving the building of the first Welland Canal. The canal company promised Six Nations compensation in 1824 for flooding of 1,000 hectares the natives controlled in the Dunnville area, but it was never paid.
Six Nations plans to present its offer at a March 5 meeting. MacNaughton said one issue that is missing is "that Canada has profited out of the use of those lands over those many years. I'm sure even if that was before our (Confederacy) council or the Canadian court, that would be taken into consideration. It's something that should be considered in a just way."
Ottawa is hoping to resolve the claim and use it as a blueprint to start resolving Six Nations myriad of other land and compensation claims.
Talks began in 2006 after natives occupied a Caledonia housing site, claiming it was never surrendered. Ottawa says it was surrendered in 1844. Resolution to the occupation of Douglas Creek Estates, which natives now call Kanonhstaton, is presently off the table.
Federal negotiator Ron Doering, who has stressed time is of the essence in dealing with the canal claim, was pleased it was moving forward. "We may be miles apart ... but at least we'll be able to get down to some negotiations. That's a step in the right direction."
Doering wouldn't comment on what Canada will do if the offer is $100 million, but said it would respond pretty quickly.
Meanwhile, MacNaughton expressed disbelief at comments made yesterday by local MP and cabinet minister Diane Finley that Six Nations had stopped negotiating with Canada to settle the dispute.
He called it "uninformed" and "irresponsible" and believed it was tied to Finley campaigning for a possible federal election.