By Bill Jackson - Regional News
Land claim negotiations between Six Nations,
"The Six Nations indicated to us that a combination of two things meant that they would prefer to skip a few meetings to give them some time to do some work," said Chief Federal Negotiator, Ron Doering.
"It isn't as if the talks have broken off, it is that we have decided at their request to take a break for a few meetings and the date which we resume will probably be determined next week by phone," he said last Friday.
Doering said that the $26 million offer to settle the Dunnville claim due to flooding of the
Doering said it is proposed that Six Nations use $10 million of that amount to acquire lands close to reserve and put $16 million into a trust fund to be used as it determines over coming months.
The fund could be used for drinking water or post secondary education scholarships, Doering suggested. But time is needed for the chiefs to consult with their community, he explained.
Six Nations Chiefs had countered the $26 million offer with a $1 billion request earlier this year because they did not understand how
"We don't hear about the billion dollars anymore and they haven't accepted the $26 (million) but we're certainly talking in broad terms about "Alright, if it were $26 (million), how would that be structured?" Doering said.
"There's been kind of a consensus that it would involve a combination of lands that they would reacquire over time and benefits that they may be able to get for the benefit of their community."
Doering said the chiefs are also preoccupied with ongoing injunction issues in
"Canada continues to be concerned at what is happening," Doering said. "This direct (injunction) action is never helpful and in our view negotiation is the way to go. Obviously in this case they are so preoccupied with them that it is taking their attention away from the claims settlement…they've got different people involved with the lawsuits that are actually involved with doing some of the research and community outreach."
The native side suggested returning to the negotiating table in August. Doering is aiming for some time in July "given the urgency of the issue and the seriousness of it both for the natives and the non-natives."
But he said the lines of communication are still open.
He added that the main negotiating table is looking at 20 some land claims.
"We haven't said they're all valid."
An initial offer of $125 million to settle four claims "seemed to be too much for (Six Nations) to handle," Doering said.
Instead he has concentrated on one of the four claims because it was "a good easy one…we agreed on facts and lawful obligations."
However the $26 million dollar offer has been on the table since last year.