A group of area developers has extended an olive branch to the Six Nations in an effort to break the land claims impasse they fear could destroy future development in Brantford.
Known as the Haldimand Tract Good Neighbours Coalition, the native and non-native business people have also proposed an "interim peace agreement" to allow development on disputed lands that have been the subject of native blockades and occupations.
They suggested the City of Brantford should pay a percentage of the municipal taxes collected on these areas to the Six Nations and allow development to proceed pending the outcome of land claims negotiations.
Six Nations would have to agree to not interfere with the development.
After the dispute is resolved, Six Nations would then reimburse the city for monies paid to them under the interim peace agreement.
Steve Charest outlined the coalition's goals and objectives during a public meeting at the native-owned Woodland Cultural Centre in Brantford yesterday.
Responding to a question from the audience, he conceded they had no guarantee Brantford city council would support their "interim peace agreement."
But he suggested they were throwing around ideas in effort to resolve a desperate situation that the government, the police and other agencies aren't likely to fix any time soon.
He stressed that Brantford and Six Nations would both suffer socially and economically if the impasse isn't broken and development isn't allowed to proceed.
"Bluntly put, the community will slowly die if new development doesn't take place," Charest stated.
"Among the population of Brantford, there is a growing frustration that First Nations peoples are holding them for ransom, and that more steps should be taken against them.
"It is important that we avoid embarking on a course of action that could tear the communities apart and make Brant a location that would not be considered for development," he added.
Six Nations elected band council Chief William Montour welcomed the opportunity for an open discussion with the development community.
"It's long overdue," he stated from the floor.
He chided Charest for using the phrase "our aboriginal people."
"Let's put it into context. We are no one's aboriginal people. We are the Haudenosaunee ... allies of the Crown.
"This issue of our land has always been at the heart of our people. We aren't opposed to development. We want to be part of it," he stated.
Six Nations resident Butch Thomas suggested the coalition's peace offer was ill advised.
"If it's some sort of olive branch, I'd rather we stopped all development until the land claims are settled," he stated.
"All I hear is Brantford will die. What about Six Nations? Our population has grown too."
Another Six Nations resident, Angel Smith, challenged Charest's suggestion that his group only wanted to treat Six Nations as "good neighbours."
"How do you think you're being good neighbours (when you) take our people to court?" she asked.
If coalition members want to be good neighbours, she suggested, they should do away with the injunctions and bylaws that were passed to keep natives off development sites.