The Six Nations council band has gone to court to force the City of Brantford to consult it before allowing development on areas that have been the subject of native occupations and blockades.
In press release this week, Chief William Montour said his council is seeking an order from the Ontario Superior Court to stop development on lands where the city has failed to consult them.
"The city is well aware that Six Nations has claims and interests affecting lands within the city of Brantford. The Six Nations council did a presentation on Six Nations land rights within the city to both Brantford and Brant County council last year," he stated.
In the release, he noted the City of Brantford had applied for an injunction that would prohibit Six Nations members from interfering with development at five constructions sites in Brantford.
"The council is very concerned the Brantford injunction is a direct threat to the collective land rights of the Six Nations people," he stated.
"Therefore, this declaratory relief (being sought) is putting Ontario and Brantford on notice that further development on our lands are not to be developed without prior, free and informed consent," Montour stated.
The five properties he mentioned are already subject to an interim injunction prohibiting Six Nations residents from interfering with current development projects.
During a public meeting in Brantford yesterday, Montour stated the City of Brantford legally owns only 330 hectares (820 acres) of land that were once part of the Haldimand Tract.
"How it got to be 6,000 acres (the current city limits), I don't know," he said.