Six Nations Confederacy chiefs marched on to a construction site with 100 community members to drive home the point that development has to stop in Brantford.
Since land rights and claims negotiations began in 2006, development in the Haldimand Tract has accelerated, Mohawk Chief and Six Nations negotiator Allen MacNaughton said when he walked into a hotel construction site on July 7.
"We want (development) to stop," he added.
MacNaughton expressed his people's outrage over a City of Brantford injunction prohibiting interference with five construction sites. He called it a violation of the centuries old Two Row Wampum treaty that recognized peaceful but independent coexistence between First Nations and others.
He emphasized that his people have the right to freedom of speech.
On July 7, chiefs and Six Nations people visited several sites. MacNaughton was asked if this approach would be expanded.
"We might come out to other areas," he responded. "We don't send people out....but this is to show our support for the people. We will stand up for them."
Several Six Nations individuals have visited development sites in Brantford over the past year. In 2007, Six Nations community members stopped development in Hagersville and this year, Ruby and Floyd Montour and others stopped a Cayuga construction site. Developers secured an injunction in June and are continuing townhouse construction on Thorburn Street.
In Brantford, the Six Nations entourage included chiefs, members of the men's council and members of the band council, clan mothers and Mohawk workers. MacNaughton said this was a show of unity in Six Nations.
In the background, workers ilding a cement block wall section of the hotel. Once they finished, all construction workers left the site.
Seneca bench warmer Butch Thomas accused the federal and provincial governments of negotiating in bad faith because development ile land rights were on the table.
"We're losing ground," he said. Butch Thomas also predicted support will grow. "Stand our ground Take back our ground," he said to his people.
After outlining Six Nations history on the Haldimand proclamation, MacNaughton confirmed his commitment to seeking resolution of land rights.
"I believe the only peaceful resolution is at the negotiating table," he said.
When Six Nations negotiators asked Ontario to stop development, provincial negotiators asked Six Nations to stop protesters, pointed out MacNaughton. When Brantford passed bylaws prohibiting protests of construction, the city crossed the line, he noted. "We have to stand up for our rights," he added.
Later Ron Thomas emphasized that people attending construction sites were land protectors and that this was a historic occasion.
"It's long past the time to ensure the land becomes ours," he said of securing land for young people. "This is the first time the Confederacy chiefs have come forward at a demonstration."
Chiefs and Six Nations community members proceeded to a nearby factory construction site where fencing stood on the perimeter. When a Six Nations man loosened a section of fence, a construction worker attempted to hold it in place but to no avail. About 100 people streamed through the opening and spread out across the large site to stop workers.