A group opposing the installation of a new police building for Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory is costing its own band several thousand dollars, the chief of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte said.
"It's probably going to be $100,000 down the drain," R. Donald Maracle told The Intelligencer Wednesday.
The comment came a day after a group of band members set up a blockade on a gravel pit on York Road, where officials were preparing to install a $1.9-million modular building.
The building was expected to be shipped from a manufacturer in Grimsby, Ont. this week, but band council decided Tuesday to delay its arrival until the conflict is resolved.
Maracle said the band is still trying to figure out how much a serious delay could cost, but stressed the numbers are adding up already.
He said the price for having the building mounted onto the vehicle it was to be transported with is $15,000.
However, the building has since been taken off the vehicle and is currently being stored with the manufacturer.
Maracle also said a Ministry of Transportation permit the band obtained to ship the building earlier this week has since expired and the band will have to purchase another one, further adding to the costs.
"We're going to get a figure from the company and what it will cost the band and we're going to have to pay for permits twice to use it."
He also said the band is paying security costs for contractors in charge of installing the building.
Maracle said band council won't likely make any decisions on the fate of the building until its regularly scheduled meeting next week.
About 50 people began blocking the site of the police building Tuesday afternoon. Many said the demonstration was over the lack of consultation band members received from council before deciding on the project.
Several in the group also said council should have spent the money to improve access to safe drinking water and housing in the territory.
By Wednesday evening the group had left the site. Attempts to reach protest organizers were unsuccessful.