Canada, Ontario and Six Nations representatives working on land claims and rights are ready to resume talks.
"All three parties are anxious to get back to the table," said Ron Doering, the federal government's senior negotiator.
Canada is now ready to give a detailed response to the $500 million counter proposal sent by the Haudenosaunee Six Nations, he p>Ontario's negotiator Tom Molloy, Mohawk Chief Allen MacNaughton and Doering have discussed dates. A Dec. 9 meeting was cancelled but dates in January are being reviewed.
Referring to a Sept. 8, 2008 letter issued by the Confederacy council, Doering said the $500 million counter offer was a disappointing response to Canada's $26 million offer.
These values are proposed for compensation of 2,500 acres of land flooded when the Dunnville dam was built to force water into feeder canals for the Welland Canal. The flooded lands are located between Dunnville and Cayuga.
Last December, Doering presented the Confederacy negotiators with a $26 million offer. This was taken to the Six Nations community in a series of meetings. Last winter, financial experts were asked by Six Nations to assess the value of the property. They arrived at a range between $500 million and $1 billion.
Throughout, Doering remained steadfast in Canada's position that their offer was fair. Negotiating talks t were suspended in June because Six Nations negotiators needed time to respond.
Doering wanted to return to the table in July but found out in a September letter where the Confederacy stood. While believing their loss might be as big as $1 billion, the chiefs were prepared to go forward with a $500 million settlement for the care and maintenance of their people.
The letter also contained a list of principles to achieve just and lasting reconciliation.
Canada had to take time to think through the Haudenosaunee position and to be fairly detailed in a response and on various principles they raised, said Doering.
In November, after learning Chuck Strahl be Indian and Northern Affairs Canada minister, Doering was in a position to contact Six Nations to set a meeting date.
He is ready to present Canada's response to the Six Nations counter proposal and to engage in talks on many other matters.
"If I'm asked in the past or asked today: is $500 million an acceptable position for Canada, my answer is: absolutely not," said Doering. "I will be indicating that we still believe $26 million is fair and reasonable and that at the same time Canada has some flexibility in relation to a variety of things which we will talk about at that table."
In their Sept. letter, the Confederacy's principles included a guarantee that Six Nations rights and interests in land will not be extinguished in cash settlements.
They also asked Canada and Ontario to create separate legislation to commit to ongoing tripartite process with Six Nations to resolve many land and financial issues. Such legislation should adhere to principles and legal relationships set out in the Two Row Wampum Treaty and the Silver Covenant Chain of Friendship, they stated.
The treaty and covenant made between Europeans and the Haudenosaunee are based on respect and friendship and recognition of independent nations living side by side according to their own laws and culture.
The Haudenosaunee Six Nations also want to hold and manage any funds received from settlements. If negotiations come to an impasse, they want Ontario and Canada to commit to an independent binding arbitration process.