OHSWEKEN – Brantford's planned open house and community dialogue in Ohsweken about matters important to the city and Six Nations was aborted today by about 30 natives from different factions who said they didn't want the event to take place.
Representatives of the Onkwehon:we Women's Council, Men's Fire and the Mohawk Nation, along with known Haudenosaunee activists from past construction site blockades stood outside the entrance to the Six Nations community hall in Ohsweken shortly before noon, holding signs that read "Not Right Now."
Mayor Chris Friel sat in his vehicle in the parking lot and surveyed the demonstration for awhile.
He had received warnings the evening before from native spokespeople that the demonstration was coming if the city went ahead with its open house..
The mayor had ordered city staff not to attend, but he brought some placards in the trunk of his vehicle, intended for the open house about a proposed consultation and accommodation agreement, the Greenwich-Mohawk project and the city's future intentions about the south side of downtown Colborne Street.
But as more people and media gathered, Friel suddenly wheeled his vehicle around and drove away.
"I'm not interested in being part of a media circus," the mayor said over his cellphone to an Expositor reporter who called him from the demonstration.
"We came down to talk. We planned to have a consultation. We were told in no uncertain terms that there would be none. I'm going back home to spend the afternoon with my children."
Friel also sent an email to councillors saying "I was just there. It is a circus. Do not attend."
But councillors Marguerite Ceschi-Smith and David Neumann had just arrived on the scene and went over to speak to the gathering.
Some leaders from the Onkwehon:we Women's Council informed the two councillors that they did not wish the open house to take place that day.
They explained that their unwillingness was mostly about one of the topics: the proposed consultation and accommodation agreement that Friel and Chief Bill Montour of the elected band council had worked on, but backed off signing for more consultation after the two met with opposition from some native groups a few week ago.
The leaders said they were glad Ceschi-Smith and Neumann were willing to listen to them, but said they were disappointed that Friel did not even get out of his vehicle to greet them and hear what they had to say.
"I don't think the mayor understands us here at Six Nations as much as he says he does," said Lisa Van Every.
"He really doesn't."
Earlier, several activists offered the media differing perspectives that had one commonality: they had varying reasons for not wanting to engage in a dialogue about the proposed agreement.
"Any consultation is premature," said Jan Kahehti:io Longboat, speaking on behalf of the Women's Council.
In a statement handed to all media and the two city councillors, she said: "We are saying today that we are not receiving the visitors from Brantford City Council. We have not had the time to review the agreement or get legal advice."
The statement also noted that an agreement was announced on March 4 but not released, but it is known that a different one was drawn up.
"Now there are two separate agreements and we'll need to review both," Longboat said.
Ceschi-Smith, who has known Longboat for years, said she would take the comments back to city council.
"Are we still friends?" Ceschi-Smith asked Longboat.
"Yes we are," Longboat responded.
The two briefly embraced, then parted.