The Onkwehón:we Women's Council and the Haudenosaunee Hodiskeagehda Odekah of the Grand River (Men's Fire) declare that our land on the Haldimand Tract is and forever will be governed by the Haldimand Deed of October 25, 1784.
We will not allow a small group of three people from the Six Nations elected system, three people from Brantford City Hall staff and three people from Ontario to make decisions regarding our land. The Six Nations elected council has no authority to sign any land agreements on behalf of the Six Nations people.
On Saturday, March 12, the mayor of the city of Brantford attended the Six Nations community hall for what he has deemed "consultation with Six Nations." He has stated in the media that "The loss is to the people of Six Nations, who missed the opportunity for a consultation."
What the mayor refuses to understand is that the people of Six Nations are not prepared to consult with him or his council at this time. He was repeatedly asked during the week prior to postpone his visit to Six Nations but he did not listen to the requests.
The mayor has also said through the media that "This small group decided that no one else on Six Nations should take part in that." What the mayor doesn't realize or understand is how much of the community was actually represented on Saturday. Entire clans of families were represented by the people who were there.
What the people of Six Nations need now just as the people of Brantford may need is time for us to consult within our own communities about any agreement that may be developed. Time to conduct this internal business is what both our communities deserve.
As we take this time to conduct our business, we hope the people of Brantford know that we wish to remain good neighbours and we need to keep the lines of communication open between our communities.
Signed:
Onkwehón:we Women's Council and Men's Fire