Six Nations leaders near Brantford are putting towns and cities upstream of Caledonia on notice that some of their land is under dispute.
Native leaders have written to all municipalities along the full 200 kilometres of the Grand River west of Toronto — all the way from Lake Erie to Grey County — demanding a say on all future developments and a share of development fees as they continue to press their land claims with the federal government.
A map provided by the Haudenosauee Development Institute indicates the area of the land claim.
Along the Grand River near Shelburne, proponents of a plan for an $80-million wind farm have already been approached for development fees and have agreed to pay an undisclosed amount.
Aaron Detlor, who heads the Six Nations’ Haudenosauee Development Institute, said this is just the start.
“We are going to go out and identify specific areas where it’s clear there’s been no surrender and no payment and go and advise people this is not your land. There’s no more of this sweeping it under the rug. It’s not OK to steal land anymore and we’re going to make people aware of that,” he said.
Six Nations members have written to muncipalities, reminding them of the massive land grant of 1784 that gave the Confederacy rights to 10 kilometres of land on either side of the river.
Later this month, the four-month-old Haudenosauee Development Institute plans to send out flyers and start radio and newspaper ads asserting jurisdiction.
When asked how he thinks it’s going to go over, Detlor is frank.
“Like a lead balloon,” he said.
“To be honest, I know what’s out there,” said Detlor. “I know how people are going to perceive it, but it has to be done. People have to be educated.”
Detlor said federal, provincial and municipal governments all have a part to play to resolve the land claims. He said Six Nations doesn’t just want a cheque. It wants a say on all development along the river and a share of any development fees.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2008/01/14/six-nations.html?ref=rss