Meeting sought return of barricades in Caledonia
OHSWEKEN - The Six Nations elected council says it is ready to talk with the Haudenosaunee Confederacy to discuss differences concerning the Burtch lands that prompted barricades to be set up in Caledonia.
After a special council meeting Monday morning, Chief Ava Hill and the elected council issued a statement declaring that they “continue to respectfully request a meeting with the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council to discuss community needs and issues affecting the well-being of the Six Nations of the Grand River.”
The statement comes four days after a group of activists supporting the HCCC set up barricades early Thursday morning on Argyle Street South in Caledonia, next to the former Douglas Creek Estates subdivision (called Kanonstahton, Mohawk for “protected place,” by the Haudenosaunee). It was the site of a blockade 11 years ago over land rights issues, and is still in HCCC hands.
The group stated that its demands are aimed at the provincial and federal governments and the Six Nations elected council, and the barricades will remain in place until their demands are met.
Their main issue is that the province last March 31 turned over the Burtch lands in Brant County to the elected council rather than the Confederacy council.
That action is, according to the activists, contrary to an agreement between provincial and HCCC negotiators in the heat of the last occupation in 2006, that the land would be turned over to the HCCC in its original state and status under the Haldimand Proclamation of 1784.
By transferring the land to a corporation run by the elected council, “Ontario has committed fraud and lied to our people,” the activists said.
Haldimand OPP responded to the barricade at 8:30 a.m. Thursday and set up a road block to divert traffic away from the blockade. Argyle Street North at Highway 6 and southbound Argyle at Braemar Avenue were closed. They remain closed Monday. No incidents were reported over the weekend, OPP Const. Rod LeClair said Monday morning.
“We’re still in the area, watching the barricades and controlling traffic,” he said. “We’re maintaining public safety.” The Ontario government is sticking by its actions.
“Ontario committed to transfer the Burtch property to the people of Six Nations in 2006,” Carey Marsden, spokeswoman for the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, said in an email Monday afternoon.
“After a thorough cleanup of the lands, we honoured that commitment earlier this year by transferring the land to a corporation established by the Six Nations elected council that will hold the land on behalf of the people of Six Nations.
“We remain hopeful that all parties will be able to work together in a spirit of mutual respect to ensure the land benefits all the people of Six Nations.”
Because the matter is before the courts,Marsdensaidthat“anyfurther comment would be inappropriate.”
The HCCC made clear its objections as soon as the Ontario government announced two years ago that it was cleaning up the 380-acre parcel, the site of the former Burtch Correctional Institute, and wanted to transfer it to Six Nations through a corporation that the elected council would set up.
The corporation was to manage the land until it could be made reserve land according to the federal government’s additions to reserve policy.
The elected council set up 9646035 Canada Ltd. and invited the HCCC to choose a member to sit on the board. The HCCC has refused to sit on the board, saying its authority would be reduced from a nation to a seat on a board.
Six Nations farmer Kris Hill has farmed the land for the past three years on a lease given by the HCCC. This year, Hill was given a written notice to vacate by the elected council and the corporation, which told her she had no authority to work the land.
She continued to work the land, but in June she was handed a notice that the corporation had made an application to Superior Court to have her evicted. By order of Justice John Harper that injunction proceeding was deferred to a trial of the issues on Aug. 17 and 18. But the judge also issued an interlocutory injunction forbidding Hill and her employees from going on the land until the case is heard.
Weeks ago, Hill was given notice of a contempt of court motion alleging she has been violating the interlocutory injunction.
That proceeding was deferred last week to Aug. 22.