Deyohowe:to Roger Silversmith and Skyler Williams outside the Longhouse on Six Nations of the Grand River territory. Photo: Steve Mongeau/APTN
As we continue to seek ways to live in right relationship with the Haudenosaunee peoples and work toward land justice and reconciliation, it is important for us to stay informed about what is happening within the Six Nations community and listen carefully to the voices of the Haudenosaunee leaders & elders. This is not always easy to do through mainstream media, so we share a couple of glimpses into recent important developments.
On April 20, 2021, Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs declared a formal moratorium on land development in the Haldimand Tract. On April 26, 2021, the Elected Chief of Six Nations supported this moratorium and called for unity between the two councils in working to hold Ontario and Canada accountable for unresolved land claims.
Despite being granted the land running 6 miles on each side of the Grand River as payment for Haudenosaunee (Six Nations) support in the American Revolution, the current Six Nations reserve makes up less than 5% of the original grant. Ongoing land claims stretching back to the 1980s have not been settled, yet land development continues.
Check the links below for more information on this situation.
New website: Protect the Tract
Haudenosaunee chiefs declare development moratorium across entire Haldimand Tract (APTN article and video)
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/haldimand-tract-development-moratorium-1.5993081 (CBC Hamilton News Article)
Virtual Press Conference on the Road to Unity at Six Nations of the Grand River with Elected Chief Mark Hill (Six Nations Elected Council announcement)
For Further information on the land rights of the Six Nations Land of the Grand River: Six Miles Deep (Six Nations’ history of the Haldimand Tract)
Paddlers from Six Nations travel from Elora to Caledonia to test water quality in order to assess the impacts of development on water quality in the Six Nations reserve. Photo from Hamilton Spectator, June 28, 2021
Click on photo for link to CTV news coverage of the paddle.