Blockades removed by natives in Ont. land dispute

CTV.ca News Staff
Updated Tue. May. 16 2006 2:16 PM ET

[SISIS note: The following mainstream news article is provided for reference only, as an example of how mainstream media treats indigenous resistance to genocide. Mainstream media often presents biased and distorted information, lacking pertinent facts and/or context. Inclusion of this article on our site should not be considered an endorsement by SISIS.]

As negotiators continued their bid to settle a land claim dispute in southwestern Ontario, Six Nations protesters began removing blockades as an act of good faith Tuesday.

Talks to end the 76-day standoff have been going on between former Ontario premier David Peterson and Six Nations Confederacy Chief Allen McNaughton for more than two weeks.

The dispute began Feb. 28 when a group of native activists moved onto the construction site, which backs onto a reservation near Hamilton, Ont.

Housing development was under construction on the land at the time, but progress came to a halt while the occupation ensued.

David Ramsay, Ontario's minister responsible for aboriginal affairs, said Tuesday that some barriers set up on the main route through the town of Caledonia have now been taken down.

Aboriginal spokeswoman Janie Jamieson said although the barriers have not come completely down, the partial opening will allow local traffic and emergency vehicles through.

The standoff results from a disagreement over land given to the Six Nations by the British government in 1784 in exchange for their allegiance.

In the 1830s the group leased the land back to the government to allow the construction of a road, but the land was sold instead.

The Six Nations say they did not agree to the sale and were never adequately compensated in the deal.