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Resolution of Kanonstaton, former D.C.E. top priority for Ontario By Donna Durie Writer Resolution of Kanonhsta- tion or the former Douglas Creek Estates, outside Caledonia, is a top priority with Ontario's new pre- mier, newly appointed Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Zimmer told Six Na- tions Band Council last Fri- day. Zimmer said he wants to see an early resolution to the outstanding land rights issue. "That is something the Premier and I have talked about," said Zimmer. "With a new Premier in place we want to figure out a way to get that resolved asap. I've had some discus- sions, done research; if we could resolve the Douglas Creek file early on that would be a big, big achieve- ment and a signal about the seriousness of this new Ontario Minister of Aboriginal A/fairs David Zimmer and Six Nations Elected Band Council Chief Bill Montour listen to questions at meeting with council last Friday. (Photo by Chase Jarrett) government. That is a pri- ority issue." The declaration came last Friday at council chambers where Zimmer, quietly brought into the commu- nity, met with the elected Chief, a handful of council- lors and band department heads. He refused to comment on whether or not the Confed- eracy Council would be in- cluded in the resolution of Six Nations land rights, in- cluding the former DCE. He said the provincial abo- riginal affairs ministry has no plans to meet with the Confederacy. "Not at this time," he said. Zimmer was appointed aboriginal affairs minister last month when former aboriginal affairs minister Kathleen Wynne became Premier. Wynne had signed a his- toric communications agreement with the Con- federacy last summer. 'Tm going to review the document she signed, talk with the Premier and go from there," said Zimmer. "I can' t make commitments on my own. I can tell you that the new Premier, in her discussions with me, she made it very, very clear that she wants to advance and move the agenda along on aboriginal affairs. She's very, very serious about that. She's made this a stand-alone ministry. She realizes there's a whole lot of work to be done and my mandate from her is to give it my full-time attention." Councillors Dave Hill and Melba Thomas pushed Zimmer to resurrect the land rights talks that started when Six Nations took over the former Dou- glas Creek Estates in 2006 . The talks fell apart when the Six Nations Band Council walked way from the table in 20 I 0. Councillor Carl Hill pressed Zimmer on compensation for Six Nations land rights. "You said want to work with Six Nations; when are you going to turn (DCE) back over to Six Nations?" asked Hill. Zimmer said it will take time to move forward with Six Nations land rights. "I understand where you're corning from. We've been there for four weeks. This is the first step on the trip." Councillor Daryll Hill asked Zimmer to get in touch with his federal counter- part, Bernard Valcourt, to get the federal government back to the land rights ne- gotiation table, as well. "I'm hoping to have con- (Continued on page 6)