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Zimmer hears laundry list of issues from band council (Continued from page 2) versations with him soon," said Zimmer. "We have stresses and strains trying to get the federal govern- ment to sit down with us on exercising our joint re- sponsibilities but we will keep pounding on the door. " Band Council presented Zimmer with a laundry list of concerns they want to see the ministry address , including land rights , polic- ing, social assistance, roads, fire services, educa- tion and justice. Zimmer said Wynne is "deadly serious" about moving forward with abo- riginal issues and concerns. "She gave me a direction ... that she wanted to really see a new relationship and really opening the whole aboriginal file broadly on a whole host of issues," said Zimmer. "She particularly addressed issues here at Six Nations. She wants to see progress on a whole lot of issues in the ministry. " Elected Chief Bill Montour said he is "cautiously opti- mistic. " "We gave (Zimmer) a whole list of issues that have to be dealt with." said Montour. "Let's be opti- mistic and move forward. Everybody has given us platitudes along the way and frankly, I'm sick of plat- itudes ." Montour said he's glad the provincial aboriginal affairs ministry is now a stand- alone ministry. 'Tm really pleased that she's seen the opportunity Ontario Minister Dauid Zim- mer (Photo by Chase Janett) of having a stand-alone ministry," said Montour. He said Wynne is the only Premier in the province's history that held the abo- riginal affairs portfolio. "I think that's going to be a plus ," said Montour. Councillor Helen Miller said she wanted to see ac- tion on Six Nat ions ' On- tario Works program, saying the community re- ceives 50 per cent less funding to deliver social as- sistance programming on the territory compared to off-reserve. "Six Nations is expected to implement the same On- tario Works program as the municipalities but not given the same tools or funding," said Miller. Zim- mer heard that 50 per cent of Six Nations ' social assis- tance recipients don't have a high school diploma. He pointed out the disparities in education between na- tive and non-native stu- dents. On-reserve students get about $4,000 less per year in funding compared to off- reserve students , which translates to $50,000 over the course of the student's educational career, he said . That, in turn, leads to prob- lems with unemployment and underemployment, he said. "In the long-term probably one of the best things we can do is provide higher quality education for aboriginal youth ," said Zimmer. Councillor Ava Hill ques- tioned Zimmer about the Brantford Charity Casino sitting on Six Nations land. "We want our due share out of the Brantford Charity Casino," said Hill. "That is on a valid land claim. That casino sits on our land yet when the money's divvied up the City of Brantford gets five per cent of the slots, the province gets mil- lions , and Six Nations has gotten not one cent out of that casino." Zimmer said he would look into that . Well-known land rights activist Floyd Montour in- vited Zimmer to visit the Mohawk Workers at Kanata Village in Brantford, to which Zimmer agreed. "I give you my public ac- ceptance to have a visit," said Zimmer. Zimmer was given a copy of the band's"Global Solu- tion" booklet that details Six Nations' land rights. The elected Chief said he is will set up another meeting with the minister on issues raised by the band council.