"Opinions Clash as Developer Sheds Light on Erie Ave Deal"

BRANTFORD - A second meeting to discuss details of a deal struck between Mohawk Workers and the development firm Guswhenta Holdings (GH) will be held this week at the GREAT building.

The second meeting was scheduled after about 40 people gathered at the Kanata Village last week could not reach a decision on what to do about a controversial development on unceded Six Nation lands on Erie Ave., and Birkett Lane in Brantford.

Guswhenta Holdings housing project was peacefully shutdown last week by a group of Six Nations people, who were uneasy about the development of unceded Six Nations lands, without community approval.

But the protestors allowed the installation of sewer hook ups along Erie Ave in Brantford, but demanded that once hook ups were complete that all work stop until Six Nations was properly consulted.

Guswhenta Holdings had signed a deal with Mohawk Workers last Sunday (Oct 20) night to begin developing on the unceded Six Nations lands on Erie Ave on Monday.

Members of the Six Nations Men's Fire arrived on site early Monday afternoon, along with a number of Six Nations community members and shut the project down. Their position was that the deal needed to be put before the people of Six Nations before work continued, Bill Monture, a Men's Fire member said.

Mohawk Workers member Floyd Montour said the agreement has the potential to see lands returned to the Haudenosaunee under the title of Haldimand Deed.

Around 40 gathered at Kanata to voice their concerns and to learn more about the Kanata Mohawk Workers deal.

A meeting this week was planned after several people requested the presence of Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council (HDCCC) representation at the next meeting. Elected councillors were also to be invited.

The HCCC's Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI) sent its legal adviser, lawyer Aaron Detlor to the meeting.

Guswhenta Holdings partner Brian Porter said he approached Six Nations Elected Chief Bill Montour about development options but was told to come back after the elections.

Porter said a potential contract was also dropped off at HDI (Haudenosaunee Development Institute) - but HDI lawyer Aaron Detlor said he was at the meeting to make it clear HDI was not properly notified.

The terms of the agreement between Guswhenta Holdings and the Mohawk Workers include:

- 12 acres of land on the westside of Birkett's lane tol be be returned under the Haldimand Deed and will be held in trust by frank Smith, Caroline VanEvery, Ellis Hill, Ruby Montour, and Bill Squire.

- 27 acres on the eastside of Birkett's Lane, along Erie Ave, will be developed into a subdivision as fee simple lands under Canadian common law. Guswhenta Holdings has promised to return the 27 acres on the eastside to the Haudenosaunee, under the Haldimand Deed, once the houses are sold and the firm sees a return on their investment.

Community member Audrey Hill, said consensus from the people of Six Nations was needed.