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July 18, 2008:
Mr. Murray Coolican has retired as Ontario's Principal Representative to the Haudenosaunee/Six Nations-Canada-Ontario negotiations. Ontario's new Principal Representative will be Mr. Tom Molloy beginning in September.
Mr. Molloy brings a wide range of experience to the current negotiations. He was Canada's chief negotiator for the Nisga'a Final Agreement, the first modern day treaty in the history of British Columbia, and the settlement agreement that lead to the creation of the Territory of Nunavut.
Between now and September, Mr. Chris Maher, Director, Community Initiatives Branch, Ontario Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, will act as the interim lead provincial representative in the negotiations.
To learn more, see News Release, and Mr. Molloy's biography
The Haldimand Tract
, located 6 miles, or about 10 kilometres, on each side of the Grand River from its mouth to its source, was granted to the Haudenosaunee/Six Nations in 1784 in recognition of their loyalty to the Crown during the American Revolution.
Today, the Six Nations reserve covers about 50,000 acres of the original million acre tract. The Haudenosaunee/Six Nations
claims thousands of acres were stolen, improperly transferred to non-natives or sold without proper compensation in the last 200 years.
Twenty nine claims, ranging from unlawful surrenders of land to improper accounting of Haudenosaunee/Six Nations' funds, were filed by the Six Nations Elected Band Council against the federal government between 1980 and the mid-1990s. For claim maps, please visit the Six Nations Lands and Resources website
.
The Government of Canada has settled the Canadian National Railway Right-of-Way, Oneida Township claim. The Douglas Creek Estates property in Caledonia is part of the Plank Road/Port Dover claim — one of the outstanding claims.
Most of the claims are based on events before Confederation, and are rooted in the social, political, economic and legal environment of southwestern Ontario at the time.
Although many of the Haudenosaunee/Six Nations' grievances fall under the jurisdiction of the federal government, Ontario has played an important role by encouraging an environment where peaceful and productive negotiations can take place.
By working together, the parties will find a solution that reflects the interests of Haudenosaunee/Six Nations and communities throughout the Haldimand Tract.