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For Immediate Release
October 26, 2007

News Release

Statement by Ontario's Principal Representative Regarding Provincially Owned Lands Near Six Nations Reserve

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CALEDONIA – Ontario’s Principal Representative, Murray Coolican, issued the following statement in response to an article that ran in the Turtle Island News on October 24:

Ontario committed on October 18 to hold off developing certain provincially-held lands to the south of the Six Nations reserve.

There is no commitment to turn these lands over to Six Nations at the end of two years. 

Ontario has committed not to develop these lands for two years while the Haudenosaunee/Six Nations-Canada-Ontario negotiations continue.  Existing leases of provincially owned land will be honoured.

There have been occasions in the past where provincially owned lands have been held during land claim negotiations.  This commitment is in response to the Haudenosaunee/Six Nations’ request and is a short-term measure meant to help relieve some of the pressure caused by ongoing land developments near the Six Nations reserve.

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Lars Eedy
Ontario Secretariat for Aboriginal Affairs
416-327-9631