Caledonia "Reclamation"

Hazel Hill has a new post on Ottawa Core's blog regarding the situation in Caledonia.

The resolve of the people is no different. The focus of title and jurisdiction and the Sovereignty of the Haudenesaunee is forefront in the minds of all who have made this stance. We have our delegates meeting with representatives of the Crown and they are meeting in good faith, but it does bring to question whether or not the Crown has a real understanding of the enormity of this reclamation, and the support of the Onkwehonweh around the world.

I think she's right. The Crown, nor the public, recognize the enormity of this land claim. I was talking about it the other week, but no one else is. (well, those who commented to my post are, but things have died down lately) No one is talking about it; not the media, not the Crown, not even most of the natives. The land claim is of epic proportions... it will change the face of Canada, if it is granted.

The problem is, there is no possible way that it can happen. I have a feeling that many residents of south western Ontario would have a little bit of a problem with that... namely the residents of Caledonia, Brantford, Paris, Cambridge, and Kitchener/Waterloo. Who have purchased houses, built businesses, and put down roots. We're talking about a decision that could directly affect the lives of anywhere from a quarter to half a million people.

Now, I have asked Hazel and Ottawa Core to help me understand what it is that the natives are asking for in this situation. The answer I have gotten back is "we want the previous agreement to be honoured". Now, as I have said before, that's a lot of land and people we're talking about. So, is it that they truely want the land returned lock, stock, and barrel (to use a phrase from the era in which the orignial agreement was made), or is it that they're looking for control of all future development of the land? (take the example of the windmills that have been sized by other natives... so much for Ontario's plan for more green energy production) Or is it something else, like a restoration of control over a large swath of land in and around Caledonia? I have yet to recieve a more defined answer than a wholesale recognition of the 200 year old agreement.

And as I've said, that's simply not going to happen. So I, for one, and keenly interested in what sort of things are being discussed in these "negotiations". I think there is a whole lot more than meets the eye going on here.