Haudenosaunee Confederacy Council Chiefs (HCCC) and clan mothers stood on the steps of the Onondaga longhouse Wednesday morning to rebuff a statement made by Six Nations of the Grand River elected chief Mark Hill earlier this month.
On July 11, Hill sent a letter to mayors, councils and administrators of municipalities in the Haldimand Tract situated at advancing reconciliation and “properly recognizing our rights to the Haldimand Tract and to lands on which your towns, cities and villages are situated.”
The Haldimand Tract – six miles on either side of the Grand River from its source to Lake Erie – was granted by the Crown to Six Nations in recognition of their alliance – and as compensation for their losses – in fighting American Revolutionaries.
The elected chief said there must be “proper and respectful consultation with the elected council of Six Nations of the Grand River as the proper representatives of the Haudenosaunee entitled to the Haldimand Tract.”
Cayuga nation chief Roger Silversmith told media gathered outside the longhouse that elected councils are not synonymous with the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Council or traditional councils.
“This ambiguity has now perpetuated a false impression and confusion, both external and internal, that elected council are a part of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy,” Silversmith said. “We firmly state that we will not be silent or accept this attempt to eradicate our existence. Elected council does not in any way, shape or form represent the Haudenosaunee people on any issue.”
The Cayuga chief said the HCC condemns the repeated interference in their governance by the Crown and its representatives.
“In particular we are disturbed by the false correspondence sent to municipalities by Canada’s elected band council on July 11 and repeated attempts by band council to position themselves as being Haudenosaunee,” Silversmith stated. “(They) have been using our symbols, and a sprinkle of language to use power Canada gives them through the Indian Act to give the impression they have authority.”
Hill’s letter said the Supreme Court of Canada “has confirmed and recognized the elected Chief and Council of the Six Nations of the Grand River as the only legitimate government of our Nation. The law is clear that it is the elected government of the Six Nations of the Grand River with whom any consultation concerning development in the Haldimand Tract must occur.”
The letter also states the elected council holds traditional leadership in “high regard, maintaining ties of respect and frequent communication.”
It goes on to say that communication and consultation “with our traditional authorities is our prerogative” and “it would be unacceptable interference in our affairs for external bodies to engage in parallel discussions outside of the SNGR process.”
In April 2021 the HCCC announced it was issuing a moratorium on development within the Haldimand Tract, insisting that developers contact the Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI) for consultation.
Silversmith said the statement claiming elected council is the governing body on the territory is false, as is the assertion the two councils are talking.
“The elected band administration only belongs here on Reserve No. 40 and no further than that,” he said. “They’re trying to get people to do business on their side. They want to leave Reserve No. 40 and cause a little bit of havoc, collecting money up and down the tract. What they’re trying to do is wrong.
“We know everybody lives on our land and we’re not here to harm anybody in that sense. All we want is our consultation that’s proper to our people.”
HCCC secretary Leroy Hill, a Cayuga nation sub-chief and faith keeper, said there is a way to coexist peacefully and in harmony, and a way to achieve development.
“We’re not entirely against development. We’ve said that all along,” he said. “But it has to be responsible, and we need to be at the table to have input and consideration.”
Hill said that despite everything, the Haudenosaunee have maintained their self-governing ability.
“This, we view as a threat to it,” he stated. “If somebody’s taking our sacred symbols representing our government and our people, and they’re under someone else’s law, that’s unacceptable.”