"Haldimand council votes to take out Kanonhstaton hydro towers"

Haldimand County has voted unanimously to remove an old hydro tower from the front entrance of Kanonhstaton that went up after an altercation between a Six Nations man and non­-native activists at the site earlier this month.

Ken Hewitt, mayor of Haldimand County, told the Turtle Island News his council voted to remove the hydro tower at an in camera meeting Monday night, call­ing it "an illegal blockade" and saying it is causing a "barrier" between Six Na­tions and Caledonia.

The hydro tower is cur­rently across the Argyle Street entrance to the paved driveway that bisects Kanonhstaton. A sign on the front reads, "Closed until further notice."

Hewitt claims the drive­way - also known as Surrey Street is a public road.

"It's an unopened road that is registered with Haldimand County. It was deemed or felt that we have issues with the signage and the road being closed by someone who is not Haldimand County. What we'd like to see is to remove the barri­cades, clean up the site and start moving towards more of a progressive and positive solution for both communities than to continue to put wedges and barriers between the two communities."

But Six Nations Hau­denosaunee Chiefs Council spokesman Blake Bomberry said Haldimand County has not notified the Confederacy of any concerns.

In a statement released Tuesday the HCCC said:

"The Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council (HCCC) have been in talks with Ontario over the main­tenance and care of Kanonhstaton, Six Nations lands adjacent to the town of Caledonia formerly known as the Douglas Creek Estates, since 2006."

"While the site itself re­mains peaceful, there have been issues of mischief recently that the HCCC's Haudenosaunee Development Institute has been working with Ontario to address.

"It has just come to the attention of the Confederacy Chiefs' negotiating team that Haldimand County Council is engaged in inter­nal discussions on the for­mer roads on the site and wishes to re-open those un­finished areas.

"The Chief's negotiating committee are in discus­sions with Ontario about Haldimand County's deci­sion."

Kanonhstaton is the site of the former Douglas Creek Estates housing development that Six Nations peo­ple reclaimed in February 2006.

Hewitt said he is attempting to contact Six Nations elected Chief Ava Hill to notify her of their plans.

Haldimand County will only consult with band council on this issue, said Hewitt, adding that he has no plans to speak with the Hau­denosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council before the county's contractors attempt to remove the hydro tower.

The HCCC were the lead negotiators during the land rights talks that sprang out of the reclamation.

A press release sent out by Haldimand County yes­terday (Tuesday afternoon) reads, "While the former Douglas Creek Estates land is provincially owned, Haldimand County maintains ownership of all roads. The county is obligated to keep all roadways open for access.

"Haldimand Council has decided to have the illegal barriers removed and the entrance to the former Douglas Creek Estates land reopened. The county will seek the assistance of the OPP to maintain peace while a contractor will be hired to perform the work."

Hewitt said he had "some inclination" of why the tower only recently went back up, more than seven years after it had been removed, but he didn't elaborate.

The hydro tower was placed across the front entrance two weeks ago after a Six Nations man was injured during a scuffle with police and altercation with a Binbrook activist.

Turtle Island News could not reach elected Chief Ava Hill for comment Tuesday afternoon.