Six Nations have started hearing Canada’s expert witness testimonies for its ongoing litigation case surrounding the mismanagement and lands lost along the Grand River.
The testimonies began in late August and will be heard until November. Three experts will present the crown’s argument in court before the official trial gets underway.
The case surrounds Six Nations and its argument that under the “Haldimand Proclamation,” signed in 1784, that six miles along the Grand River, from its source (Lake Erie) to its mouth (Dundalk) was to be given to Six Nations for its use and benefit. Six Nations claims a group called the “Family Compact” was responsible for reducing the original 950,000 acres promised to Six Nations to now 46,000 acres where the Six Nations territory sits.
Lonny Bomberry, Six Nations Director of Lands and Resources, says a pre-trial is scheduled to take place in December, but he’s hopeful “reasonable heads will prevail” and the case can be settled at that time before needing to move forward to trial.
CJKS will be following this story as it develops.
