Six Nations elected council is moving to calm “concerns” from band members who were taken by surprise on Tuesday when the First Nation and the city of Brantford announced plans to share revenue from future urban development.
While attending the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference in Ottawa, Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis and Six Nations Elected Chief Sherri-Lyn Hill signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that “establishes a framework for collaboration and shared prosperity” regarding development on roughly 7,500 acres of land transferred to the city from the County of Brant in 2016 “to accommodate future residential, employment and economic growth.”
The parcels of land fall within the Haldimand Tract, an area along the full length of the Grand River that the British granted to the Haudenosaunee in 1784. Today only the Six Nations reserve — less than five per cent of the original land grant — remains under Haudenosaunee control.
Recognizing the neighbouring reserve has “identified interests” on territory near its borders, the city proposed creating a “community prosperity fund” that would see Six Nations share in the profit from future development within the boundary lands.
Davis said the “agreement in principle” lays the groundwork for future collaboration “while respecting the history, rights and interests of Six Nations.”
Hill applauded the move, saying the MOU “recognizes our long-standing connection to these lands (and) reflects the importance of continuing to build strong, respectful and beneficial relationships.”
But the announcement raised eyebrows on Six Nations, with some band members on social media panning the lack of community consultation before the MOU was unveiled.
Other residents wondered why the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council — the hereditary leadership on Six Nations — was not involved in talks with the city.
In response, Six Nations director of communications Chasity VanEvery issued a statement on Thursday “to provide clarification” for band members.
The prosperity fund, VanEvery explained, is a way for the community to share in development income after the province changed a law that had allowed municipalities to pass on development fees to First Nations “in recognition of their historical land interests and inherent rights.”
“First Nations in Ontario have no legal way to benefit from development on lands that were once home to First Nations people,” VanEvery said.
Signing the MOU, she continued, commits the two governments to push Queen’s Park for legislative change.
“Nothing in this MOU will or is intended to take away from the treaty, constitutional, or inherent rights of Six Nations of the Grand River,” VanEvery said, adding the MOU does not represent the surrender of any land rights.
“No final decision has been made,” she said, promising community consultation “before any formal agreement is signed.”
On Friday the Confederacy weighed in, saying in a statement that the hereditary chiefs and clan mothers “cannot and will not accept a framework that reduces our relationship to these lands to an ‘interest,’ an economic benefit, or a seat at the table after decisions concerning development have already been established.”
The Confederacy called it “deeply concerning” that the text of the MOU was not made public.
The council also reiterated its long-held assertion that only the Confederacy, and not a band council created by the Canadian government, has the authority to consent to development on what the Confederacy describes as “unsurrendered Haudenosaunee lands.”
By J.P. Antonacci, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Original Published on Aug 23, 2026 at 17:56
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