FERGUS – Day one of the Friendship Walk hosted by the Six Nations of The Grand River got underway in Fergus Friday morning.
The walk is intended to shed a light on a long-spanning legal battle between Six Nations of the Grand River and the federal and provincial governments, according to Tayler Hill, Lands and Resources Assistant Director.
Hill says the case set to head to trial soon began in the late 1990’s.
According to the Six Miles Deep website, The Band says under a 1784 treaty, the British Crown set aside about 950,000 acres of land along the Grand River.
The Band says in following years lands were improperly sold to settlers, and sale proceeds were mismanaged.
The website also states Canadian and Ontarian governments claim these lands were not Six Nations treaty or reserve lands and object to any wrongdoings.
In 2023, the Missisaugas of the Credit First Nation was added as an intervenor in the case.
Hill says the event hopes to fill people in on several eras of Indigenous history.
She went on to say she hopes this walk can teach those living along the lengthy Haldimand Tract about its history.
Peter Bush, a resident joining in on the walk, stated creating connections between parties is a focal point of the event.
The walk wraps up at 6 p.m. this evening, following a social gathering at St. Jacobs Farmers Market. Day two will take place Saturday in Waterloo and Brantford, and the final day will be in Cayuga and Port Maitland.
For more information visit https://sixmilesdeep.ca/
