2498 Chiefswood Road  •  P.O. Box 5000 Ohsweken ON  •  N0A 1M0                           Home     |      Contact Us    |     Privacy
  Land Research Unit

  Filed with Specific
Claims (29)

  Potential Claims to be
researched
Six Nations Land Claim Summaries (Basis & Allegations)
•   Six Nations has been researching Land Claims since the 1970's
•   Of the 29 submitted and potential claims, there are several more to be researched
•   The only claims submitted outside of the Haldimand Tract are Innisfil and East Hawkesbury Townships
•   Specific claims are defined as an unfulfilled Treaty or agreement between Canada and Indians.
The Haldimand Treaty of 1784
Whereas His Majesty having been pleased to direct that in consideration of the early attachment to his cause manifested by the Mohawk Indians and of the loss of their settlement which they thereby sustained - that a ...   View More
Return to
Previous Page
Brant Leases, Part of Six Nations Tract
By Indenture of March 26, 1835, Six Nations agreed to accept Brant Leases from persons that had obtained them under fair and equitable circumstances provided the originals were produced. Around December 31, 1835, Six Nations Trustees appointed to report on the Brant Leases, stated that Six Nations agreed to surrender "Brant Leases" provided the originals were produced. Out of one hundred and seventy-two (172) claims, only nine (9) were purportedly produced and confirmed. Most of these purported leases were on behalf of Six Nations by Joseph Brant and only signed by Joseph Brant to the patentee/grantee.

Additional Research has found that after 1835, there were still a number of claims to Six Nations lands, but none could produce an original from Joseph Brant, albeit claimants state that they were burned in fires, lost or destroyed.

A Committee of Council on February 8, 9 and 10, 1837, investigated Mr. Hepburn, Acting Six Nations Trustee, on the allegation that he did not consult other Trustees on disallowed claims. Some did not have an original Brant Lease. G. H. Markland and John H. Dunn, the other Trustees, expressed their dissatisfaction with Hepburn as a Trustee and with Hepburn's use of their names to confirm claims without their knowledge.

On December 22, 1842, an Order-in-Council stated that Trustees were appointed to investigate claims under Brant Leases. In the cases where the leases were actually in existence and could be produced, patents were issued, but in the cases where leases were asserted to be lost or destroyed, applications were decided upon by the Lieutenant Governor.


ALLEGATIONS

Six Nations did not receive full and fair compensation for the Brant Lease lands.

The Crown has not shown that all the purported sums paid on the Brant Leases were credited to the Six Nations Trust Fund accounts.

**This chronology represents preliminary research by Six Nations and will require further work before being made final.
  © 2008 Six Nations Council. All rights reserved.
Six Nations Lands and Resources is a Department of the Six Nations Council