Meech stalls signing of land claim agreement

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Talks on the Meech Lake accord postponed the formal signing ceremony of the Whitefish Lake Indian band's $19 million land claim deal. The ceremony, scheduled for June 11, was postponed when federal Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Tom Siddon was called back to Ottawa. Provincial and federal organizers are now hoping for a late June or July 1 signing date, said Whitefish Chief Eddie Tallman. Meanwhile, the band has put on hold plans to build a chopstick factory on the reserve. The proposed $3 million plant was shelved after a similar plant at Valleyview suspended operations.