The Ontario government has temporarily suspended talks with Six Nations representatives in response to the severe beating of homebuilder in Caledonia, Ont., last week.
"Ontario considers last week's confrontation unacceptable. Violence is never a solution to any dispute," Ontario's Ministry for Aboriginal Affairs said in a statement released on Tuesday.
"Occupations and unlawful tactics put public safety at risk and slow down resolution of these important land claims issues," the statement read.
The provincial government was originally scheduled to meet with Six Nations representatives this week.
Premier Dalton McGuinty signalled that the government would pull out of the talks after developer Sam Gualtieri was found unconscious in a partially built house he was constructing for his daughter on Sept. 13.
It's believed Gualtieri was beaten by a group of young aboriginal protesters after confronting them at the Stirling South residence.
On Friday, Chief Allen MacNaughton apologized for the violent altercation during a Six Nations Confederacy meeting.
The ministry commended the apologetic response and pledged its support to the federal government in working "through challenging issues in a peaceful and respectful manner."
The federal negotiating team responded to the cancelled meeting in a statement on Tuesday saying it hoped all three parties would return to the table for the next scheduled meeting on Oct. 3.
The violent incident occurred one kilometre from the contentious Douglas Creek housing development that has been the site of a Six Nations occupation for more than a year and a half.
Aboriginals said they occupied the site where Gualtieri was beaten because builders had not educated themselves as promised on new development protocols.
Protesters maintain building on the contested land will only proceed with native approval.
The aboriginals were given the land in 1784 by the British Crown, but Ottawa says the vast majority was surrendered or sold.
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