The Six Nations' hereditary chiefs have not dismissed a $125- million proposal from Ottawa to end the 15-month standoff in Caledonia.

The chiefs are expected to respond to the offer next week, the federal government's lead negotiator said by e-mail late yesterday afternoon. In a phone interview earlier in the day, Ron Doering said Ottawa had been told to expect an answer right away.

"They indicated that they'd be coming back [yesterday] at the table to give us a written response, so far we haven't had that," he said. The delay indicates that Six Nations -- whose spokespeople have previously said only offers of land would convince them to halt their occupation -- are at least willing to consider the federal government's offer.

Six Nations' protesters have squatted on a partially built subdivision in Caledonia, a town of 10,000 south of Hamilton, since Feb. 28, 2006.

The protesters claim the plot, known as Douglas Creek Estates until the province bought out the developer last summer, is part of a massive tract improperly taken from their ancestors more than 150 years ago.

On Wednesday, Ottawa offered to settle four of the Six Nations' 27 outstanding land claims for $125- million if the occupiers first left Douglas Creek Estates.

Those claims relate to: The decommissioned Burtch Correctional Centre, near Brantford; the former Moulton township; the flooding of lands in Dunnville to build the Welland Canal; and the collapse of the Grand River Navigation Co., a canal-building company in which the British Crown invested money on Six Nations' behalf. The list does not include the "Plank Road" claim, of which the Douglas Creek land is a part.

"Canada's position has always been that we have no legal obligation in relation to Douglas Creek Estates or the Plank Road claim," Mr. Doering said. "But we will make a condition of this that no final settlement will be made with them unless the occupation ended."