The First Nations Chief who has sparked a cross-Canada protest movement against the Harper government says she plans to continue her hunger strike in spite of recent overtures from the Prime Minister’s office.
Attawapiskat First Nation Chief Theresa Spence has been on a hunger strike since Dec. 11 calling for a more respectful and productive dialogue between First Nations and the Harper government.
First Nations leaders such as Spence are concerned about what they say are sweeping changes to treaty rights in the areas of land and water in the federal government’s Bill C-45.
Earlier in the day, the government sent out a press release stating both Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan would attend a working meeting with First Nations leaders on Jan. 11.
Spence says although Harper’s willingness to attend this meeting is a positive first step, she is still waiting for more concrete results.
“I will continue my hunger strike and await the outcomes of the meeting,” Spence says in a released statement. “Our Peoples have had a history of prior promises and commitments from the Canadian government with no true tangible results.”
Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Chief Perry Bellegarde says he is also taking a wait and see attitude in terms of the Prime Minister’s willingness to meet with First Nations leaders.
Bellegarde says he will be attending next Friday’s high profile meeting but that the federal government has a long way to go in terms of improving its relationship with First Nations.
A strategic investment in First Nations schooling would go a long way to improving this relationship, he adds.