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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Hunger-striking chief rebuffs senator's, minister's offers to meet
Chief Theresa Spence (from left), aboriginal actor Adam Beach and his daughter Phoenix Beach share a laugh Tuesday in Spence's teepee near Parliament Hill. (COLE BURSTON / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
OTTAWA -- Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan expressed concern on Tuesday for the health of a northern Ontario First Nations chief who is on a hunger strike near Parliament Hill.
In a letter sent to Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence on Christmas Day, Duncan said he was worried about the leader's well-being and urged her to end her protest.
Spence has been on a hunger strike since Dec. 11 to focus public attention on aboriginal issues, and has been living in a teepee on an island in the Ottawa River that many aboriginals consider to be sacred land.
She is seeking a meeting with the prime minister, the governor general and First Nations leaders to discuss the government's relationship with First Nations.
Duncan's letter said Spence had been unresponsive to his offer of meeting with her or speaking to her by phone.
It also said Aboriginal Affairs was prepared to set up a working group between federal and First Nations representatives to discuss treaty and rights issues between Ottawa and aboriginal governments.
"I remain concerned about your health and hope that you will accept my offer to speak about how we might move forward with improving the treaty relationship," Duncan wrote.
"It is unfortunate that you are unwilling to speak with me about the issues you have raised publicly."
Duncan's letter came a day after Conservative Senator Patrick Brazeau, who is Algonquin, tried unsuccessfully to meet with Spence.
Brazeau posted an account on Twitter of his efforts to meet Spence on Monday, saying he was first told she needed time to prepare to see him but then that she wouldn't see him at all.
"Not sure if Chief Spence's advisers made the recommendation not to meet but regardless, I respect her decision," Brazeau wrote.
-- The Canadian Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 26, 2012 A16
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