20°c A few clouds
18°c Cloudy periods
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Chiefs ask Harper for Jan. 24 meeting
Manitoba Elder Raymond Robinson from Cross Lake left to join Spence in Ottawa this week. (WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store
Related Items
-
Columns
OTTAWA – Canada’s chiefs have invited Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Gov. Gen. David Johnston to a treaty meeting scheduled for Jan. 24.
The invitations were issued New Year’s Day by the Assembly of First Nations, as the Idle No More movement continues its nationwide protests and Attiwapiskat Chief Theresa Spence moves into the fourth week of a hunger strike.
Manitoba Elder Raymond Robinson from Cross Lake joined Spence in the hunger strike in Ottawa this week.
The meeting is scheduled on the one year anniversary of the Crown-First Nations Gathering, which was supposed to reset the relationship between the government and First Nations in Canada. It is also the date a progress report is due on what has happened since that meeting.
Most First Nations leaders would say little if anything has happened.
Spence began her hunger strike Dec. 11, demanding a meeting with Johnston or Harper to discuss a plan to improve the lives of her people. Attiwapiskat in northern Ontario has been in the news a lot because of the poor living conditions. A year ago, emergency measures were taken after it was discovered many families were living in non-insulated shacks and tents as winter descended.
Robinson, 51, began a hunger strike Dec. 12, asking for Harper to withdraw Bill C-45. He flew to Ottawa to sit in solidarity with Spence this week.
Both have eaten only herbal teas and fish broth.
The bill is an omnibus budget implementation bill which First Nations argue violates treaty rights. Among the changes the bill makes are changes to environmental regulations and clauses which make it easier for reserves to lease reserve land. Many critics say the latter is an attempt by the government to gain access to valuable lands for oil and mineral development.
There is also anger at huge government cuts to First Nations organizations, including an 80 per cent funding cut for the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs.
Neither Harper nor Johnston have said whether they will attend the meeting.
This meeting is not an official event of the Idle No More movement, which is being pushed by grassroots aboriginals and not chiefs and councils. In fact there is a chasm growing between the movement and chiefs as the organizers and some of the protesters complained the chiefs were attempting to co-opt the efforts, and tried to distance the movement from anything the nations chiefs are doing and saying.
For weeks now, protests have occurred across the country including several in Winnipeg this week alone.
More Local
- Back to Top
- Return to Local
More Local
(1 of 33 articles for today)
Forest fire situation unpredictable, premier says
7:04 PM 0Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger insists it’s too early and unpredictable to be optimistic about forest fire season in the province ...
Poll
Most Popular Local
- Court told driver hysterical after vehicle fatally hit highway worker
- Child in critical condition after West End crash
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Mountie hospitalized, dog euthanized after crash near Saskatoon
- City-wide average mosquito count drops
- Province blows off wind megawatt goal
- MP Glover files new version of disputed 2011 election expenses
- Committee wants report on free replacement for garbage, recycling carts
- Pallister continues PST fight
- Known as kind, outgoing men
- Safeway stores likely to close
- Squirrel crawls out of Winnipegger's toilet
- Poolside feeding prompts eviction
- Court told driver hysterical after vehicle fatally hit highway worker
- Stoppage of play off the field
- Game-day planning a must
- Child in critical condition after West End crash
- No mad dash for concessions
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Kenyan wins Manitoba Marathon
- Father blasts 'horrific' movie
- Safeway stores likely to close
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Car in deadly crash stolen?
- UPDATE: Now with FAQ: Keeping the e-party going without the party-crashers
- Squirrel crawls out of Winnipegger's toilet
- Daycare provider charged with abandonment
- Poolside feeding prompts eviction
- Two people killed in crash north of Winnipeg
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Province blows off wind megawatt goal
- At 55, I'm wise to what's real in life
- Court told driver hysterical after vehicle fatally hit highway worker
- Bible Belt's bogeyman still haunts town
- Strong may they run: Manitobans reflect on that fateful day in Boston
- Child in critical condition after West End crash
- Mountie hospitalized, dog euthanized after crash near Saskatoon
- City-wide average mosquito count drops
- Province's new approach to teaching math long overdue: readers
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Squirrel crawls out of Winnipegger's toilet
- Safeway stores likely to close
- Doctors blamed for death
- App could give Winnipeggers chance to report bad parking, get paid
- $110-K worth of nickel plates stolen from Thompson mine
- A day in the life of 13,380 Manitoba Marathon participants
- Province blows off wind megawatt goal
- Known as kind, outgoing men
- Stoppage of play off the field
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Squirrel crawls out of Winnipegger's toilet
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Father blasts 'horrific' movie
- Teachers support adding sexual-orientation themes to all curricula
- The crime fighter's revolution
- Safeway stores likely to close
- Car in deadly crash stolen?
- Fishing for fashion
- City's first urban reserve born
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Have Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?
Login SubscribeHave Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?
SubscribeThe Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.