One meeting with Harper not enough, aboriginals say
PM says Jan. 11 talk a followup to 2012 promises
First Nations leaders are guardedly optimistic after Prime Minister Stephen Harper agreed Friday to meet with them on Jan. 11 to discuss ongoing treaty concerns and calm rising tensions — but they insist one meeting isn’t enough to fix a “broken” relationship and improve the lives of aboriginals.
Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence said she’s planning to attend the talks but won’t end her hunger strike, which began Dec. 11, until next week’s meeting actually occurs and it produces meaningful results.
“I am just really overjoyed,” Spence told reporters Friday afternoon about Harper’s announcement. “We’ll see what the results are, if there’s really a positive result, because there’s a lot issues that we need to discuss.”
Harper’s announcement Friday came a few days after Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Shawn Atleo asked for Harper and Gov. Gen. David Johnston to meet with aboriginal leaders on Jan. 24 — the one-year anniversary of an Ottawa summit involving the prime minister and aboriginal leaders.
Spence, however, insisted Thursday that the meeting ought to take place within 72 hours.
The prime minister’s olive branch came just moments before a news conference held by the NDP and aboriginals aimed at updating Canadians on Spence’s health.
Harper said next week’s gathering will follow up on commitments made at the 2012 summit with First Nations leaders, and explained he met with Atleo in November to work on scheduling another meeting to monitor progress.
The prime minister and Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan will represent the government at the meeting, which Harper said will focus on two key issues: the treaty relationship and aboriginal rights, and economic development.
“Obviously these are long-term challenges but we are committed to addressing them,” Harper told reporters Friday at an event in Oakville, Ont.
The prime minister didn’t directly address Spence’s hunger strike or whether he will meet with her, noting it’s up to the AFN to determine who attends the meeting.
Grand Chief Stan Louttit said Spence’s health is “fragile” and she may need medical support getting to the meeting, but she certainly wants to be there and expects to be invited.
A number of aboriginal protests, including possible blockades of border crossings, are planned for this weekend as a part of the growing Idle No More movement.
Asked if he’s worried about First Nations protests spiralling out of control, Harper said Canadians can protest as long as it’s done legally and peacefully.
“People have the right in our country to demonstrate and express their points of view peacefully as long as they obey the law, but I think the Canadian population expects everyone will obey the law in holding such protests,” he said.
Atleo called the meeting “an important and essential next step” in spurring urgent reforms, advancing aboriginal treaty rights and having the Crown honour its responsibilities. He said First Nations are ready and committed to the hard work ahead, insisting “now is the time for change.”
“We cannot and will not lose another generation to mistakes of the past or by continuing a broken system perpetuated by government unilateralism,” Atleo said in a statement, commending Spence and others for their efforts in driving change.
NDP MP Charlie Angus, who represents the northern Ontario community of Attawapiskat and first brought their situation to light, said the meeting is “a hopeful sign” that Crown-First Nations relations will improve.
“Maybe this can be the beginning of a new dialogue,” Angus said.
Alvin Fiddler, a deputy grand chief of an Ontario First Nation, said it will most certainly take more than one meeting to “repair the damage” to the relationship between aboriginals and the federal government, and address issues plaguing First Nations communities, such as treaty rights, resource sharing, education and housing.