Spence released from hospital
Attawapiskat chief ends hunger strike, pledges First Nations fight will continue
OTTAWA — After opposition parties rallied around Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence, and a reinvigorated Shawn Atleo returned to the helm of the Assembly of First Nations on Thursday, the Harper government was giving no new hints about its next move.
Spence’s 44-day hunger protest officially ended Thursday after aboriginal and opposition leaders came together to forge a 13-point declaration of commitment to pursue First Nations issues.
The declaration commits its signatories to seek immediate improvements to native housing and education, a meeting of First Nations chiefs, the prime minister and Crown, and full implementation of treaty and aboriginal rights within five years.
Opposition leaders threw their support behind the declaration on Thursday, but the federal government wasn’t saying much about it.
“The Prime Minister looks forward to working with National Chief Atleo in the coming weeks to follow up on the meeting that was just held (on Jan. 11),” a spokesman for Prime Min- ister Stephen Harper said via email. “We will continue to work with those First Nations willing to work with us on creating jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity.”
In an emailed statement, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Minister John Duncan didn’t comment on the declaration specifically, saying the Jan. 11 meeting produced “concrete commitments” and the government will “continue Victoria Island, near Parliament Hill.
“I’m honoured to be here today to see this declaration of commitment,” she said, pledging unity among First Nations chiefs. “It’s time to stay together, no matter what hardship we go through, and no matter what the government intends to do to divide us.”
Spence started camping out near Parliament Hill on Dec. 11, accepting only fish broth and medicinal tea, in hopes of securing a meeting between Harper, Gov. Gen. David Johnston and First Nations leaders — all at the same time. It never happened, but Harper met with
“What we have accomplished has gone international. Our grassroots people have been awakened.”
DANNY METATAWABIN, SPOKESMAN FOR CHIEF THERESA SPENCE
to work with those aboriginal leaders who choose to work with the Government of Canada to improve living conditions and create jobs in their communities.”
Spence was hospitalized on Wednesday night for precautionary reasons and remained there Thursday morning, missing a news conference at which she was to announce the end of her fast. But the northern Ontario chief arrived at a downtown Ottawa hotel Thursday afternoon to greet and thank supporters and those who visited during her stay on some chiefs on Jan. 11.
Earlier Thursday, Spence’s spokesman called her fast “an absolute victory,” even though she didn’t achieve the meeting she was seeking.
“What we have accomplished has gone international,” Danny Metatawabin said at a 90-minute news conference Thursday morning marking the end of the protest. “Our grassroots people have been awakened.”
Although the hunger strike is over, its work will continue, Metatawabin said.
“This is not only about Attawapiskat … but for all our First Nations communities who live in Third World conditions. We will stand up. We will persevere,” he said.
Spence’s fellow faster, Raymond Robinson from Cross Lake, Man., also ended his liquid diet and spoke at Thursday’s news conference, along with interim Liberal leader Bob Rae, NDP aboriginal affairs critic Romeo Saganash, AFN Saskatchewan regional Chief Perry Bellegarde and Native Women’s Association of Canada president Michele Audette.
Rae, who was involved in the talks that led to Spence’s liquid diet ending, said he told the chief her struggle was everyone’s struggle, but no one should have to die for it. He called the overall issue of aboriginal rights “a struggle for the true identity of our country.”
NDP Leader Tom Mulcair, absent from Thursday’s news conference, told Postmedia News that the government and Parliament must make advances for First Nations a priority.
Atleo, who had been on medical leave since Jan. 14, returned on Thursday at a meeting of chiefs in B.C. He said protests such as the hunger strikes show that the fight for First Nations rights has reached an unprecedented moment.
“The attention that has been brought on the issues that First Nations face has … begun to pierce the consciousness of this country,” he said.