Theresa Spence of Attawapiskat meets Governor General David Johnston,
but will continue hunger strike despite native supporters asking her to stop; railway line blocked in Nova Scotia; Alberta band threatens to block highway to oilsands
OTTAWA Theresa Spence, the First Nation chief whose month-long hunger protest has helped to fan the flames of the Idle No More protest movement, emerged from her island encampment Friday to meet with Governor General David Johnston.
Spence, chief of the troubled Attawapiskat First Nation in northern Ontario, has been on a liquids-only diet for the past month, camped out on Victoria Island in the Ottawa River, in hopes of securing a meeting with Johnston and Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Spence joined a group of her fellow chiefs at a downtown Ottawa hotel before heading to Rideau Hall for an evening meeting described by officials as “ceremonial.” Looking frail and tired, she walked gingerly with the help of several handlers.
At one point, she stood briefly in a room full of chiefs, wearing a headdress, to be feted by a group of aboriginal drummers. Her health, however, is seriously diminished, said spokesman Danny Metatawabin, who admitted surprise at her appearance at the hotel.
“She’s tired, she’s weak. She’s weakening. Got cramps in her stomach. We’re all praying for her,” Metatawabin said.
Last night, Metatawabin said she will continue to forgo solid food. He said the chief did not feel the Rideau Hall meeting was intended to accomplish anything beyond a photo opportunity.
Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan and several of Spence’s fellow chiefs were among those publicly urging Spence to end her protest, saying her health is in danger and she accomplished what she set out to do.
“I have been very much wanting to have a conversation with Theresa Spence, I’ve offered multiple times, and I expressed concern again today; there were many people in the room who expressed major concern.”
Harvey Yesno, Grand Chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, which also includes Attawapiskat, said it’s up to Spence whether she wants to continue her protest. But her reserve needs a leader, he noted.
“We’re concerned about that, if she carries on,” Yesno said in an interview. “That’s probably the most important thing.”
Stan Louttit, grand chief of the Mushkegowuk Council, told CBC he’s urging Spence to call a halt to her protest.
“I ... told her, ‘Look, you’ve made your point. You’ve won this victory. You’ve made Canadians aware ... You have done good for your people.’”
But Louttit said Spence is still holding out for a meeting with both Harper and the Governor General. “That’s the bottom line.”
Earlier Friday, a sprawling crowd of protesters swirled outside the Prime Minister’s Office in the shadow of the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill as Friday’s controversial meeting between Harper and First Nations leaders got under way.
There were similar, smaller demonstrations across the country, including a rail blockade i n Nova Scotia.
A crowd of about 3,000 people, according to police estimates, gathered outside the sandstone building known as Langevin Block where the meetings were taking place, chanting, drumming and waving makeshift banners.
More than a dozen people blocked a Canadian National rail line between Halifax and Truro by placing wooden pallets and a car on the track in Truro. Via Rail said it took 53 passengers to Truro from Halifax by bus.
A noisy crowd of about 1,000 demonstrators also showed their support for First Nations in downtown Montreal.
Spence spoke for the first time about how her reserve spends government money. The money goes toward supplies and to pay contractors, consultants, lawyers — and to taxes.
“Most of the funding that we have, it goes back to you, to taxpayers,” she said. The Canadian Press