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Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence Hospitalized in Ottawa

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Challenges. Discussion »

VICTORIA ISLAND, OTTAWA, CANADA – Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence, who spent the past 44 days on a hunger strike, was taken to a local hospital in Ottawa, Canada late last night. This was confirmed this morning to the Native News Network by Jamie Monastyrski, who is serving the media spokesperson for the Nishnawbe Aski Nation.

Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence

The Naisnawbe Aski Nation is coordinating today's events in Ottawa that are intended to honor Chief Spence and elder Raymond Robinson, who have been on hunger strikes to bring attention to the deplorable living conditions of First Nations peoples and other indigenous peoples who live in Canada.

Chief Spence was not feeling well and was taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure according to Monastyrski.

Earlier in the day, it was announced Chief Spence and Robinson would end their hunger strikes after reviewing a "Declaration of Commitment" that was crafted with 13 points that will keep the concerns of First Nations peoples and other Canadian indigenous peoples a high priority with the Canadian Parliament.

There was a special honoring ceremony planned for 8:00 am est in Ottawa at the Delta Centre Hotel where Chief Spence was to officially end her hunger strike.

However, since she was still in the hospital this morning at that planned time of event, it was postponed.

A press conference planned for 11 am est is still supposed to occur as planned, according to Monastyrski.

Hunger strikes and spiritual fasts are potentially extremely dangerous to human beings.

Given the longevity of Chief Spence's hunger strike, which she began on December 11, 2012, her health has been reportedly weak in recent days according to sources who have been on Victoria Island, near Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, Canada's national capital city.

posted January 24, 2013 9:57 am est