Chief Theresa Spence Now in 9th Day of Hunger Strike

"Not Well and is Weak"

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

OTTAWA, CANADA – A source close to Chief Theresa Spence tell the Native News Network report that "she is not well and is weak" from the hunger strike she began on December 11.

Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence on Sunday
today is her 9th day of a hunger strike

Today marks the ninth day of her hunger strike.

Chief Spence of the Attawapiskat First Nation, based in northern Ontario, has vowed to die unless the government begins to show more respect for aboriginal treaties.

At issue is Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harpers push for sweeping legislation that in essence terminates many of the First Nations treaty rights throughout Canada. First Nations people have come out in strong opposition to Harper's legislation known as Bill C-45.

Chief Spence is only drinking water twice a day - in the morning and evening. She spends most of her day in prayer. She has been living inside a teepee on Victoria Island on the Ottawa River, near Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada's capital city.

Access by the media has been limited due to the wishes of the elders surrounding Chief Spence who view her prolonged fasting sacred.

Others in Canada have begun hunger strikes in an effort to display solidarity with Chief Spence. 51-year old Raymond Robinson of Cross Lake First Nation and 72-year old Emil Bell of Cole Bay First Nation began hunger strikes earlier this week.

Protests have been going on in various locations in Canada to oppose Bill C-45 for the past two weeks.

Over 70 busloads of First Nations supporters from throughout Canada are heading to Ottawa to take part in a noon ceremony on Friday to show support of Chief Spence.

It is reported there have been closings at borders so that American Indians attempting to enter Canada from the United States to lend support of the First Nation people cannot do so.

Emelie Jeffries contributed to this story from New York.

posted December 19, 2012 10:20 am est