Chief Theresa Spence Will Not Attend Friday's Meeting with Prime Minister Harper

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

VICTORIA ISLAND, OTTAWA, CANADA – The Attawapiskat First Nation announced today that Chief Theresa Spence, Raymond Robinson and Jean Sock, who have been in hunger strikes will not attend meeting between First Nation leaders and Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada this Friday.

His Excellency the Right Honourable
David Johnston, Governor General of Canada

“We have sent a letter to Buckingham Palace requesting that Queen Elizabeth II send forth her representative which is the Governor General of Canada. I will not be attending Friday's meeting with the Prime Minister, as the Governor General's attendance is integral when discussing inherent and treaty rights,”

stated Chief Theresa Spence of the Attawapiskat First Nation.

The news release reminds that treaties made under the Royal Proclamation of 1763 allowed for settlement in "our territories." The whole of Canada's legitimacy rests on the treaties made with our ancestors. If the state of Canada continues to undermine and destroy the treaty relationships, what rights does Canada have to exist within our territories?

“Canada is not acting in good faith and has set the tone this past week by releasing their approved audit through Northern and Indian Affairs Canada and now the General's absence at this critical meeting,”

the news release continued.

“This is a time of crisis and this government of the day is not taking Indigenous Peoples concerns seriously. The United Nations has issued a press release notifying Canada of their knowledge of the situation. We are sending messages to the Queen. Canada should take notice and act honorably as their courts have directed the government on many occasions,”

concluded Danny Metatawabin, spokesperson for Attawapiskat First Nation.

posted January 9, 2013 5:20 am est