Guest Commentary

In Support of Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence
"Enough is Enough"

Claudia Julien in Native Condition. Discussion »

We started an online event on December 12 in support of Chief Theresa Spence. The goal simple and it is spiritual. The Chief is on a personal spiritual journey with a mission. Her demand is clear, the government and crown must respect its duty to consult with First Nations.

Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence

At the opening of our event we were not ready, nor did we expect to have thousands of participants. Fasting was the main purpose to establish this online event, including encouraging prayers and ceremonies to support Chief Spence on her journey.

We asked people to join us by signing up for a day of fasting in solidarity with Theresa Spence, one day per each day of her fast. We wanted to send out a strong message of support and let the Harper Government know we want our rights respected. We also made it clear that fasting was not an obligation to join, but an option.

The reaction has been overwhelming and as I write this note the event has a total of 4,453 (going up as I type), a number I might add that continues to grow and has spread around the world.

There is an open invitation to look at the calendar suggested as a place to keep a record of names, dates and length of their fast for those who wish to participate. Close to 500 names are recorded. Many have committed for a day, others longer. There is a few that started fasting around the same time as Chief Spence:

Emil Bell, 72 ,Canoe Lake FN since December 11.
Raymond Robinson, Cross Lake First Nation, 51, since December 12.
Jewlee Paul since December 14.

Some of the sharing threads leave a powerful message and show the strong support people have for Chief Spence's action. The following is one example:

“I spent the night with Chief Spence: just left the site after spending the entire night in the freezing rain (with Chief Spence's amazing ground and support crew) had to come and do some networking to get more frontline ground support for the Chief… although she is showing great spirit and amazing strength the mental anguish of not knowing your fate or if you will return home safe and sound is extremely daunting in itself.”

Please feel free to contact us or come take a look at our event page. It is important for the public to know how deeply connected, supportive, and united we are. With the words "enough is enough" we say, "It's time!"

Claudia Julien is one of the organizers of this online calendar to support Chief Theresa Spence. She is a member of the Metis - Wabanaki Confederacy and resides in Edmundston, New Brunswick.

posted December 24, 2012 6:00 am est