If Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence ends her hunger strike aimed at securing a meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper about first Nations rights a Tk'emlups elder is willing to take up the cause."She's determined. I don't think she should (stop). If she does, I'm thinking of fasting in my sweat lodge in support," said Evelyn Camille, a councillor with the Tk'emlups Indian Band.
In fact, Camille wants to carry out a hunger strike of her own regardless of what Spence does, if she gets an OK from Tk'emlups spiritual leaders first.
Her comments came the same day Tk'emlups Chief Shane Gottfriedson, told the media Spence's point has been made and maybe it's time for her to stop.
"I think she's been very heroic in her plight to get government's attention," Gottfriedson said Friday. "I think she's a hero in many aboriginal leaders' eyes across Canada for taking a very strong stance on her beliefs in looking at aboriginal treaty rights and aboriginal rights in general."
Spence, who is the chief of the remote Attawapiskat reserve in Northern Ontario, stopped eating solid food on Dec. 11 in an effort to secure a meeting between First Nations leaders, the prime minister and Governor General over the treaty relationship.
She has eaten nothing but tea and fish broth since then as she presses for a meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and has vowed to die unless the Conservative government starts showing more respect to First Nations concerns.
Federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq joined other federal officials in asking Spence to accept a meeting with Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan and end her hunger strike.
Duncan is the one responsible for the portfolio and that's why he's the right person to meet, Aglukkaq said.
Spence rejected Aglukkaq's recommendation because she believes Duncan isn't the one who should be speaking on a nation-to-nation basis.
"When our ancestors made treaties with the British Crown to allow the Queen's subjects to live in our territories, it was for as long as the sun shines, the waters flow and the grass grows," Spence said in a statement.
"The Crown's only legal access to our lands is contingent upon the fulfillment of the promises make in the negotiations of treaty."
Duncan has offered several times to speak with her and to form a working group, but the minister has been rebuffed at every turn.
Gottfriedson said Spence has made her point. Now it's time for First Nations and the federal government to begin a dialogue.
"I believe it's a very honourable thing that she's done," he said.
Camille agrees, but doesn't think Spence should abandon her hunger strike. Camille lights a candle for her every day and prays that Spence has the strength to carry on, she said.
"Everyone else should take up her cause and do what she did, as I am going to," said Camille.
Gottfriedson said he'd never tell Spence to quit, but thinks her point has been made.
He and Camille believe Spence's hunger strike and the Idle No More campaign that adopted her as its symbol has succeeded in uniting youth and raising public awareness about the plight of First Nations in Canada.
Gottfriedson wouldn't say if he wants Idle No More to continue or not. Camille believes it should.
Lenora Starr organized the Dec. 21 Idle No More rally and march in Kamloops. She is waiting to hear what the movement is planning on a national level before lining up further events in the area, she said.
But Starr pledged that Idle No More isn't finished in Kamloops. This is good news for Larkin Schmiedl, who helped promote last week's event.
He said round dances and rallies were held across Canada on Boxing Day, and he's heard via social media that more events are ahead for January.
Original Article
Source: kamloops news
Author: JASON HEWLETT
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