NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has finally agreed to meet with aboriginal leaders this week, amid rising tensions with the Idle No More movement growing across the country.
Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus saya First Nations leaders are 'going half way' to start dialogue between the Crown and First Nations. - NNSL file photo
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The decision from the Prime Minister's Office came a day after the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) announced that First Nations leaders will meet on the anniversary of the Crown-First Nations Gathering on Jan. 24, and "an urgent invitation" was sent to the prime minister and Gov. Gen. David Johnston to commit to attend the meeting.
Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus told News/North that First Nations leaders were 'going half way' to start dialogue between the Crown and First Nations by extending the invitation to meet on the anniversary of the summit, as the hunger strike of Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence, who is demanding that the Prime Minister meet with First Nations leadership, stretched into its fourth week.
"There's somewhat of an urgency because of Chief Spence," said Erasmus, one day before the PM agreed to meet. "One way is to take a little bit of pressure off of him in relation directly to Chief Spence and to say that indeed we're meeting on the 24th and we invite him to be there. "Assuming that we get a quick response here, then Chief Spence can recuperate and certainly be there."
A statement from the Prime Minister's Office released Jan. 4, stated Harper has agreed to meet with aboriginal leaders on Jan. 11, "to discuss their ongoing treaty concerns and to soothe rising tensions."
The meeting scheduled for this Friday aims to maintain the "spirit of ongoing dialogue" committed to by the government and First Nations at the gathering last year, Harper stated.
The working meeting will focus on the treaty relationship and aboriginal rights, and economic development.
Erasmus said Jan. 3 that the Jan. 24 meeting of First Nations leaders needs to happen to assess what progress has been made since the gathering, and to clarify the relationship between the Crown and First Nations.
"One of the very interesting things is we're learning that Canada has no mandate to deal with treaties and to deal with Section 35 where our rights are enshrined in the constitution. And so if they don't have a mandate then what does that mean? And this is what we need to get clarified," Erasmus said. "Canada can't be in a conflicting situation with us. We're not subjects of the Crown, we're allies."
The aims of the meeting are in line with calls from the Idle No More movement gaining steam across the country, which is protesting sweeping changes for environmental protection, cultural protection and aboriginal rights with the passing of legislation such as Bill C-45.
"If they don't have a mandate then how could they pass legislation that affects our lives?" Erasmus said. "That's what we need to talk about."
Spence will not end her hunger strike until the meeting, now scheduled for Jan. 11, takes place, a representative stated through the chief's Twitter account Jan. 4.
