Theresa .Spence gets visits by Justin Trudeau, Adam Beach -Attawapiskat phase, a New Democrat MP tq balance what they were Chief Theresa Spence spent said Thursday. giving." a quiet Christmas morning Charlie Angus. who stood . According to the text of with her family, opening by Attawapiskat Chief Treaty 9, the "reserves were presents with two of her Theresa Spence as she set apart for them in order five daughters. began her fast on Dec. I I, that they might have a tract But far from her home on say~he's now reaching out in which they could not be James Bay, Spence entered to area chiefs to see what molested, and where no the third week of a hunger steps can be taken to solve white man would have any strike Tuesday, an action what's at risk of becoming a claims without the consent she says won't end until national crisis. of their tribe and of the Prime Minister Stephen ''This is much bigger than government." Harper and Gov. Gen. David Theresa Spence. it's much For Spence and other First Johnston agree to sit down bigger than any individual Nation leaders, the govern­ and talk about Canada's community," Angus said ment has failed in its duty treaty relationship with Thursday as he prepared to to consult , First Nations leadership. travel to Ottawa to visit bringing into jeopardy the Spence saiq her strike.that Spence on Friday. ' 'This is entire treaty relationship. galvanized the Idle No across the country now, it Chief Theresa Spence and Justin Trudeau -CP- Bill C-45. the Conservative More movement, is ulti­ really needs the prime min­ people. He's not the Prime sit down with [the govern­ with the system that we government's omnibus mately about respect: for ister to take action." Minister." ment and the Crown] and have been living in for the budget bill which passed treaties and for aboriginal So far the Prime Minister's On Thursday, an invitation have a talk. I don't know past I 00 years." earlier this month. contains , peoples. Office has been silent, but was issued via Spence's why they are so afraid to Her First Nation is part of changes to the Navigable "A treaty is a document Aboriginal Affairs Minister Twitter account for talk come and meet." Treaty 9, also known as the Waters Act, including wa­ upon which we were sup­ John Duncan says he is show giant Oprah to come As the leader of a sovereign James Bay Treaty, signed by terways in First Nations posed to build our future concerned about Spence's visit nation. Spence wants a some communities in 1905, territory. together and trust and ho­ health. Duncan re-issued his re­ "nation-to-nation" meet­ and by others in 1906. It also makes it easier to sell nour each othe~" Spence In a letter sent on Tuesday, quest Wednesday night. ing. "All treaties were In the summers of 1905 reser~e land to non-natives. said on Christmas Day, as Duncan urged Spence to ' 'Given your willingness to signed by the Crown - the and 1906, treaty commis­ There are a host of other she sat on Victoria Island in end her protest and in­ accept meetings now I am government - and our an­ sioners from Ottawa, who bills coming down the pipe the middle of the Ottawa formed her that he is pre­ hoping that you will recon­ cestors ... the treaties are spoke on behalf of King Ed­ which leaders say take River, within view of the pared to set up a working sider my offer, as a Minister there for a reason and ei­ ward VII, travelled nortb to power away from First Na­ Peace Tower. group between federal and of the Crown, to meet or ther the prime minister negotiate with aboriginal tions leadership and put it Spence, says she feels First Nations representa­ speak with you.' doesn't understand them, leaders in order to "open in the hands of the federal strong despite her constant tives to discuss treaty and But she wants a meeting or he doesn't want to re­ for settlement, immigra­ government, thereby con­ hunger. She stopped eating rights issues. · with Mr. Harper and the spect them," she said. , tion. trade, travel, mining, travening the treaties and solid food on Dec. I I. She "I didn't ask for Minister representative of the Mr. Harper is unlikely to lumbering, and such other the nation-to-nation rela­ continues to take lemon Duncan," she said. "And I Crown, Governor-.General give in to a hunger strike, purposes as His Majesty tionship. water, some fish broth "to have dealt with him before. . which could be interpreted may seem to meet, a tract Bill C-27 would require ward off sickness," and me­ When I observe him, he "They are partners of the as a form of blackmail. But of country." First Nations leadership to dicinal teas prepared each doesn't have a mind of his treaties," Ms. Spence said. Ms. Spence said she is in it In return for $5 and a por­ disclose their salaries. morning by a friend. own because, before he "First nations have been for the long haul and is pre­ tion of land, called a re­ Critics say the First Na­ But her hunger strike has would answer a question, acting in good faith, hon­ pared to die. serve, the signatories were tions Education Act and Bill entered a deadly serious he would always look at his ouring the relationships in "As we speak," she said, assured that they would re­ S-8, the Safe Drinking our treaties. But it's time to "our people are suffering ceive "benefits that served (Continued page 13) Hunger strike into third week, C~ief waits for Prime Minister (Continued from page 12) Water for First Nations Act, 'What was most important has turned this rather polit­ track in southwestern On­ may seem good on the out­ for me was to share with her ical, no?" tario continued into its sixth side, but were not crafted in the fact that this current Asked why she did not meet day.In downtown Vancou­ consultation with aboriginal prime minister doesn't speak with Duncan or Brazeau, ver, dozens of supporters leaders and therefore go for all Canadians, that many Spence said that "frudeau is disrupted Boxing Day traffic against the treaty relation­ people are supporting her someone who's there for the marching through the ship. and supporting her request youth, and he's seen by the streets in solidarity. Some, Spence said she is encour­ that the prime minister meet youth as a leader today." like Bill Erasmus, Dene Na­ aged by youth as she with First Nations leaders At Victoria Island where she tional Chief, have staged watches and talk about the unfair­ is living, the atmosphere is their own short-term hunger spread through malls and ness that exists across the light. There are fires and strikes in support. city halls nation-wide. country. drumming and even the oc­ But, as far as the federal leg­ But she said she has also "Her request isn't that she casional round of song. islation goes, Chief Erasmus gets to meet with the prime She begins her day with an says governments "don't been overwhelmed "to see Chief Theresa. Spence a.nc:f Jlc:f a.m Bea.eh a.nc:f his minister. Her request is that early-morning smudging cer­ have the 1ight, don't have other countries and Cana- daughter -CP- - dian citizens standing with the prime minister agree to a emony, and a cup of medici­ the power to" enact laws our people." serious ~ngagement with ing to a meeting. Brazeau tried to visit Spence, nal tea. affecting first nations, On Boxing Day Liberal lead­ leadership, with different Ms. Spence has emerged as but was turned down. It was coincidental, she which he says are inde­ ership contender Justin levels of government, to talk the Idle No More movement He told QMI Agency he says, that her personal cru­ pendent from the rest of Trudeau paid her a visit. The about how we move forward hero and has had support finds it "increasingly curious sade began about the same Canada. 45-minute meeting took in fairness as a country." from people such as Saul­ that Ms. Spence meets with time as the Idle No More That attitude of defiance, place at the request of His visit was followed by the teaux actor Adam Beach, NDP, Liberal members but Movement spread. growing in first nations Trudeau, who wants to issuing of a letter by fellow who stopped by over Christ­ has declined every genuine The disruptions are contin­ across the country, suggests show solidarity with Spence. leadership contender Marc mas and First Nations lead­ attempt to meet with Con­ uing across Canada. Boxing this could be a long year of "I didn't talk about an awful Garneau who said Harper ers. servative members. Day round dances were or­ conflict between the gov­ lot. I did a lot of listening," shouldn't be worried about On Christmas Eve, aboriginal "Rather than emotional, ra­ ganized in shopping malls, ernment and indigenous Trudeau said. setting a precedent by agree- Conservative Sen. Patrick tional, factual decisions, she and a blockade of a CN rail people.