Indigenous Canadians marched on the capital and other major cities Friday threatening to bring the economy “to its knees” as their leaders met with officials to try to resolve a row over extreme poverty on reserves.
As many as 300 aboriginals protested outside parliament in Ottawa in support of a hunger strike by one northern Ontario chief. Hundreds more were expected at rallies in Montreal and Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, meanwhile, met with native representatives behind closed doors.
Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence, whose 32-day hunger strike has become the focal point for an aboriginal rights movement calling for improved living conditions on reserves, however, boycotted the emergency talks.
Spence backed out of the meeting with Harper after Governor General David Johnston, Queen Elizabeth II’s representative in Canada, refused to join in the discussions.
“We’re giving this opportunity for them to resolve the broken promises from the treaty. And all we’re asking is a meeting and to sit down with them,” she told a press conference at a camp on tiny Victoria island in view of Canada’s parliament in Ottawa.
“All we want is justice, equality and fairness which we’re entitled (to),” she said, vowing to continue her hunger strike.
Johnston originally declined to join in any discussions with Spence or other aboriginal leaders, saying their plight is a political matter that must be taken up with elected officials.
He extended a last-minute invitation to aboriginal leaders to his official residence Rideau Hall for a “ceremonial meeting,” in a move widely seen as a bid to save the parallel talks with Harper, but was rebuffed by Spence.
Spence said the governor general’s attendance was “integral when discussing inherent and treaty rights.” Canada’s more than 600 indigenous reserves were created by royal proclamation in 1763.
A delegation of weighty chiefs from Manitoba province in support of Spence also backed out of the talks, insisting on a meeting on their terms and vowing if their demands are not met to “bring the Canadian economy to its knees.”
This could include blocking Can$650 billion in resource development on their ancestral lands over the coming decade, said Manitoba Grand Chief Derek Nepinak.
“We have the warriors that are standing up now, that are willing to go that far. So we’re not here to make requests, we’re here to demand attention,” he said.
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo, meanwhile, met with Harper, saying in advance that he would seek a commitment from the prime minister for a “long-term process” to address native concerns.
That could include natives getting a share of royalties from resource development planned for the coming decade, Atleo said.
However it remained unclear as the talks unfolded whether that would be enough to quell protests and highway blockades that have popped up across Canada in recent weeks with thousands demanding their treaty rights.
In addition to complaints of severe poverty, natives also blasted changes last month to environmental and other laws they say impact their hunting and fishing rights, and allow tribes to lease reserve lands to non-natives.
Though the government insists the latter was meant to help boost economic development, some fear it will result in a loss of native control of reserve lands and eventually lead to the end of aboriginal communities.
Aboriginal leaders meet with Canada PM as grassroots protest
