Assembly of First Nations and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Support Cross Lake Elder Action for Change
December 18, 2012
(Ottawa, ON) – Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo, together with Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) Grand Chief David Harper and Pimicikamak Cree Nation (Cross Lake First Nation) Chief Garrison Settee, today reiterated support for action by First Nations and all Canadians for positive change.
The leaders were in Cross Lake First Nation in northern Manitoba today visiting with Elder Raymond Robinson who joins Attawapiskat First Nation Chief Theresa Spence in a hunger-strike to raise awareness of the urgent need for the Crown, the Prime Minister and Canada to honour its Treaty relationship with First Nations.
“Now more than ever, we must see immediate and urgent attention and concrete commitments by government to work together with First Nations to address the unfulfilled promises, commitments and agreements that leave First Nations people struggling to meet the basic standards of life on a daily basis,” said AFN National Chief Shawn Atleo today from Cross Lake First Nation. “First Nations stand in solidarity and will not back down. The time is now – and this must be met with urgent and priority attention by government, there are lives at stake.”
“Elder Robinson is among the growing number of frustrated First Nation citizens who feel like they now have to take drastic measures in order to tell Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Conservative government that we will be Idle No More,” said Cross Lake First Nation Chief Garrison Settee. “As such, Elder Robinson plans to fast and pray until the Conservative government takes action to address the issues impacting First Nations people in Manitoba and across Canada by resetting the relationship as promised at the Crown–First Nations Gathering in January 2012,:
“It is a sad day in Canada’s history when our people are now ready to sacrifice their lives in order to get this government to work with our First Nations leadership to create healthy, just, equitable and sustainable communities based on our vision and plan on how to build them. Anything less than that is unacceptable,” said MKO Grand Chief David Harper.
Pimicikamak Cree Nation Chief Garrison Settee stated in a December 13, 2012 letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, “Elder Robinson’s decision to make this sacrifice was made in light of your government’s omnibus budget Bill C-45 and his opposition to the contents of said piece of legislation due to its severe impacts on his Aboriginal and Treaty rights. He will continue this hunger strike until you agree to meet with him to listen to his concerns as an Indigenous person of this land we call Canada and as a citizen who holds Treaty rights that your government has a legal and constitutional obligation to honour.”
After meeting with Attawapiskat First Nation Chief Spence during her hunger strike in Ottawa, in a December 16, 2012 open letter to the Right Honourable Governor General David Johnston and the Right Honourable Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper, National Chief Atleo expressed concerns by First Nation leaders from across the country that have collectively raised their voices on the need to respect inherent rights and title and fully implement Treaties and other living documents, including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the commitments made at the Crown-First Nations Gathering in January 2012.
Elder Robinson, 51, has been on a hunger-strike since 5 p.m. on December 12, 2012, and Chief Theresa Spence since December 11, 2012. National Chief Atleo visited with Chief Spence in Ottawa this past weekend and with Elder Robinson at his home in Cross Lake this afternoon.
The Assembly of First Nation is the national organization representing First Nation citizens in Canada. Follow us on Twitter @AFN_Updates and @AFN_Comms.
For more information please contact:
Jenna Young, Assembly of First Nations Communications Officer 613-241-6789, ext 401 or cell: 613-314-8157 or e-mail jyoung@afn.ca
Alain Garon, Assembly of First Nations Bilingual Communications Officer 613-241-6789, ext 382 or cell: 613-2920857 or email agaron@afn.ca
