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==Idle No More and hunger strike== |
==Idle No More and hunger strike== |
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{{Recentism|date=December 2012}} |
{{Recentism|date=December 2012}} |
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On 11 December 2012 Chief Spence declared a [[hunger strike]], and has stopped eating all solid food and limited her liquid intake to once-daily consumption of lemon water, medicinal teas and fish broth.<ref name=NationalPost>{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Teresa|title=Justin Trudeau meets with hunger striking chief Theresa Spence|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/12/26/theresa-spence-justin-trudeau/|accessdate=26 December 2012}}</ref> This [[hunger strike]] is intended to focus public attention on [[First Nations]] issues, support the [[Idle No More]] movement and highlight concerns about the governments [[omnibus bill]] [[Bill C-45|C-45]]. Opponents of the bill argue that it would remove many of the rights of the First Nations', including rights to self-governance and control of their landbase.<ref name=NationalPost/> "Bill C-45 includes changes to the Canadian [[Indian Act]] regarding how [[Indian reserve|Reserve lands]] are managed, making them easier to develop and be taken away from the First Nation people; the bill also removes thousands of lakes and streams from the list of federally protected bodies of water."<ref name="Brown">{{cite news |
On 11 December 2012 Chief Spence declared a so called [[hunger strike]], and has stopped eating all solid food and limited her liquid intake to once-daily consumption of lemon water, medicinal teas and fish broth.<ref name=NationalPost>{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Teresa|title=Justin Trudeau meets with hunger striking chief Theresa Spence|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/12/26/theresa-spence-justin-trudeau/|accessdate=26 December 2012}}</ref> This [[hunger strike]] is intended to focus public attention on [[First Nations]] issues, support the [[Idle No More]] movement and highlight concerns about the governments [[omnibus bill]] [[Bill C-45|C-45]]. Opponents of the bill argue that it would remove many of the rights of the First Nations', including rights to self-governance and control of their landbase.<ref name=NationalPost/> "Bill C-45 includes changes to the Canadian [[Indian Act]] regarding how [[Indian reserve|Reserve lands]] are managed, making them easier to develop and be taken away from the First Nation people; the bill also removes thousands of lakes and streams from the list of federally protected bodies of water."<ref name="Brown">{{cite news |
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|url=https://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/12/24-1 |
|url=https://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/12/24-1 |
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|title=Canada's 'Idle No More' Movement Spreads Like Wildfire - Chief Theresa Spence on 14th day of hunger strike |
|title=Canada's 'Idle No More' Movement Spreads Like Wildfire - Chief Theresa Spence on 14th day of hunger strike |
Revision as of 00:42, 31 December 2012
Theresa Spence | |
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Occupation | Chief of the Attawapiskat First Nation |
Theresa Spence is the current Chief of the Attawapiskat First Nation in Canada.[1] She is a prominent figure in the Attawapiskat housing and infrastructure crisis,[2] Idle No More,[3] and other First Nations issues. Prior to serving as Chief, she was the Deputy Chief of Attawapiskat.
Attawapiskat housing and infrastructure crisis
The Attawapiskat reserve has been the subject of several state of emergency announcements by Chief Spence in recent years, due to the reserve's poor housing conditions. The announcements have received national media coverage. On October 28, 2011, Chief Spence called a state of emergency for the third time in three years. Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development John Duncan claimed that officials in his department were unaware of Attawapiskat's housing problems until October 28, despite having visited the community many times that year.[2] In November, 2011, a spokesperson for the Department of Aboriginal Affairs stated that the reserve had received a commitment of $500,000 to renovate five vacant housing units, and that it had already received "a significant boost from Canada's Economic Action Plan and funding dedicated to a new subdivision, of which 44 houses have been completed".[4] The Prime Minister stated that the Attawapiskat First Nation had received $90 million in transfer payments since the federal Conservative Party was elected in 2006.[5]
Controversy has grown around the question of how the money received from the federal government is spent by the reserve's own government. Detailed financial records have not been made public to reserve residents or to the media; some residents of the reserve refused to discuss the matter with media, saying that they feared repercussions.[6] The De Beers company stated that the Attawapiskat First Nation had entered contracts worth $40 million with De Beer, which owns a diamond mine nearby and employs around 60 residents of the reserve full-time; De Beers has donated trailers for housing to the reserve in the past. The Attawapiskat reserve's government receives a payment from De Beers, but Spence has declined to say how much or how it is spent.[7]
Idle No More and hunger strike
On 11 December 2012 Chief Spence declared a so called hunger strike, and has stopped eating all solid food and limited her liquid intake to once-daily consumption of lemon water, medicinal teas and fish broth.[8] This hunger strike is intended to focus public attention on First Nations issues, support the Idle No More movement and highlight concerns about the governments omnibus bill C-45. Opponents of the bill argue that it would remove many of the rights of the First Nations', including rights to self-governance and control of their landbase.[8] "Bill C-45 includes changes to the Canadian Indian Act regarding how Reserve lands are managed, making them easier to develop and be taken away from the First Nation people; the bill also removes thousands of lakes and streams from the list of federally protected bodies of water."[9]Proponents argue that the bill would demand more accountability from highly paid chiefs and their support staff, and reduce corruption and nepotism. Spence's common-law husband was hired as reserve co-manager, and the 2,000-person reserve has received $90-million from the Canadian government since 2006.[10][8]
Her hunger strike is an action she says "won’t end until Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Gov. Gen. David Johnston agree to sit down and talk about Canada’s treaty relationship with First Nations leadership."[8] As she fasts in a tipi on Victoria Island (Asinabka) near Parliament Hill in Ottawa, she has issued a call for First Nation traditional women healers and other women - including Laureen Harper, the wife of the Prime Minister - to come and join her "to pray for Canada."[11] Her hunger strike has also brought worldwide attention to the Idle No More Indigenous rights movement,[12] which has expanded from a primarily Canadian First Nations movement to an international phenomenon, with support events held across the U.S. and as far away as Europe and New Zealand.[13][14] "She has become a national symbol and has bravely highlighted the gross public policy extremes of the Harper government and has deservedly shamed them nationally and internationally."[15] She has the full backing of the Attawapiskat community.[16]
A bank account for accepting direct donations was set up for Theresa Spence, which Spence's spokespersons indicated would be under the sole financial control of Spence's spouse, Clayton Kennedy, rather than the Attawapiskat band council. A columnist with Canadian news weekly magazine Maclean's questioned the propriety of the arrangement, as well as questioning who was authorized to speak publicly on behalf of Spence.[17]
Reponse
Federal Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development John Duncan sent a letter to Chief Spence on December 25, 2012, expressing concern for her health and urging her to end her hunger strike.[18] The federal Minister of Health, Leona Aglukkaq, called on Spence to end her hunger strike and to meet with John Duncan, as aboriginal affairs is within his mandate. Tk’emlups Indian Band Chief Shane Gottfriedson, also called on Spence to end the hunger strike, saying that her point had been made.[19]
Amnesty International has issued a statement in her support and has urged the Canadian Prime Minister to meet with Chief Spence.[20]
See also
References
- ^ Attawapiskat First Nation (August 1, 2012). "Chief Spence Comments on Court Decision" (PDF). Attawapiskat First Nation. Retrieved 2012-12-26.
- ^ a b CBC (December 1, 2011). "Attawapiskat crisis sparks political blame game". CBC News. Retrieved 2012-12-26.
- ^ Jeff Denis (December 20, 2012). "Why 'Idle No More' is gaining strength, and why all Canadians should care". thestar.com. Retrieved 2012-12-03.
- ^ "Attawapiskat housing help talks ongoing". CBC News. November 24, 2011. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
- ^ Blatchford, Christie (December 27, 2012). "Christie Blatchford: Inevitable puffery and horse manure surrounds hunger strike while real Aboriginal problems forgotten". National Post. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
- ^ "Attawapiskat: No end in sight to problems of inadequate housing, unemployment, drug addiction". The Toronto Star. December 28, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
- ^ "Attawapiskat: No end in sight to problems of inadequate housing, unemployment, drug addiction". The Toronto Star. December 28, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
- ^ a b c d Smith, Teresa. "Justin Trudeau meets with hunger striking chief Theresa Spence". Retrieved 26 December 2012. Cite error: The named reference "NationalPost" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ Craig Brown, staff writer (December 24, 2012). "Canada's 'Idle No More' Movement Spreads Like Wildfire - Chief Theresa Spence on 14th day of hunger strike". Common Dreams. Retrieved 2012-12-26.
- ^ [1]
- ^ Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief (December 24, 2012). "Chief Theresa Spence Asks Traditional Women Healers to Come Attend to Her Hunger Strike – Day 14". Native News Network. Retrieved 2012-12-26.
{{cite news}}
:|author=
has generic name (help) - ^ Idle No More official website
- ^ Ball, David P. "Idle No More Sweeps Canada and Beyond as Aboriginals Say Enough Is Enough". Indian Country Today Media Network. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
- ^ Ball, David P. "Chief Theresa Spence Resolute in Hunger Strike, as Her Body Weakens". Indian Country Today Media Network. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
- ^ Johal, Am. "Justice at Stake: Chief Theresa Spence Inspires a Nation". Common Dreams. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
- ^ Aulakh, Raveena. "Chief Theresa Spence's hunger strike has full backing of Attawapiskat residents". theStar.com. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
- ^ Cosh, Colby (December 27, 2012). "The hunger artist". Maclean's. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
- ^ Canadian Press (December 25, 2012). "Aboriginal Affairs minister 'concerned' about health of hunger-striking Attawapiskat chief Theresa Spence". National Post. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
- ^ Canadian Press (December 28, 2012). "Health minister, B.C. chief urge Theresa Spence to end hunger strike as Idle No More protests continue". National Post. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
- ^ Vaugrante, Béatrice; Neve, Alex (December 28, 2012). "Open Letter Urging a Meeting with Chief Theresa Spence". Amnesty International Canada. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
External links
- Attawapiskat First Nation official website