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| Canada native chiefs in disarray ahead of PM talks | Canada native chiefs in disarray ahead of PM talks |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Plans for crunch talks between Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and native chiefs over treaty rights and other issues are in disarray. | Plans for crunch talks between Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and native chiefs over treaty rights and other issues are in disarray. |
| Some First Nation chiefs say they will not join Friday's meeting because the governor general is not attending. | Some First Nation chiefs say they will not join Friday's meeting because the governor general is not attending. |
| Other grievances on the agenda include resource revenue and laws affecting environmental oversight. | |
| Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence, who went on hunger strike four weeks ago, has refused to attend. | Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence, who went on hunger strike four weeks ago, has refused to attend. |
| She began her protest against a budget bill critics say weakens native land rights and environmental safeguards. | She began her protest against a budget bill critics say weakens native land rights and environmental safeguards. |
| 'Stand in solidarity' | 'Stand in solidarity' |
| Governor General David Johnston - who is the representative of Queen Elizabeth, but is not involved with everyday government matters - has offered to attend a separate ceremonial meeting with the chiefs after the discussions between the government and the Assembly of First Nations delegation. | Governor General David Johnston - who is the representative of Queen Elizabeth, but is not involved with everyday government matters - has offered to attend a separate ceremonial meeting with the chiefs after the discussions between the government and the Assembly of First Nations delegation. |
| But Ms Spence has said this would not be sufficient, and chiefs from the provinces of Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories joined her, saying they would also not participate in the talks. | But Ms Spence has said this would not be sufficient, and chiefs from the provinces of Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories joined her, saying they would also not participate in the talks. |
| "We want to see the governor general and the prime minister and have it opened up to all of the chiefs," said Perry Bellegarde, chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, according to the Globe and Mail newspaper. | "We want to see the governor general and the prime minister and have it opened up to all of the chiefs," said Perry Bellegarde, chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, according to the Globe and Mail newspaper. |
| "That's what we are saying, that's what Chief Spence is saying, and we support that and stand in solidarity." | "That's what we are saying, that's what Chief Spence is saying, and we support that and stand in solidarity." |
| Mr Harper is only scheduled to attend the beginning and end of the talks, which will take place at his offices. | Mr Harper is only scheduled to attend the beginning and end of the talks, which will take place at his offices. |
| The dissenting chiefs have also demanded that the meeting be held in a larger room at Ottawa's Delta Hotel, where they are based, and that more chiefs should be involved. | The dissenting chiefs have also demanded that the meeting be held in a larger room at Ottawa's Delta Hotel, where they are based, and that more chiefs should be involved. |
| Correspondents say it is not clear how many chiefs will attend the meeting with Mr Harper. | Correspondents say it is not clear how many chiefs will attend the meeting with Mr Harper. |
| The grassroots movement Idle No More, which has held protests across Canada, has planned events to coincide with Friday's meetings. | The grassroots movement Idle No More, which has held protests across Canada, has planned events to coincide with Friday's meetings. |
| It has threatened to block major roads and rail lines in Ontario if its demands are not met, Grand Chief Gordon Peters told reporters on Friday. | It has threatened to block major roads and rail lines in Ontario if its demands are not met, Grand Chief Gordon Peters told reporters on Friday. |
| His delegation has raised the prospect of holding a no-confidence vote for the head of the Assembly of First Nations, Shawn Atleo, if he attends talks with the prime minister. | His delegation has raised the prospect of holding a no-confidence vote for the head of the Assembly of First Nations, Shawn Atleo, if he attends talks with the prime minister. |
| Idle No More has been critical of the First Nations leadership. | Idle No More has been critical of the First Nations leadership. |