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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Boycott and protests over Canada native talks | Boycott and protests over Canada native talks |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and a group of First Nations chiefs have begun talks over treaty rights and native groups' historic grievances. | Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and a group of First Nations chiefs have begun talks over treaty rights and native groups' historic grievances. |
| Friday's talks come amid raucous protests in Ottawa by native Canadians who have boycotted the meeting. | Friday's talks come amid raucous protests in Ottawa by native Canadians who have boycotted the meeting. |
| First Nations chiefs sitting out the talks are angered the governor general did not attend and dispute the terms of the talks. | First Nations chiefs sitting out the talks are angered the governor general did not attend and dispute the terms of the talks. |
| Also on the agenda were resource revenue and environmental laws. | Also on the agenda were resource revenue and environmental laws. |
| 'Stand in solidarity' | 'Stand in solidarity' |
| On Friday, Mr Harper and a group of native leaders met at government offices beside the Canadian parliament in Ottawa. | On Friday, Mr Harper and a group of native leaders met at government offices beside the Canadian parliament in Ottawa. |
| He was joined by several cabinet ministers, including Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan, Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq and Treasury Board Secretary Tony Clement. | He was joined by several cabinet ministers, including Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan, Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq and Treasury Board Secretary Tony Clement. |
| Among those skipping the talks was Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence, who went on hunger strike four weeks ago in protest against a budget bill that critics say weakens native land rights and environmental safeguards. | Among those skipping the talks was Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence, who went on hunger strike four weeks ago in protest against a budget bill that critics say weakens native land rights and environmental safeguards. |
| 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 delegation of First Nations chiefs. | 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 delegation of First Nations chiefs. |
| And Mr Harper has offered to hold a second meeting with Mr Johnston and Ms Spence, the Globe and Mail has reported. | And Mr Harper has offered to hold a second meeting with Mr Johnston and Ms Spence, the Globe and Mail has reported. |
| Ms Spence and other native leaders have said a meeting with Mr Harper alone would not be sufficient, arguing the treaty rights in question were first established under a royal proclamation. | Ms Spence and other native leaders have said a meeting with Mr Harper alone would not be sufficient, arguing the treaty rights in question were first established under a royal proclamation. |
| In addition to Ms Spence, chiefs from the provinces of Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan and the North-West Territories have boycotted the talks. | In addition to Ms Spence, chiefs from the provinces of Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan and the North-West Territories have boycotted 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." |
| The dissenting chiefs have also demanded Mr Harper come to them. They wanted the meeting held at Ottawa's Delta hotel, where they are based, and have called for more chiefs to be involved. | The dissenting chiefs have also demanded Mr Harper come to them. They wanted the meeting held at Ottawa's Delta hotel, where they are based, and have called for more chiefs to be involved. |
| Assembly of First Nations Chief Shawn Atleo is attending the meeting after calling for unity on Thursday evening. | |
| "We need to continue to stand united - chiefs, delegates," Mr Atleo said, according to broadcaster CTV. "If we are to be divided at a moment like this, the governments will see that." | "We need to continue to stand united - chiefs, delegates," Mr Atleo said, according to broadcaster CTV. "If we are to be divided at a moment like this, the governments will see that." |
| Some chiefs angered by Mr Atleo's attendance at the talks have threatened a no-confidence vote against him. | Some chiefs angered by Mr Atleo's attendance at the talks have threatened a no-confidence vote against him. |
| Rail blockade | Rail blockade |
| It is not clear how many chiefs were attending the meeting with Mr Harper. | It is not clear how many chiefs were attending the meeting with Mr Harper. |
| The grassroots movement Idle No More, which has held protests across Canada, threatened to block major roads and rail lines in Ontario if its demands were not met, Grand Chief Gordon Peters told reporters on Friday. | The grassroots movement Idle No More, which has held protests across Canada, threatened to block major roads and rail lines in Ontario if its demands were not met, Grand Chief Gordon Peters told reporters on Friday. |
| Idle No More has also been critical of the First Nations leadership. | Idle No More has also been critical of the First Nations leadership. |
| Since her hunger strike began, Ms Spence has faced questions about an audit of Attawapiskat's finances that showed a lack of documentation of how federal funds transferred to the nation were spent. | Since her hunger strike began, Ms Spence has faced questions about an audit of Attawapiskat's finances that showed a lack of documentation of how federal funds transferred to the nation were spent. |
| In a statement to reporters on Friday, she accused Mr Harper of making "false statements about funding". | In a statement to reporters on Friday, she accused Mr Harper of making "false statements about funding". |
| "Most of the funding that we have, it goes back to your the taxpayers, it goes out of the reserve," she said, citing construction and consulting costs. | "Most of the funding that we have, it goes back to your the taxpayers, it goes out of the reserve," she said, citing construction and consulting costs. |