This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20990366

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Boycott and protests over Canada native talks Canada native meeting ends with pledge of further talks
(about 1 hour later)
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and a group of First Nations chiefs have begun talks over treaty rights and native groups' historic grievances. A meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and a group of First Nations chiefs has ended with a promise of "high-level dialogue".
Friday's talks come amid raucous protests in Ottawa by native Canadians who have boycotted the meeting. The talks ended a day of protest as supporters of Native leaders boycotting the meeting marched through Ottawa.
First Nations chiefs sitting out the talks are angered the governor general did not attend and dispute the terms of the talks. Those who sat out of the meeting with Mr Harper are angry the country's governor general did not attend.
Also on the agenda were resource revenue and environmental laws. The talks on land and treaty rights were spurred by a hunger-strike protest by Attawapiskat chief Theresa Spence.
'Stand in solidarity' A group of native leaders rallied behind her after she announced she would be boycotting the meeting.
On Friday, Mr Harper and a group of native leaders met at government offices beside the Canadian parliament in Ottawa. She went on hunger strike four weeks ago in protest against a budget bill that critics say weakens native land rights and environmental safeguards.
He was joined by several cabinet ministers, including Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan, Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq and Treasury Board Secretary Tony Clement. Since then, solidarity protests and blockades have sought to bring attention to the bill and larger Native grievances.
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. Royal representation
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. On Friday, Mr Harper and a group of native leaders met at government offices outside the Canadian parliament in Ottawa.
And Mr Harper has offered to hold a second meeting with Mr Johnston and Ms Spence, the Globe and Mail has reported. Governor General David Johnston - who is the Queen's representative but is not involved with everyday government matters - offered to attend a separate ceremonial meeting with the chiefs after the discussions.
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. Shortly before the summit with Mr Harper ended, Ms Spence announced she would be attending the ceremonial meeting with the governor general.
"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, href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2013/01/11/pol-first-nations-spence-pm-gg-talks-friday.html" >according to the Globe and Mail newspaper. Broadcaster CTV href="http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/harper-atleo-to-hold-high-level-talks-on-aboriginal-issues-1.1109963" >reported that Ms Spence chose to attend to express her disappointment with how the process had unfolded, while the href="https://twitter.com/kady/status/289871734671298560" >CBC reports she told supporters that it was time to "time to sit down together" with Mr Johnston.
"That's what we are saying, that's what Chief Spence is saying, and we support that and stand in solidarity." Hundreds of protesters marched through Ottawa on Friday in support of Ms Spence's position, some briefly blocking the entrance to the prime minister's office before the talks began.
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. Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan said there had been a "good, frank dialogue" and that Mr Harper had agreed to a future "high-level" meeting with Assembly of First Nations Chief Shawn Atleo.
Assembly of First Nations Chief Shawn Atleo is attending the meeting after calling for unity on Thursday evening. That meeting will involve discussions about treaty rights, education and employment opportunities, Mr Duncan said.
Mr Atleo attended the meeting with Mr Harper 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 It is not clear how many leaders attended 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 been critical of the elected First Nations leadership, has rallied behind Ms Spence, organising global shows of support and blockades of rail lines in Canada.
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. 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.
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.
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.