"Prime Minister agrees to meet with First Nation leaders"

The Assembly of First Nations is co-ordinating a delegation of First Nations leaders to meet with Prime Minister Harper Friday.

The Prime Minister announced last week he and Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan will meet a delegation of First Nations leaders January 11th.

The meeting, to be co-ordinated by the A.F.N., will focus on treaty relationships, aboriginal rights and economic development, the prime minister's office said in a statement last Friday.

But as of press time we still didn't know which First Nation leaders would be participating in the meeting.

AFN National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo said the commitment by Prime Minister Stephen Harper "is an important and essential next step in our broad efforts to fully and meaningfully engage in a nation-to-nation relationship, as outlined in Treaties and in advancing First Nation inherent rights and responsibilities," said AFN National Chief Shawn Atleo. "This is an opportunity for the Government of Canada and Crown to honour their responsibilities with First Nations in this country." He said the AFN looks "forward to engaging in urgent reforms in priority areas as led by First Nations and to build the solid foundation for tangible results for our peoples."

The AFN has not indicated who will be part of the delegation, but AFN regional chiefs are expected to be in the party.

The Prime Minister's statement was released Thursday moments before a news conference by aboriginal leaders and opposition critics to discuss the health of Theresa Spence, the hunger-striking chief of the poverty-racked Attawapiskat First Nation.

Spence, who vowed to continue her protest until Harper and Gov.Gen. David Johnston sit down with First Nations leaders, said last Thursday such a meeting would have to take place within 72 hours.

Spence has been subsisting mainly on fish broth since Dec. 11, living in a tent on frigid Victoria Island on the Ottawa River, just upstream from Parliament Hill.

"She's well, but you can tell her body is weak," her spokesman, Danny Metatawabin, said.

He said Spence is showing clear signs of fatigue but she is determined to hold to her hunger strike until the meeting actually takes place.

"We want certainty," Grand Chief Stan Louttit said in explaining why the hunger strike would continue. In the past, other promised meetings fell through, he said.

Alvin Fiddler, deputy grand chief of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, a regional advocacy network, said there is a lot of work to do to repair the government's relationship with First Nations.

But he called Harper's overture "a good first step."

Louttit said the one day meeting between the two sides last year accomplished little in the long run. "I'm hopeful we can make some progress with a commitment to keep that progress moving forward," he said.

"We're looking for better results this time around."

Harper's statement said this week's meeting will build on the 2012 talks, where the government and First Nations committed to an ongoing dialogue.

"While some progress has been made, there is more that must be done to improve outcomes for First Nations communities across Canada," he said.

"The government of Canada and First Nations have an enduring historic relationship based on mutual respect, friendship and support. The government of Canada is committed to strengthening this relationship."

National Chief Atleo said First Nations are ready and committed to the hard work ahead.

"We have been doing this for decades, and now is the time for change. We cannot and will not lose another generation to mistakes of past or by continuing a broken system perpetuated by government unilateralism."

The AFN executive sent an open letter on December 16, 2012 and an urgent invitation on January 1, 2013 seeking a commitment to a meeting between First Nations and the Crown.