[Fdu] Call for signatures - Academics in Solidarity with Chief Theresa Spence

[Peter Fitting]

Dear  colleagues,

Please see below for an urgent Open Letter in support of Chief Spence 
and the Idle No More movement.

This is an important opportunity for us to express solidarity and make 
connections between the anti-colonial struggles of indigenous 
communities here
and the ongoing struggles of Palestinians to end the long history of 
Israeli apartheid.  It is particularly significant that the open letter
condemns the ongoing violations and abuses by Stephen Harper ("Israel's 
best friend") and the Canadian government.

Please share widely with colleagues.

*TO SIGN, send an e-mail to*: Academics4ChiefSpence at gmail.com 
<mailto:Academics4ChiefSpence at gmail.com>
and*include the following information*:  i) your name ii) position, and 
iii) departmental/university affiliation

Winnipeg, MB – Friday, December 21, 2012

*Open Letter to the Right Honourable Prime Minister of Canada Stephen 
Harper and the Right Honourable Governor General David Johnston*:

We, as academics teaching in universities, witness the courageous and 
honourable actions of Attawapiskat First Nation Chief Theresa Spence to 
defend the land and Indigenous peoples of Canada. Chief Spence has said 
that she is willing to die for her people, and we will not stand silent 
while she starves to death on the doorstep of our Parliament. We call on 
our government to meet immediately with Chief Spence and to initiate a 
comprehensive plan to address the urgent situation in Aboriginal 
communities across this country.

On December 11, 2012, Chief Theresa Spence began a hunger strike, 
calling the Right Honourable Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper and 
the Right Honourable Governor General David Johnston to “initiate 
immediate discussions and the development of action plans to address 
treaty issues with First Nations across Canada.” Chief Spence wishes to 
raise concerns about the disregard of First Nations peoples by the 
Government of Canada, such as the continued failure to address poverty 
experienced in Indigenous communities, especially those living in rural 
and isolated communities. Chief Spence also wants to discuss recent 
bills that were passed in the legislature without First Nations 
consultation, including the omnibus Bill C-45 which included changes 
that removed all environmental protection from the vast majority of 
Canadian waterways, along with many other attacks on the environment. In 
addition to endangering the future of all Canadians, these changes 
violate Aboriginal and treaty rights by permitting the destruction of 
hunting and fishing economies. These concerns and others are clearly 
expressed in the Idle No More movement manifesto, which we encourage all 
Canadians to read and discuss in their communities.

We have been saddened and ashamed to witness the way that Chief Spence 
has been ignored by our government. We have been deeply disappointed to 
observe the refusal of both the Prime Minister and the Governor 
General—the Queen’s representative—to meet with her or acknowledge the 
importance of her concerns.

We stand in solidarity with Chief Theresa Spence’s attempts to change 
the abusive manner in which the Canadian Government has ignored, 
threatened, and bullied Indigenous peoples. As teachers interested in 
contributing to a just and sustainable future where the rights of all 
Canadians are respected, we recognize that Canada’s history is one of 
exploitation, dispossession and marginalization of Indigenous peoples, 
denial of their rights and sovereignty, indifference to their suffering, 
and in many cases the destruction of their land. We also recognize the 
strength, resilience, and profound respect for Mother Earth that exist 
in Indigenous communities and welcome this current mobilization against 
the government-sponsored destruction of the environment.

We urge all people of Canada to enter into respectful dialogues about 
Aboriginal rights and treaties, and to take meaningful action in your 
communities to ensure the honouring of our treaties, respect for 
self-determination, and the protection of our environment for the 
generations to come.
*
See here to learn more about the Idle No More Movement:* 
http://idlenomore1.blogspot.ca/



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