The Chief of an Ontario First Nations Grand Council says the federal government has no one to blame but itself for the level of First Nations unrest across the country this week.
First Nations groups held protests across Canada yesterday which included a number of road blockades in various parts of the country.
Anishinabek Nation Chief Patrick Madahbee says First Nations leaders came to Ottawa with good intentions for a productive meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper last Friday but the Prime Minister blew the opportunity.
“The prime minister, like he did at the Crown/First Nations gathering, didn’t even release the venue site until late Thursday afternoon,” he says. “And then it was said only 30 people would attend and he would show up to address two issues for a half hour at the beginning and end of the meeting. And the chiefs said that’s not suitable.”
Madahbee adds he and several other First Nations leaders were shocked when Assembly of First Nations Leader Shawn Atleo and 22 other chiefs decided to attend the meeting on Friday as it was their understanding that they had a unified front that no leaders would attend the meeting with the prime minister.
Madahbee says Atleo’s decision to attend the meeting has done some serious credibility damage to the AFN.
In the end, Prime Minister Harper did end up staying for the full five hours of the Jan. 11 Ottawa meeting with First Nations leaders.