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Be sure to check out the growing protests at Elsipogtog First Nation over the Shale Gas Fracking efforts by a Texan exploration company by visiting their Facebook page at
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Walk-for-a-Ban-on-Fracking/536596259699597

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From GlobalNews.com

First Nations chief Atleo predicts action this summer

By Laura Stone Global News

OTTAWA - National Chief Shawn Atleo predicts action from Canada's First Nations this summer - and is urging Prime Minister Stephen Harper to show leadership in his relationship with aboriginal people.

"We've seen action pretty much every summer, every year," the Assembly of First Nations chief said in an interview.

"I, in the last 20 years in my work, have found myself marching in the streets, challenging the governments and corporations in the courts - we're going to need to continue that."

Atleo said National Aboriginal Day, Friday, is about raising awareness and celebrating a shared heritage with all Canadians.

He said he expects some action in the form or protests or blockades across Canada this summer. One activist group has dubbed it "Sovereignty Summer."

"Anything is possible if we don't choose the hard road of getting the work done," he said.

But since a high-profile meeting between aboriginal leadership, ministers and Harper last January, there has been little change in the federal government's treatment of aboriginal people, he said.

And it's up to Harper to show leadership - particularly in the implementation of treaties with First Nations.

"We're still sitting on, in my view, tremendous potential. It still requires the prime minister to provide the kind of leadership required. It can't just be left up to department officials. It can't be left up to one department," said Atleo, sitting in his downtown Ottawa office, decorated with aboriginal art, sculptures and a framed photo of his late grandmother Elsie.

"The prime minister though needs to lead this. It requires the prime minister to send political instructions that the treaties will be implemented jointly with First Nations."

Atleo said a recognition of the treaties signed with the Crown is important because they impact all facets of aboriginal life - education, justice, child welfare.

"The treaties existed before Canada was even formed, and Canada is a successor state," he said.

Despite the tension, Atleo says work is being done, little by little.

Since January, he said two senior oversight committees have been formed to negotiate with First Nations, one on comprehensive claims and the other on treaties.

And he uses Yukon, where the AFN is holding its annual general assembly on July 16, as an example of successful aboriginal self-government.

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But Atleo said the government needs to include First Nations as part of the discussions into $600 billion in resource development.

"First Nations have already been demonstrating that if it's pipelines or major resource development that they will have a say," he said.

"Whether it's through the courts or sometimes on the ground through blockades or direct action, that has been an unfortunate part of the pattern for decades now. And it doesn't have to be this way."

In the meantime, Atleo says he will keep pressing the government on issues such as public inquiry into murdered and missing aboriginal women. He said he looks forward to a visit from James Anaya. UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, who will "hold the mirror" up to the country.

First Nations groups are marching on Parliament Hill as part of National Aboriginal Day. NDP Leader Tom Mulcair said he's talked to hundreds of First Nations residents across the country and the frustration "is palpable," especially among young people.

"Stephen Harper is still turning a deaf ear on these important issues. He's promised to act, he has never delivered on those promises and people are just looking for other ways to express that frustration," said Mulcair.

"I'm quite concerned that it will be a hot summer in the native file across Canada, in the aboriginal file. Mr. Harper's going to have only himself to blame."

In a statement, Harper said the government has made important progress in the past year on priorities such as land claims, education, safe drinking water, health, economic development, and job training.

"While our Government has made unprecedented investments that will help improve Aboriginal peoples' lives, it is also important today to recognize that much work still needs to be done," said Harper.

"I look forward to working closely with Aboriginal leaders in the coming year to achieve progress on shared priorities in order to improve the long-term prosperity of Aboriginal peoples and all Canadians."

Atleo says he's been visited by Mulcair, Liberal leader Justin Trudeau and most recently Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt, the first federal minister to attend a meeting of all parties of residential school settlement agreement.

"It was a welcome development," said Atleo.

He said with increased awareness about aboriginal history will have an impact on outcomes.

"The truth is being told about the real history. And absolutely, the statistics remain dire. The poverty, the social ills, the stories of abuse - physical and sexual - in the residential schools. I also find hope and optimism, because wherever there's oppression, there's coming out of oppression," he said.

"While at the same time I share the sense of frustration about the pace of progress that we're not moving as quickly as we should. But I feel that there's a growing national awareness about the need to move more boldly now."

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From CBC.ca

Aboriginal Day marchers look ahead to 'Sovereignty Summer'

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair warns of rising tensions in First Nations communities

The Canadian Press - Jun 21, 2013National Aboriginal Day9:49

As First Nations groups marched on Parliament Hill to mark National Aboriginal Day, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair forecast a "hot summer" as tensions in the country's indigenous communities threaten to boil over.

"I can tell from having talked to hundreds of representatives of First Nations that that frustration is palpable, it's growing, especially amongst the young people," Mulcair said Friday.

"We're going to see a lot of activity on this file during the summer. ... I'm quite concerned that it will be a hot summer on the native file across Canada, on the aboriginal file. Mr. Harper's going to have only himself to blame."

CBC News has learned that Shawn Atleo, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, met with Harper in the prime minister's office in Langevin Block on Thursday to discuss progress since a Jan. 11 meeting that followed growing nation-wide protests and a fast by Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence.

While Atleo and other native leaders have expressed frustration with the pace of progress since that meeting, the Prime Minister's Office on Friday pointed to legislation passed this month to protect drinking water on First Nations reserves and improve property rights for women and children on reserves.

Following the meeting with Harper, Atleo wrote to First Nations chiefs and councils, saying he had delivered a letter to Harper from Saskatchewan Regional Chief Perry Bellegarde that asked for clarity on the government's commitment to treaty implementation and reassurance that a senior oversight committee created after the January meeting had a mandate to deal with the issue.

"The prime minister re-iterated commitments to ensure oversight and mandate, including his office and the Privy Council, to advance treaty implementation, as well as reform of the comprehensive claims policy," Atleo said in his letter to the chiefs. "As directed by [AFN] leadership, we pressed for clarity on these commitments and the establishment of clear timelines and targets on these commitments and [Harper] expressed agreement to working towards these important next steps."

Atleo also met recently with Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, CBC News has learned.

March on Parliament Hill

About 150 people started their walk at Victoria Island in the Ottawa River - where Spence staged her liquid-only protest earlier this year - and made their way to the Parliament Buildings.

They whistled, beat drums, sang and waved an array of flags as they brought lunchtime traffic to a halt on the bridge connecting Ottawa and Gatineau, Que. Some carried signs that read "A sacred journey for future generations" and "A walk for unity."

Activists say the march marks the beginning of a "Sovereignty Summer," which is an offshoot of the Idle No More movement that encompasses other aboriginal groups.

The Idle No More cause, which began in December and January, was a protest against the Conservative government's omnibus Bill C-45, which First Nations groups claim threatens their treaty rights set out in the Constitution.

Many of those same frustrations were on full display Friday as the crowd gathered on the lawn of Parliament Hill, the empty scaffolding and stage for the coming Canada Day festivities looming behind them.

"You've journeyed from many miles, you've come here together in unity with your heart and spirit to raise an awareness that we are a people, we have been here since time immemorial," said hereditary leader Claudette Commanda. "You do this on behalf of your youth and those that are not here yet.

"And it is a powerful message that you are giving to all of Canada and as well as to all of the world."

Senators warned away from marchers

A short distance away, inside the Centre Block which houses the Commons and the Senate, a directive went out to all senators and their staff to steer clear of the activities on Parliament Hill. The Senate is still in session, although the Commons is adjourned for the summer.

A note from Alain Laniel, acting director of Senate security operations, advised senators and their staff to "avoid any interaction with the demonstrators."

Liberal Sen. Lillian Dyck, who was scheduled to speak at the event, took exception to the directive.

"I do not believe that the security operations of the Senate should dictate to parliamentarians and their staff with whom they may or may not interact," she wrote in response.

Last month, thousands of anti-abortion protesters gathered on Parliament Hill, but Senate security made no mention of avoiding interaction with them.

Meanwhile, Nunavut Premier Eva Aariak called National Aboriginal Day an opportunity for an honest inventory of the issues facing Aboriginal Peoples.

People march along Wellington St. in Ottawa as they take part in National Aboriginal Day Friday.(Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)

"This past year, Canadians across the country rallied together to raise awareness of issues currently facing our aboriginal population and to call on the government for a new relationship," she said in a statement.

In Quebec, the provincial government announced Friday it will extend a $5 million grant to help 14 Inuit villages fight child poverty.

The announcement comes two days after a study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives indicated that the rate of child poverty among First Nations in Quebec is double the provincial average. Child poverty was also raised in a meeting between Premier Pauline Marois and Inuit on Friday morning.

The high cost of goods and services, boosted by the lack of land links to remote communities is a big problem, said Marois.

"We realize that it is much larger problem than that targeted by the grant announced today," she said. "However, we are determined to identify effective and sustainable solutions."

Marois also announced $1.4 million for the Tursujuq park and $20 million for maintenance of a road to Salluit and municipal services for 500 homes in Nunavik. The premier also signed a modification of the James Bay and Northern Quebec agreement which would give the province 5,000 kilometres of land for development.

Related Stories

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Atleo, Valcourt at odds over First Nations progress

A salute to inspiring citizens on National Aboriginal Day

External Links

Aboriginal Affairs: National Aboriginal Day events

The Idle No More campaign