Coast Salish Traditional Territory/West Vancouver – Given the seriousness of the situation that is occurring in Ontario, where on March 17 the elected Chief and Council of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation were unjustly criminalized and jailed for standing up for their constitutional rights, the First Nations Summit is taking the unusual step of releasing to the public a copy of its correspondence to the federal minister of Indian Affairs, Chuck Strahl, on the matter.
Along with the letter, the Summit issues this statement:
The jailing of these indigenous leaders in favour of a mining exploration company is political persecution and represents a menacing shift in the official attitude in this country toward First Nations and their political representatives. And so what was once only associated with repressive regimes elsewhere in the world is now occurring here in Canada. The Government of Canada has a fiduciary responsibility to look out for the interests of First Nations where their interests are threatened by other parties. It cannot hide behind jurisdictional excuses in order to avoid this responsibility. Where is the Canadian government on this matter?