Regina protesters fast in support of First Nations chief
CBC News
Posted: Dec 27, 2012 12:20 PM CST
Last Updated: Dec 27, 2012 8:48 PM CST
A group of Idle No More protesters is starting a four-day fast in Regina today in support of Chief Theresa Spence.
The chief of Ontario's Attawapiskat First Nation is nearing the third week of her hunger strike in Ottawa.
The Idle No More movement has been trying to call attention to the federal government's omnibus budget bill over concerns people haven't been properly consulted about First Nations and environmental issues.
Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence appears on Parliament Hill at the start of her hunger strike Dec. 11. (Facebook)Spence wants a meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper to discuss the treaty relationship, but so far he hasn't agreed to it.
Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan said he has tried to set up a meeting with Spence, but hasn't received a response.
Shawna Oochoo, who is part of the Regina group, said she's fasting to get an understanding of what Spence is going through.
"This is a huge sacrifice on her part," Oochoo said.
Similar fasts could be held throughout Canada, she said.
The fast in Regina will end with a prayer for Spence and a feast at noon on Dec. 31, Oochoo said.
All month long, there have been Idle No More protests around Canada.
In Saskatchewan on Wednesday, the demonstrations took the form of flash mobs appearing at shopping malls, singing and dancing.
Share Tools
Latest Saskatchewan News Headlines
- Cheerleading teams compete at U of R
- More than 1,000 young athletes showed off their moves at the University of Regina Cheerleading Championship Saturday. more »
- Man lying on Hwy 2 run over, killed
- RCMP are investigating a fatal collision north of Prince Albert, Sask. about one kilometre south of Christopher Lake, Sask. more »
- Hadfield tweets image of Regina from space
- People on Twitter had the opportunity to see what Regina looks like from space, after Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield shared a picture of the city. more »
- Norovirus ruins a Saskatchewan family's vacation
- A Saskatoon woman is still being treated for norovirus after taking a vacation in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. more »
Top News Headlines
- Egypt's politician skewer, testing the limits of post-revolution satire
- Meet Egypt's Jon Stewart, a former heart surgeon turned late-night TV host whose biting satire has not endeared him to the country's political class. But, as Nahlah Ayed reports, comedian Bassem Youssef may be the revolution's real star. more »
- B.C. Liberals emergency cabinet meeting underway
- Eighteen Liberal cabinet ministers have gathered to meet with Premier Christy Clark at an emergency cabinet meeting in Vancouver. more »
- Body of man found in home where police officer was killed
- The lifeless body of a man has been found inside a home in northern Quebec, ending a 17-hour standoff that left one police officer dead and another seriously injured on Saturday night. more »
- Pakistan bomb outside mosque kills 37
- Police say a car bomb has killed at least 37 people and wounded another 141 in a neighborhood dominated by Shia Muslims in the southern Pakistan city of Karachi. more »
- Norovirus ruins a Saskatchewan family's vacation
- Giant icicle must go, Saskatoon fire department says
- Man lying on Hwy 2 run over, killed
- Hadfield tweets image of Regina from space
- Freezing rain, snow expected in southern Saskatchewan
- Storm warning in southern Sask.
- Wall weighs in on motorcycle insurance controversy
- Saskatoon Blades extend winning streak to 18
- Man charged after cell phones stolen from hockey players

