National Post

Harper agrees to meet with First Nations leaders after weeks of protests
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has agreed to meet with aboriginal leaders on Jan. 11 to discuss their ongoing treaty concerns and to soothe rising tensions.

Earlier this week, Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo asked Harper and Gov. Gen. David Johnston to meet with chiefs on Jan. 24 — the one-year anniversary of Harper’s summit in Ottawa with aboriginal leaders — to help end ongoing hunger strikes and address lingering treaty issues.

Attawapiskat First Nation Chief Theresa Spence has been on a hunger strike since Dec. 11 in hopes of forcing Harper into talks with aboriginal leaders. Spence said a late-January meeting was not satisfactory and demanded a meeting with the prime minister in the next 48 hours. (Geoff Robins, Cole Burston/The Canadian Press)