APTN National News
OTTAWA–Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence may have officially ended her fast Thursday but Wednesday was admitted to hospital as a precaution and remains there on an IV.
Spence, who was facing pressure from her own band council to end the fast which began on Dec. 11, was scheduled to appear at a press conference along with Manitoba Elder Raymond Robinson in Ottawa at about 11 a.m. local time.
APTN National News was told she will miss the press conference and likely planned events Thursday to be held in her honour.
Robinson, who was recently buffeted by the the recent murder of his 19 year-old nephew back in his home community of Cross Lake, Man., began his fast in support of Spence on Dec. 12.
He was also admitted to hospital as a precaution but released soon after his family said. He stayed a hotel overnight.
APTN National News reported early Wednesday morning that Spence had already decided to end the fast but news of the end came much later in the day.
Spence and Robinson officially agreed to end their fast based on a 13 point plan endorsed by the Assembly of First Nations, the Native Women’s Society of Canada, the NDP and Liberal caucuses.
Spence, however, was facing pressure from her own band council to end the fast and a delegation from Attawapiskat left for Ottawa to hand-deliver a letter urging her to quit the protest or face removal as chief.
Her health was also starting to fail and she had been considering a way to end the protest on a high note after realizing she would not be able to obtain her goal of forcing a meeting between the prime minister, the governor general and First Nations leaders.
Spence’s teepee on Victoria Island became a type of pilgrimage destination for many First Nations people across Canada who came to visit her, offer her gifts and blessings.
