A Message from Chief Dean Sayers, Batchewana First Nation - January 10, 2013

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• A Message from Chief Dean Sayers, Batchewana First Nation - January 10, 2013
  
  Indigenous Chief's Meeting With Prime Minister of Canada and Governor General scheduled for tomorrow - January 11, 2013
  
  Thank you to the hunger strikers Chief Spence, Raymond Robinson, Emil sock, the leadership, the Idle No More movement and everyone's work which all contributes to a new page in our People's journey towards justice.
  
  The Indigenous Chiefs have been meeting here in Ottawa since Tuesday working on a unified approach to bring to the table when we meet the Prime Minister and the Governor General on Friday. We as the leadership, have varying expectations and our deliberations were a difficult task. Our challenge was to summarize and focus in on key areas we wanted to take to Friday's meeting along with measurable outcomes/expectations.
  
  To complicate matters even more, the Prime Minister's office was taking complete control of the meeting including venue, who can attend, how long he stays, the agenda, etc. We tried to accommodate his expectations but by 3 pm today we rejected his assertion of control over the meeting by consensus by all the Indigenous Chiefs across Canada who are in attendance.
  
  We remembered that it was Chief Spence's invitation to the Prime Minister and the Governor General to meet with the Indigenous leadership (Chiefs) that prompted this. The Prime Minister accepted that invitation. We decreed that it needs to be and will be our agenda and all logistics will be under our control. He's accepted an invitation to come to our home. Chief's Spence's wishes need to be honoured as do ours.
  
  By consensus, We the Indigenous Chief's from across Canada asked a delegation of women to make their way on our behalf to the Prime Minister's office to inform him that we will be waiting for him and the Governor General here at the Delta Hotel in Ottawa Canada for a 9 am start to do business as per his acceptance of our invitation to meet. We will be putting forward our agenda items including, Treaty implementation, resource revenue sharing, commitment to resolve our matters at most senior level (Prime Minister) not the Indian Affairs Minister, transformed fiscal relationship, National Public Commission of Inquiry on Violence Against Indigenous Women and Girls, including special focus on murdered and missing women (estimate 2000 now), First Nation School in every First Nation, no more imposed legislation repeal bills C 38 and 45 and reform comprehensive claims process.
  
  All Chiefs, representatives of the Elders, Women, Youth and Idle No more will be here with us.
  
  As un-extinguished North American Indigenous Nations, we are not taking a back seat. We are taking control of our destiny. Prime Minister Harper will feel the effects if he or the Governor general decide to not show up for this meeting tomorrow.
  
  The Chief's, Elders, Spiritual leaders here ask that rallies take place around the world in support of what is happening here in Ottawa. We also ask for prayers in what ever form of prayer you practice.
  
  Please spread this message.
  
  Formal press releases will be issued by the Assembly of First Nations, the Chief's of Ontario as well as Batchewana First Nation.

  189L