Raw video of dramatic confrontation involving First Nations chiefs on the doorstep to the House of Commons chamber where MPs pass the laws of the land
Chiefs from Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan tried to force their way onto the floor of the House of Commons on Tuesday, demanding a chance to be heard by the government.
Some mild pushing and shoving occurred as security guards stepped up to block access to the chamber, and after about 30 seconds, the chiefs backed down.
But Manitoba Grand Chief Derek Nepinak said the chiefs are putting the government on notice the time for Ottawa to make unilateral decisions about First Nations is over.
"We've tried other means of communicating with this government," he said. "This may not be the last time we do this."
About 250 chiefs and First Nations representatives left a special chief's assembly of the Assembly of First Nations across the river in Gatineau, Que., to bring their protest to Parliament Hill.
Chiefs are angry about a number of bills passed or introduced by the government or individual MPs that directly affect First Nations.
That includes legislation forcing chiefs and councillors to make their salaries public, a bill that would slowly eradicate the Indian Act and the omnibus budget bill, which amends a number of environmental protections and fisheries that affect First Nations.
The budget bill was being voted on in a marathon session Tuesday and is expected to pass third reading and be sent to the Senate today.
After being invited into the building by NDP MP Charlie Angus, the chiefs first confronted Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver in the foyer outside the House of Commons, peppering him with questions about the taking of resources on First Nations land.
When they tried to follow him into the chamber, they were stopped by a wall of security guards.
"You're not going to accomplish anything by rushing into the Parliament's chamber," one guard told them.
The chiefs quickly backed down, but issued a warning.
"OK, that's fine. Try coming onto our territory sometime then. You've drawn the line," said one chief.
Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee then turned to the cameras.
"What a pile of crap we just heard," he said.
Madahbee said Prime Minister Stephen Harper promised partnership at the Crown-First Nations gathering last January, then immediately "jetted off to sell our resources to the world. He's constantly doing that."
"Sweeping the floor while some company from an international body takes billions out of our territory is not the answer to the poverty in our communities," Madahbee said.
Source Winnipeg Free Press
VIDEO Angry natives attempt to enter Canada's Parliament
I am so very tired of the way the Native Tribes are being treated!!! It is happening in the United States, too! I am Blackfeet and Irish by heritage, and I am very proud of this fact! I am considered to be "White". I am not proud of this!!! May God help the First Nations and give us what is ours!!!
From the Wolf Clan of the Cherokee Nation and anything I can do to help...
THE government OF ANY COUNTRY SUCKS THEY DO WHAT BENEFITS THERE POCKET . BUT IF US INDIAN PEOPLE DID THE SAME WE WOULD NOT HAVE ARE LITTLE BIT OF LANDS THAT WE STILL HAVE. ARE PRIDE IN KNOWING WE ARE A RESPECTFUL PEOPLE AND TALK TO ARE government TO TRY AND RESOLVE ISSUES THAT NEED TO RESOLVED ARE NEVER RESOLVED. THE government TOOK ARE LAND BACK IN THE OLD DAY AND NOW THAT ARE POPULATION OF NATIVE PEOPLE IS GETTING SMALLER Government THINKS THEY CAN BREAK THE VERY TREATIES THEY MADE WITH ARE PEOPLE TO PROTECT US AND OUR LANDS . IT IS TIME WE UNITE AS ONE NATIVE NATION AND MAKE ARE MESSAGE HEARD!
There trying to change the Bill, to take their Oil, and Land and their Rights, they currently have not enough. But this must stopped, its happened to much in the United States, the people behind this are the "Bad Powers that Be" and large corporations. And its got to stop! The Land belongs to the Native people, and what their trying to do is out of greed, they don't care about the people. The Laws were written by the Natives and only ones that can change them are the Natives themselves. Respect their land, and their Rights, and they don't need to fight for anything whats theirs is theirs.
where i live they only gave this about a minute airtime on the news, go figure
These people deserve what is theirs, the government needs to leave them along!! If anyone was done wrong, it was the Indians all to them.