First Nation groups attempt to crash Tory convention

About 50 Aboriginal protesters attempted to gain access to the Conservative Party policy convention held in Winnipeg to present a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Nov. 13.
The group included First Nations people from across Canada who were in the city for the Defenders of the Land Gathering to strategize for recognition of land rights they say are not recognized by both provincial and federal jurisdictions.
Initially group spokeswoman Harmony Rice denied the gathering was being held in Winnipeg because of the Conservative Party policy convention or that the presentation of the letter was a protest.
But at the organizational meeting and workshops earlier that afternoon many confirmed that was precisely the reason why they were in Winnipeg.
Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation Band Councillor Sam Mckay, one of six community members jailed earlier this year for defying a court order by not allowing a mining company access to their traditional lands in northern Ontario, said his attendance at the conference was pretty simple.
“We realized that we couldn’t resolve our land issues in the courts,” said Mckay. “So we have to strategize to protect our lands from further development.”
Mckay estimates his First Nation has spent $700,000 on what he calls a futile court battle and has left his band close to bankrupt.
“They used the courts to bankrupt us and then thought we would just sit on our hands,” he said. “They were wrong.
“Now we have to do what we have to do to protect our land. It’s ours and the province of Ontario and that company have no rights to it,” said Mckay.
“I’m willing to die to defend our land. After all, what have I got to lose? We’re already broke.”
Milton Born With A Tooth of the Blackfoot Nation in southern Alberta met with RCMP in front of the Winnipeg Convention Centre to ensure the group’s concerns would not fall on deaf ears.
“I was surprised,” said Born With A Tooth, who claims to be known to the RCMP in Alberta. “They were respectful of our right to voice our concerns and we wanted to communicate that our intentions were respectful.
“I wasn’t expecting that kind of reaction from them,” he said noting they weren’t allowed inside to attend the convention as observers.
Though the letter was delivered as planned the event nearly didn’t happen due to disorganization. A media release issued that afternoon said the letter would be delivered at 6 p.m., but at 5:40 it had yet to be completed, nor had anyone left for the Winnipeg Convention Centre in Winnipeg’s downtown.
A plainclothes RCMP member was later seen scampering up the escalator with the letter.
No one from the conservative party was available for comment to confirm the letter was received by the PMO.
But later on that evening, as reported by the Canadian Press, Harper exalted his government as serving the interest of all Canadians. Harper also said the party must live up to the wide regional representation it achieved during the Oct. 14 election.
“We must listen to all voices, whether they supported us or not,” he said in a speech whose repetitive refrain cast Conservatives as “Canada's party.”
The group included representation from the Maliseet Nation in New Brunswick, Moose, Mushkego, Woodlands and Plains Cree, Anishinabe, Gixstan, Blackfoot Confederacy, Sioux, Six Nations, Mohawk, and Chippewa people from the northern United States.