Phil Fontaine on the jailing of the KI6 and Robert Lovelace

AFN National Chief Phil Fontaine discusses the jailing of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) Chief Donny Morris, Councillor Cecilia Begg and four other Councillors, and Robert Lovelace of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation for protecting their traditional lands from development.

"Quite clearly this is a case where the federal and provincial governments failed to meet their legal duty to consult and accommodate First Nations interests prior to approving projects that significantly affect the lands and the livelihoods of First Nations citizens. Yet these same governments will protect private financial interests by jailing our people who defend their rights. A similar jail sentence was just handed down in a case involving the Algonquin First Nations communities near Sharbot Lake, Ontario."

"These decisions ignore the duty of governments to engage with our people and, further, they criminalize legitimate dissent. That reflects a lack of understanding - or worse, contempt - for Aboriginal rights and Canadian law."

"Yes, we all know that the law must prevail and the highest law in this land says that governments must deal with our peoples openly, honestly and fairly when it comes to our traditional territories."

(From opening remarks to "As Long As the Sun Shines," AFN-Canada Treaty Implementation Conference, Saskatoon, March 26, 2008 http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/pr/trts/afn/index-eng.asp )

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