Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Can Hugo Chavez Make A Difference in KI struggle-he has the petrodollars

Chief Terry Nelson of Manitoba's Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation had a meeting scheduled yesterday with the Venezuelan embassy in Ottawa.

Mr. Nelson said he was submitting a direct request to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez for political and financial support to Canadian native communities that are in legal battles over resource rights.

He noted that six native leaders from the KI First Nation in northwestern Ontario were recently jailed because they could not afford financial penalties, nor could they afford further legal battles, in their attempt to block access to mining prospectors on traditional lands.