Speaking on the first day of the Special Chiefs Assembly on Dec. 4, Onion Lake Cree Nation Chief Wallace Fox urged fellow chiefs and Assembly of First Nations leaders to take at least the first day of the three days of meetings to Parliament Hill.
While that did not happen, there was an impromptu march on Parliament Hill at noon on the first day. The assembly concluded with chiefs talking about taking action that ranged from continuing talks with Ottawa and provincial governments to further court action to blockades of roads and railways.
Samson Cree Elder Cecil Napoose, from Alberta, said of Fox, “He is the leader to challenge the government that the time has come. He is also a spiritual leader…his people are his power.”