The controversial chief of a First Nation in northern Ontario is getting set to receive a special award this weekend in Fergus.
As part of an aboriginal heritage festival at the Wellington County Museum and Archives, Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence will be recognized with an award for aboriginal achievement.
Last year, Spence underwent a six-week hunger strike to bring attention to poor conditions on many aboriginal reserves.
“It was an incredible journey,” Spence told CTV on Friday.
The hunger strike is credited with sparking the Idle No More movement and a growing dialogue about aboriginal issues, but during the ensuing media attention, an audit of Attawapiskat’s finances revealed the questionable appropriation of more than $100 million in federal funding.
Organizers of the festival say they understand why some see honouring Spence as controversial, but stand by the decision to do so.
“We’re separating the controversial aspects from the actual contribution itself; to us they're two different things,” says festival cofounder Naomi Smith.
But some people in the area say the controversy should be enough to get festival organizers turning in a different direction.
“I think there’s evidence that there were issues at the reserve up in Attawapiskat that I don’t think have been properly addressed. That’s where she should have spent her time,” said Bill McCaw, whose great-grandfather was Mohawk.
Spence says she considers the award an honour.
