Phone: (705) 997-2166 Fax: (705) 997-2116 A TTA WA PISKA FIRST NA TION PO. Box 248 Attawapiskat. Ontario POL 1A0 HAND DELIVERED - PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL January 17, 2013 Chief Theresa Spence Victoria Island Ottawa, Ontario Chief Spence, We, the Acting Chief and Council of Attawapiskat First Nation, are writing to you privately at the request of our elders and the request of many of our community members. On December 8, 2012, Council agreed and supported you delegating your power as Chief to Acting Chief Christine Okimaw Kataquapit. We have supported and encouraged the courageous and difficult action you have taken through your hunger strike, which has now lasted over 37 days. And we are proud and encouraged that your actions and strength have opened the door to meaningful discussions with the Government of Canada. You have done your part, and captured the attention of people across the country. as well as the attention of the Prime Minister and the Governor-General. You have even captured the attention of people outside of Canada, through the Idle No More movement. We are convinced that you have created the opportunity for serious discussions and change in the ongoing failure to honour our treaty rights and nation--to--nation relationship with Canada. In doing so, we recognize that you have done tremendous service, at great personal cost, on behalf of First Nations people across Canada. But all the elders in our community have now requested us as a Council to urge you now to return and suspend your hunger strike. Many members of ot1r community have also asked us to do this. We as a Council met and discussed this. and we have unanimously agreed as well to ask that you suspend your hunger strike. With all you have achieved. it is now time to return to health. and return to your community. our community needs a leader. and needs you to lead the battle and fight for the Attawapisltat First Nation. Now that the door has been opened to change. and genuine respect by Canada for our treaty rights. it is your own community that needs you before that opportunity is gone. We ask you not to risk your life any longer. when there is so much to be done. Please return to the conimunity, restore your health, and restore our Chief and Council to its full quorum. (fl Clu'istii1e Okina\1' Kataquapit. Acting Chief Deptify Chief Andrew Koostachin, Head Councillor Moses l'lOOl{l1'1'1E1W, Elder Councillor Benoit Okitigo, Elder Councillor' l