REGIONAL CHIEF DECLINES DIAMOND JUBILEE MEDAL, PRIORITY SHOULD BE RESETTING THE TREATY RELATIONSHIP
Toronto, ON (February 6, 2013) Ontario Regional Chief Stan Beardy has declined the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal stating, “Accepting the medal at this time would condone the fact that the British Crown and Canadian government are ignoring the legal and historical connection they have with treaty nations.” On December 20, 2012, Beardy wrote an urgent open letter to Her Majesty the Queen urging direct British Crown involvement in the Chief Theresa Spence hunger strike. He recently received a response from her Majesty that he felt was unsatisfactory.
Beardy also pointed to a number of other reasons for declining the medal support, these included: (i) support for the global Idle No More movement and, (ii) to bring attention to the fact that the 2008 apology from Canada on residential schools has been hollow. He stated that, “Canada and Britain must deal in good faith with the realities on the ground before celebrating a relationship that is clearly strained with the potential for unforeseen outcomes that could exasperate an already charged atmosphere. Reset the Treaty relationship for the sake of our youth and the fundamental goodwill of all Canadians.”
The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal was created to mark the 2012 celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the Throne as Queen of Canada. Partner organizations were invited to nominate candidates.
The Chiefs of Ontario is a political forum, and a secretariat for collective decision making, action, and advocacy for the 133 First Nation communities located within the boundaries of the province of Ontario, Canada. | 
