OTTAWA - Chief Theresa Spence says she's overjoyed that Prime Minister Stephen Harper has agreed to meet First Nations leaders, but she says she won't end her hunger strike until the meeting actually takes place next Friday.

Spence does say she plans to attend the meetings in person.

Harper has agreed to meet about 10 days earlier than the date the Assembly of First Nations had proposed in a bid to both calm protests and put an end Spence's nearly month-long hunger strike.

But Spence says she won't close her encampment on Victoria Island, where she has lived without solid food since Dec. 11.

The prime minister's office says the meeting next week will be co-ordinated by the Assembly of First Nations and will focus on treaty relationships, aboriginal rights and economic development.

It is being billed as a follow-through on talks in January 2012 when the government and First Nations committed to an ongoing dialogue.

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