The Regina Leader Post
on
David Ahenakew
David Ahenahew recently made some public remarks which surprised a number of people, including some close supporters. The remarks were retracted and Mr. Ahenakew has apologized but it amy be too late. Mr. Ahenakew's remarks have been turned over to the RCMP for possible prosecution under Section 319 of the Criminal Code. The RCMP aver that Section 319 offences are the same as any other crime as far as they are concerned. Mr. Ahenakew has resigned from all public positions and there is some discussion about stripping him of the Order of Canada. This is an editorial that appears in the Regina Leader Post.
Ahenakew has lost reputation
The Leader-Post
In Brief: David Ahenakew’s good name and position have been forever lost as a result of his vile anti-Jewish diatribe.
In offering an unreserved apology for his hateful anti-Jewish comments last week and withdrawing from all positions of any influence in the aboriginal community, David Ahenakew has done the right thing. So, too, with his intention to launch a mission seeking to atone for his statements.
But it will be asking a lot of those he slandered so hatefully to forgive him. After all, Ahenakew has obviously held these views for close to 50 years.
Ahenakew's statements Friday to a Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) convention that Hitler had done the right thing when he "fried" six million Jews and that Hitler's actions were justified because Jews were a "disease", ignited a firestorm of criticism across Canada.
His statements have been condemned by a range of prominent individuals and organizations including many First Nations' people; Matthew Coon Come, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations; the board of the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College in Regina which suspended Ahenakew from its board of governors; Prime Minister Jean Chretien; and Premier Lorne Calvert.
The FSIN also finally condemned his views as unacceptable. Unfortunately this came after several false starts in which the FSIN said that Ahenakew was not speaking on behalf of the FSIN, but that he had a right to his own opinion. Ahenakew is a former president of the FSIN and was until his resignation, an FSIN senator
In his statement Tuesday, Ahenakew said his remarks stemmed from deep-seated frustration over the federal government's treatment of aboriginal peoples. Prior to his anti-Jewish diatribe, Ahenakew had launched a blistering attack on a new Health Canada policy that would require aboriginal people to sign a consent form before receiving certain health-care services. Ahenakew said as he delivered last week's speech, he became carried away emotionally. He added that is no excuse for his behaviour. Indeed. Nothing perhaps short of a serious mental breakdown, could excuse such odious remarks.
Ahenakew could still lose his Order of Canada and could even face criminal charges over his remarks. But he has already lost something more important he can never recover. His reputation and good name.
© Copyright 2002 The Leader-Post (Regina)
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