printer friendly version
Native leader's hate crimes trial comes to an end
Friday, April 8, 2005
The hate crimes trial of a Native leader who made anti-Semitic remarks ended on Thursday with an apology and a defense for the controversial comments.
David Ahenakew, a former chief of the Assembly of First Nations and former head of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, said he was "sorry for what he said" about Jewish people, Hitler and the Holocaust. "I just feel so sad about this whole thing, I really do, and there is nothing I can do but to say it's not going to happen again," he said on the stand, according to CTV.
Ahenakew blamed his outburst on diabetes and a glass of wine he drank the night before he made his remarks that were widely publicized by the media. "I was feeling tired. I don't know how to describe it, but I wasn't ready,'' he testified, according to CTV.
Yet he appeared defiant as the trial wrapped up, the Canadian Press reported. He said Canada should be on trial for its treatment of Native people.
"I'm a holocaust victim," Ahenakew reportedly shouted. "We lost over 100 million people over the last 500 years."
Ahenakew was charged under Canada's hate crimes statute and faces up to six months in jail. A decision is expected on June 10.
Get the Story:
Ahenakew hate crime trial ends
(CBC 4/7)
Ahenakew hate crime trial ends (CBC 4/7)
'I'm sorry for what I said,' Ahenakew testifies (CTV 4/7)
Ahenakew: 'I am a holocaust victim' (The Globe and Mail 4/8)
Ahenakew says Canadians should be put on trial for treatment of aboriginals (CP 4/8)
Ex-leader explains hate remarks (CP 4/8)
Related Stories:
Native leader offers diabetes defense for hate
crime (4/7)
Native leader's hate crimes
trial a raucous affair (4/6)
Native
leader on trial for anti-Semitic remarks (4/5)
Native leader's hate crimes trial delayed again
(11/01)
First Nation leaders return from
trip to Israel (08/18)
First Nation
leaders head to Israel to build relations (08/10)
Aboriginal leader's hate crimes case delayed
again (07/01)
Jewish groups oppose
Native leader's nomination (01/28)
Native leader pleads not guilty to hate
crime (10/02)
Native leader's hate
crimes case postponed again (08/28)
Report: Native leader has long held racist
views (08/15)
Hate crimes case
against Native leader continues (07/29)
Native leader charged with hate
crime for remarks (06/12)
Hate crimes charges mulled against
tribal leader (03/26)
Native
and Jewish leaders meet in Canada (01/09)
A different kind of debate on race
(12/19)
Native Trent Lott faces
criminal probe (12/18)
Apology sought for Hitler remarks
(12/17)
First Nations upset
with Hitler remark (12/16)
Copyright © 2000-2005 Indianz.Com
