Aboriginal Peoples Television Network has bombshell report on the leader of the
Congress of Aboriginal of Peoples, an organization that represents off-reserve Native peoples in Canada.
In an on-camera interview, Chief Robert Bertrand had trouble telling APTN News about his Native heritage. “I can’t remember off-hand,” he said, when asked about his ancestry and his family.
“I am sure I am Indigenous. If you are asking me if it’s the third generation, I can’t remember,” Bertrand told APTN. He eventually said he was of Algonquin descent and that his Native family came from Quebec.
Bertrand's heritage has become an issue in the community. One of his predecessors tried to seize the organization's eagle staff at a meeting over the weekend because he believes Bertrand has “tainted” its work, APTN reported.
“I called for his genealogy, I called for his resignation," Kevin Daniels, whose family was among the first participants in an urban Native relocation program in Saskatchewan, told APTN.
The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples is known as an advocate for urban, off-reserve and Metis peoples. The organization helped advance
Daniels v. Canada, a landmark case that
recognized the rights of Metis and other Native peoples as "Indians" under Canadian law. The lead plaintiff, the late Harry Daniels, was a former chief of the organization.
Read More on the Story:
Congress National Chief ‘can’t remember’ roots of own Indigenous ancestry
(APTN Aboriginal Peoples Television Network September 27, 2017)
Ottawa police called after Eagle Staff seized during Congress meeting
(APTN Aboriginal Peoples Television Network September 26, 2017)
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