Oh my, how the mighty have fallen

Page 18

The Urbane Indian

After months and months it seems David Ahenakew has lost his court case, his Order of Canada and the respect of a good chunk of Canada, both Native and non-Native. The real shame here, apart from his toxic views, is the fact that at one time Ahenakew was at the forefront of Aboriginal rights. The former head of the Assembly of First Nations and a decorated war veteran, he had long fought for Native rights and recognition, and much of where we stand today politically can be traced to the efforts of Ahenakew and men like him.

He was there pushing the envelope when the envelope didn't even exist. Alas, he reached a point in his life that many people in the political and public eye do eventually. He began to believe his own press. After struggling so long to have his voice heard by the various governments for so many decades, he unfortunately thought his was the only voice worth hearing. And he considered what he had to say to be gospel. And that became his downfall.

All through this entire ordeal, you will notice a certain defiance or lack of contrition in his dealings with the press and public. When he lost the court case, he blamed the Jewish community, the Canadian court system, everybody but himself. Same when the allegations first arose in December 2002. Ahenakew blamed his medication, his health, even the media, and that he was taken out of context. He later publicly apologized, but many felt it was forced and appeared insincere. I distinctly remember him in his first press conference, defiantly saying something to the effect of "Nobody tells David Ahenakew what to do," before resigning from all the political and business organizations with whom he was affiliated.

However, using an ancient Ojibway saying to illustrate an opinion, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, chances are it's a duck. And when that duck says on tape, "The Jews damn near owned all of Germany prior to the war. That's how Hitler came in. That's why he fried six million of those guys, you know," that's not duck. That's a goose being cooked.

Still, this should in no means diminish Ahenakew's contributions to the past. There is a sort of precedence to this situation. In 1885, during the trial of Louis Riel, most historians believed that Riel had long since lost his faculties. It seems his bingo card was a few numbers short of a blackout. He was seeing images of the Virgin Mary and had other assorted reality lapses. Yet Riel is still venerated and respected today. In fact, there's talk of having his conviction overturned.

Maybe the same could happen to Ahenakew in 120 years.

I have never met David Ahenakew, and at one time would have been delighted and honored to sit at a table with him. As a Native person, I was always taught to respect and honor my Elders, and in situations like this, it becomes a bit confusing. For instance, I have problems with him blaming everything that's gone wrong with his life in the last year-and-a-half on a court-inspired conspiracy.

"My conviction says the power of this country lies with those who have the funds to back their lobbies and the corporate and financial influence to bend the Canadian judicial system and government to their will." He later added "My case was as much about racism against First Nations as it was about alleged racism against the Jewish community."

No it wasn't. I may be somewhat naive on the subject, but one would hope that in a civilized country where you call a race of people "a disease" and then justify the Holocaust, the courts would get involved. Perhaps the true irony here is if somebody had said equally caustic and reprehensible comments about Canada's First Nations, or the Cree specifically, I have absolutely no doubt that Ahenakew would be there holding a press conference demanding a zealous investigation and legal reaction.

In Canada there is racism against Native people. Try and find a Native person in this country that han't felt its sting. And, yes, Aboriginal inmates are disproportionately represented in Canadian jails, indicative of some massive judicial malfunction. But some issues transcend our own little worlds.

And admittedly I don't know that much about Jews, Israel, or anything like that. I do, however, know many fabulous people of mixed Jewish/First Nations heritage, affectionately known in the Native community as "schmohawks."

Some might argue that this is not a case of racism. I once heard somebody of academic standing try to tell me that it is impossible for Native people or any other marginalized culture to be racist.

Only White people can be racist, because racism works from the top down. Only the privileged and those in control can legitimately be called racist. I guess a case like this bucks the trend. Then again, David Ahenakew was always a ground breaker... maybe he has once again broken into some new, uncharted territory.

After all is said and done, David Ahenakew plans to appeal his conviction. So this story might not be over yet. It's a confusing issue and he's a confusing man.

But then again, he is Cree. And you know how they are.