That is good news for many reasons - the main one being that he has suffered enough and his contribution to aboriginal people is needed.

It also demonstrates that unlike our political chiefs - the Chiefs of the FSIN are no longer going to be intimidated by the CJC and the CHRC.

Hopefully the court in Saskatchewan will rethink it's ongoing persecution and use it's resources to deal with serious issues.

Hmmm....how will the SuperFriends of Freedom respond to this one?

Your search - david akhenew warren kinsella - did not match any documents.

Well I guess if I spell the guy's name right, it does. Never mind.

I think its absolutely fascinating that the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations is happy to have this guy back as a senator. I've seen the tape of Akenakew saying what he said, there's no question at all he said it. What other mental malfunctions he's yet to bring forth, well I guess we shall see.

Let's just say that with leadership like this, its no surprise we've had armed men dug in on stolen property in Caledonia for two years.

However, I remain steadfast in my conviction that it is better for me personally and better for society at large to ignore the likes of Akenakew than it is to have a government mechanism to shut him up and punish him for speaking.

What about you, JohnnyDoofus? Any thoughts, or are you just trolling for insults as usual?

Please note the sanitization that both John and the Star Phoenix gave Joseph's words.

Also, Ringo - if you were as quick to use the search function as you are to post uninformed comments, you'd already know what this "freespeecher's" position has been on Ahenakew.

If the FSIN want to re-instate Chief Racist Potty Mouth then who are we to argue? Obviously the sage minds know what is best for the Frist Nations people. Besides, if things go down the toilet then we can just blame the evil white man and the centuries on molly coddling.

Ahenakew is probably a racist, but there's no law against that. It just seems ironic that a man who has likely experienced racism, ends up with similar attitudes. As for criminal charges, they are still pending, though I personally think they're not appropriate in this case. There was not call to arms, to violence, quite unlike other native leaders have said, like Matthew Coon Come, for instance. Anyway, the FSIN are free to do what they think is right, and shouldn't complain when others criticize their actions, with no need to involve HRCs and the like.

Now do you get it JR?

Oh, I see. From now on, society says that a hateful bigot can resume normal social and professional life after having "paid dues" like Mr. Ah-hatin-ya-jew... Does this mean that the victims of Richard Warman and the CHRC will also be pardoned following their having paid dues following their being wrongfully convicted?

It would also mean that the indigo plantation owner's descendents are well and truly off the hook.

I'll be interested to see the lefties' response to this collision of sacred cows. On the one hand the "Poor downtrodden first nations who are always right and can do no wrong whatsoever" vs the "Zero tolerance for racism and holocaust denial, including juicing up the 'evidence' via human rights tribunals if necessary"; (remember "All members of the reform party are right-wing, red necked, holocaust denying racists" as a lead in to a ministerial appointment under Chretien). So lefties, which sacred cow gets sacrificed and turned into ground chuck for the cause?

Dr.D, that's a no brainer. Politics of low expectations gives Akenakew a free pass. Only straight white Christian males can be called to account for these kinds of things.

Its in the manual somewheres.

Freedom of speech is actually “freedom of most speech”. You will be taken to task for yelling FIRE! in a theater and you cannot say you do not like the (insert minority or majority group here) so let's round up some or all of the (insert minority or majority group here) and do them physical harm.

I think it is fair to say Ahenekew did not call for harm to be done to Canadian Jews so he should not be prosecuted. Annoying as it may be, everyone has the right to be an ignorant, belligerent blowhard.

It is fair to say most nose breathers do not hate all Jews, First Nations People, homosexuals, Blacks or other minorities. If we hear bigots voice opinions that do not call for physical harm to be done to a particular group we should ridicule and spurn the offending bigots not indict them and thereby give them an enhanced platform.

Had WWII gone to plan for Ahenekew's ethnic cleansing hero Hitler, what do First Nations People think that the nazi tanks would have done when they came across First Nations land in their quest for Aryans only lebensraum?

Given that only three or four chiefs voted against Ahenekew’s reinstatement how credible will the chiefs’ request that First Nations people be treated with respect resonate with the Whites, Pakistani’s, Jews and others that Ahenekew has relentlessly trashed in his various rants from the bully pulpit the chiefs have now given back to him?

I salute the chiefs who had the courage to stand up and say “no” to bigotry no matter where it came from.

Ol Johnny will never get it, will he?

The reason that freedom of expression is so vitally important to a democracy is precisely so we can spot the bigots, racists and all those that spout hatred.

Only then can we, as a society, work to counter their vile garbage using that same freedom of expression.

I guess Ringo is too conditioned to being told what his opinions are to have an original thought?

Ridiculous.

Hello Lightning Rod.

The guy openly said that "Hitler was right" to "fry 6 million [jews]".

This guy is more Brazen then Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (sp?). Maybe he's got weapons of mass destruction.

Ahenakew comitted no crime.

Is he to be punished for comitting no crime? Maybe in the "smalldeadanimals" world, but not in a free and democratic society.

Ahenakew should only be expelled from the Senate if he has committed a crime.

Beradyscree

How would you feel if some loud mouthed bigoted idiot said in a public address that "Indians are a disease and they should have been slaughtered when we had the chance" was appointed to the executive of a political party or a Crown Corporation?

Just for the fun of it, tell the truth.

The historic policies of this country are awash with those sentiments. In essence they were "Make the Indian into the white man".

This was done by removing the indian children from their homes, if the Indian parents don't comply have the RCMP go to the home and get the children.

Corral the Indians into reserves and have Canada hold the title to those lands.

So it has happened already but many look away and ignore it or actually argue that the best things for the Indians.

So to your question I already know what it feels like - those are only two examples. What I find surprizing and appalling is that every one gets up in arms for an incident like Ahenakew's, but those same people stay quiet and say nothing on issues like those I mentioned above.

But I'm not demanding that the Prime Minister step down for implementing those archane policies.

So by your reasoning Canada is a "loud mouthed bigoted idiot" for still dealing with Indians through the "Indian Act" while ignoring the Treaties that were signed before the "Indian Act" was ever legiclated?

Well it seems to me that at least THREE NAtive leaders have their heads screwed on straight!

.... ""Three chiefs, including Chief Marcel Head of Shoal Lake Cree Nation, raised their hands against the motion.

"He hasn't changed at all," said Head. "I'm quite worried and concerned. To accept him now, who knows what he'll do or what he'll say in the future."...""

Considering what an embarrassment Ahenekew is to ALL Canadians that is a good sign!

So Beardy, you're ok with guys in your Indian band leadership who believe insane "black helicopter" conspiracy theories about Jews and the "Government" and all manner of crazy stuff? Ask him about UFO's, I bet he's got a story for you.

Personally I think he should be ejected because he's clearly not playing with a full deck. You've got to be fairly nuts to believe that stuff, and 100% incompetent to admit to it on camera.

Is 'not having committed a crime' the only criterion you have for serving on your 'Senate', Beardy? Pretty low standards, imho. Strictly speaking, you're right, if he is not convicted then there is no legal obstacle to his serving, but do you really want an anti-Semite POS speaking for you? Just because it is LEGAL for him to serve does not make it wise.

It only seems Fitting. The 2nd most racist person in the province, reinstated as a senator to the Most racist organization, and Backed up by the 1st most racist person in the province. LJ doesn't do well in impromptu situations.

Beardy Cree

As it turns out I am ashmaed to a degree of how First Nations people have been treated in Canada.
I said Ahenekew was a loudmouthed bigot because I truly believe he has he talks very loudly and he is clearly a bigot. I did not say all First Nations people are loudmouthed bigots.

Denying reality does not change reality. Avoiding reality does not lead to a better reality. You can blame whitey for everything that is wrong with and for First Nations people and you will likely be right at least 90% of the time. But do you think supporting someone who blames the Jews annd white people for everything will make things any better for First Nations people? Jews sucked it up and got over the holocaust. The Japanese lost over 2 million males between 17 and 40 and got nuked a couple of times to boot and within a generation they were one of the world’s leading economies. After 300 years a significant number of Afro-Americans in the US got beyond the inhuman slavery debacle and are starting to enjoy their piece of the American pie.

First Nations people have every right to be pissed off at the invading Europeans. But know this; the Europeans and more recent immigrants are here to stay and if First Nations people are to lead a good life they have to make the choice to quit the blame game and make the best out of what is available. If you think following Ahenekew’s rants are the ticket go right ahead. It’s your life.

an Indian friend(Mohawk) tells me once an elder gets into a position of power it's almost impossible to replace them. +There are quite a few natives who believe that farleft crap.

Ah reg,

>>>an Indian friend(Mohawk) tells me once an elder gets into a position of power it's almost impossible to replace them. +There are quite a few natives who believe that farleft crap.

Souds like the Canadian Senate eh?

Leave the poor Indian alone. His own have forgiven him, and life can now go one.

There is one thing that bothers me. Why is the system so quick to criminalize what this man did, yet Islamists and their moonbat supporters(a certain librano with initials DC comes to mind)get a free pass every time they open their bigoted mouths.

Strange days indeed!

BTW - back at the trough and assured his FULL pension too.....

let me put my cards on the table. I am a member of the saskatoon jewish community and have followed this issue since the beginning.

a) I don't think he should have been charged, what he said was repugnant and disgusting, but not criminal

b) he should be removed from any position of authority and influence within any organiation that wants to have credibility. particularly any orgainzation that that says they are actively working to change the climate of racism

c) The litmus test for this type of comment would be the reaction if the canadian senate re-instated someone who made the same kind of comments about first nations that Ahenekew made about jews. I can't imagine first nations leaders ever saying "he had paid his dues and deserves to be reinstated"

the indians have to settle for Ahenakew, as jesse jackass has already been taken!!!!!!

Chief Irvin Starblanket said, "I think he's paid his dues." "He apologized. He won in the courts. ..."

Wait a minute. Mr. Ahenakew's criminal matters are still before the courts. How has he won?

"The FSIN had earlier announced its decision to oust Ahenakew would "remain unaltered." FSIN Chief Alphonse Bird said in a 2005 press release. The decision was based solely on Ahenakew's harmful comments, not the criminal charge against him."

Nice to see that FSIN decisions are cast in stone.

Is this a means to have the government cover indirectly the up coming legal costs. It may all be about the money.

Here's what I left @ ol' limited free-speechers site. I offer it here, because I'm quite certain it won't get published there.

Geez Warren, you're slipping. Only 4 sleeps until you get to bask in someone else's spotlight (yet again) and you only have 4 plugs on the front page.

Along with a April 1 folly which had young Liberal loins all atremble until some sick person pointed out it was a hoax and ruined their party.

But, oddly enough, not one word about the re-instatement by the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations of noted anti-Semite David Ahenakew.

In a quandry are we Warren, about which much maligned group to back on this one? Call your buddy Warman and let the CHRC sort it out! Yeah right.