ZGram - 12/15/2002 - "It takes an Indian who's had it..."

irimland@zundelsite.org irimland@zundelsite.org
Sun, 15 Dec 2002 18:28:38 -0800


ZGram - Where Truth is Destiny

December 15, 2002

Good Morning from the Zundelsite:

Somebody blew his top! 

Now here is a story that sizzles!  It has hit the wire like lightning 
and it being picked up all over the world.   Is this man going to 
apologize?  I'd put my dime on "No!" 

[START]

Ex-FSIN chief praises Hitler in speech

James Parker The StarPhoenix

Saturday, December 14, 2002

A respected Saskatchewan Indian leader said Friday Hitler did the 
right thing when he "fried" six million Jews during the Second World 
War.

In comments one local Jewish leader described as unfortunate, David 
Ahenakew, a senator with the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian 
Nations (FSIN), a former chief of the organization and a former chief 
of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), said in an interview Friday 
the Nazi leader was trying to clean up the world during the war.

"The Jews damn near owned all of Germany prior to the war," Ahenakew said.

"That's how Hitler came in. He was going to make damn sure that the 
Jews didn't take over Germany or Europe. That's why he fried six 
million of those guys, you know. Jews would have owned the goddamned 
world. And look what they're doing. They're killing people in Arab 
countries."

The 68-year-old Ahenakew made his remarks after giving a 45-minute, 
profanity-laced address to between 150 and 200 delegates attending an 
FSIN conference on a new Health Canada policy requiring Indians to 
sign a consent form before receiving certain health services.

During his wide-ranging speech, in which he complained about bigotry 
in Canadian society, accused the media of creating racial conflict 
and continually referred to non-Indian Canadians as "immigrants," 
Ahenakew said he lived in Germany during the late 1950s when he was 
with the Canadian army.

He said Germans told him the Jews started the Second World War. He 
said Israel and the United States are about to start a third world 
war, a reference to the current troubles in the Middle East.

Approached afterwards to clarify his comments on Jews and the Second 
World War, Ahenakew said he agreed with his German friends. When 
asked how he could justify the Holocaust, Ahenakew said: "How do you 
get rid of a disease like that, that's going to take over, that's 
going to dominate?"

Ahenakew said when he served in Egypt in 1964. he saw Jews kill 
people. When asked for details, he said mines planted by the Israeli 
army killed civilians.

"All I know is what the Germans told me. Of course, I believe them. I 
saw the Jews kill people in Egypt when I was there. The Palestinians, 
Arabs. I saw them (Israel) f---ing dominate everything."

Ahenakew said the Canadian army was trying to liberate the world when 
it fought in Europe during the Second World War, not liberate Jews. 
When reminded the Nazis committed genocide against a variety of 
ethnic and social groups, he said "exactly, they were trying to clean 
up the world."

"I don't support Hitler. But he cleaned up a hell of a lot of things, 
didn't he? You would be owned by the Jews right now the world over. 
Look, a small, little country (Israel) like that and everyone 
supports them. Who the hell owns many of the banks in the states, 
many of the corporations? Look at here in Canada. Izzy Asper (chair 
of CanWest Global, the owner of The StarPhoenix). He controls the 
media. What the hell does that tell you? That's power. That's f---ing 
power."

Ahenakew, who was FSIN chief from 1968-78 and AFN chief from 1982-85, 
grew impatient when told non-Jews own media companies, as well.

"The hell with the Jews. I can't stand them. And that's it. I don't 
want to talk about them."

FSIN vice-chief Lawrence Joseph sat at the conference's head table 
while Ahenakew gave his speech.

After hearing a tape recording of the interview, Joseph said the 
conference was about government oppression, not about the war or the 
Jews.

"Whatever he says personally is an opinion as a war veteran. He has 
that right. Similar to (Saskatoon MP) Jim Pankiw (who has sent out 
controversial pamphlets on Indian issues); he's entitled to an 
opinion, negative or otherwise."

Joseph said Ahenakew is an unelected official who does not speak for 
the FSIN. All former FSIN chiefs are eligible to become lifetime 
senators should they choose with the organization.

"It depends on how it's packaged," Joseph said when asked whether he 
thought Ahenakew's comments would be damaging to the federation.

"If the headline is superseding a very important event about consent 
(forms), it's up to you to do that."

FSIN chief Perry Bellegarde, who did not attend the conference, also 
stressed Ahenakew was not an elected official.

"It's not an official position of anybody except Dave Ahenakew. 
That's where it rests. He's entitled to his opinion. We, as 
indigenous peoples, are fighting for our survival. We also push 
peaceful co-existence between our peoples and everybody else."

When asked if he feels comfortable having Ahenakew represent the FSIN 
at public functions, Bellegarde said, "you're the guy writing this. 
Don't quote him."

Roger Pavey, a retired rabbi and a university lecturer, said 
Ahenakew's comments are especially unfortunate because many Jewish 
people are supporters of First Nations people and "their claims and 
demands."

"It's up to them as to who they want as their leaders. It's 
unfortunate he has those opinions and I wish he didn't. I hope he 
isn't representative of the Native leadership. I don't think he is."

Ahenakew, the father of FSIN vice-chief Greg Ahenakew, is renowned in 
the Indian political world for his blunt talk.


[END]

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