David Ahenakew, the former chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations and former chief of the Assembly of First Nations, was in court on Monday to challenge his conviction of a hate crime.

Ahenakew, 72, made anti-Semitic remarks to a member of the media. He apologized for his comments but was convicted of breaking Saskatchewan's hate crimes law.

Ahenakew is appealing the conviction. His lawyer said the initial conversation in which he praised Hitler for the Holocaust was never meant to be made public.

Get the Story:
Lawyer: Ahenakew conviction invites �tattletale state' (CP 4/4)
Ahenakew lawyer says controversial conversation was private (CBC 4/3)

Lower Court Decision:
The Queen v. Ahenakew (July 8, 2005)

Relevant Links:
Canadian Jewish Congress - http://www.cjc.ca

Related Stories:
Native leader stripped of Order of Canada membership (07/12)
Native leader found guilty of hate crime (7/11)
Native leader awaits verdict in hate crimes case (7/7)
Native leader's hate crimes trial comes to a close (06/22)
Commentary: Natives, Jews divided by 'one bigot' (04/19)
Native leader blasts media over hate crimes trial (04/12)
Native leader's hate crimes trial comes to an end (4/8)
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)