FSIN Apology Not Enough for Melenchuk

FSIN Apology Not Enough for Melenchuk

Wednesday, June 30, 2004 at 14:33

The man who got the Canadian Human Rights Commission to take notice of controversial former MP Jim Pankiw is now taking aim at a prominent official with the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations.

Metis activist John Melenchuk is asking the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission to investigate public comments made recently by FSIN vice chief Lawrence Joseph.

Joseph made headlines when he accused the province’s Aboriginal justice reform commission of lumping First Nations into a –quote — “melting pot with Metis”.

During the same news conference, Joseph referred to the Metis as — quote — “couldabeens, shouldabeens and wannabees”.

Melenchuk is taking the comments personally, and says they were meant to discredit his Metis heritage.

FSIN chief Alphonse Bird issued an apology on behalf of the Joseph and the federation, but Joseph has yet to issue an apology himself.