Copyright © 2003 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

TORONTO, CANADA – Keith Landy, Canadian Jewish Congress National President met in Toronto, on Wednesday, January 8, 2003, with Matthew Coon Come, Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief and Perry Bellegarde, Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations’ chief and AFN Vice Chief. The leaders arranged the meeting shortly after former Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations senator David Ahenakew made his antisemitic comments. Ed Morgan, CJC Ontario Region Chair and Ellen Cole, CJC National Chair of Community Relations were also in attendance.

Mr. Landy comments, “I thanked National Chief Coon Come and Chief Bellegarde for their unequivocal denunciations of the hateful remarks. Their outreach to our community has done much to alleviate the pain and shock Mr. Ahenakew caused.

“It was a powerful and poignant gesture when National Chief Coon Come joined CJC leaders in Montreal to pray alongside our people in synagogue at the Sabbath services. His leadership and integrity have been exemplary throughout this matter. “I think it is indicative of the strong bonds our two communities have built over the years that our relationship has not been damaged. Indeed they have been strengthened,” Mr. Landy continued.

National Chief Coon Come said, “First Nations and the Jewish community have stood together on many occasions in the past and we must continue to build on and enhance our mutual dialogue. We want to reach out to our Jewish brothers and sisters and extend our hand in friendship and renew our historic ties. Both our peoples share, at the core of our moral and ethical systems, a fundamental respect for all peoples. We want to explore the many ways we can work together and support each other.”

The leaders discussed issues of mutual concern to their communities and the need to continue combating discrimination as manifested by anti-aboriginal racism and antisemitism. Ideas for sharing agendas and the importance for Jewish and First Nations’ peoples to increase the knowledge and awareness of each other’s history and current circumstances were key items discussed.

Also attending were Manuel Prutschi, CJC National Director of Community Relations and Don Kelly, AFN Director of Communications.

---

Related contact information: Ron Singer, Director of Communications Canadian Jewish Congress Phone: 613-233-8703 (ext.233) Don Kelly, Director of Communications Assembly of First Nations Phone: 613 241-6789 (ext.320)

---

| "NAIIP News Path!" | "Cherokee News Path!" |
| "the People's Paths!" |
| "People's Paths Site Index!" |

---