Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Harvey Yesno says there is no defense for comments Senator Patrick Brazeau made about Attawapiskat First Nation Chief Theresa Spence.
At a provincial candidate fundraiser in Orleans, Ont. on Jan. 29, the Conservative senator reportedly made comments mocking Spence’s hunger strike and weight.
“Never have First Nations encountered such disappointing behaviour from any representative of Canadian government as that of Senator Patrick Brazeau,” said Yesno in a release issued by NAN Monday afternoon.
Brazeau is the deputy chair of the Senate Committees on Aboriginal Peoples and Human Rights and Yesno said as an Aboriginal person appointed to the senate, Brazeau showed an aggression against the elected leadership of First Nations with his comments.
“And unfortunately, rather than being a fair and positive advocate for Aboriginal people in this country, Senator Brazeau continues to choose a very sad route of being disrespectful and dishonouring of his position, fellow Canadians, First Nations and our elected leadership,” said Yesno.
