The 2019 Canada federal election has certainly not been without its controversies. From Trudeau’s 2001 brown face images to Scheer’s 2005 anti-gay marriage video, there has certainly been no shortage of surprises, we could only expect more.
Myke Agecoutay shared a story about Scheer on facebook on September 16, alleging that the Conservative Party leader once said that he didn’t need the votes of Indigenous people to get ahead.
Who is Mike Agecoutay?
Myke Agecoutay is from the Muscowpetung, Saulteaux First Nation in southern Saskatchewan. He focus his life on community development and helping others. Fresh out of high school, he created an after-school program for youth at the Regina Treaty Status/Indian Services.
By the age of 23, he was elected tribal vice-chairman of the File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council representing 11 southern First Nations, making him the youngest ever-elected to the position.
Myke Agecoutay posted this, “During my role as Vice Chief of the File Hills Qu’appelle Tribal Councilour Member of Parliament, Andrew James Scheer accepted a meeting invitation from my office, hosted in the sacred boardroom on Treaty 4 territory.”
Agecoutay went on to explain, “He [Scheer] opened up the discussion as a formal position of the party platform ‘I don’t need your Indian votes, I don’t need Indians to win’…What was more disturbing, not the fact that he was right, the look on his face, pure pleasure.
“We don’t need you people. – Andrew Scheer
News Media has reached out to Andrew Scheer and the Conservative Party team for a statement but they are yet to receive a response.
The post has since gone viral on Facebook, with over 5,400 shares and 1,600 comments. The response has been mixed, some users accused Agecoutay of spreading ‘fake news.’ There are also countless replies that support Agecoutay, with one user replying,
“I’d believe this. Scheer did accuse the First Nation as holding Canada hostage. He’s already painting them as the enemy and pitting Canadians against First Nations.”
“Hold Hostage” Comment by Andrew Scheer
At the first party leader debate, Scheer was discussing whether he would implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) if he wins power.
“We cannot create a system in this country where one group of individuals, one Indigenous community, can hold hostage large projects…,” Scheer said.
The language that you are using is so inappropriate when talking about Indigenous Canadians, You can’t treat Indigenous Canadians as though they were an interest group or a lobby. We’re talking nations, not communities, not groups. The language you are using, Andrew, shows no respect,”
– Elizabeth May, Green party leader
Trudeau promised to enact the indigenous law in Canada but the legislation to enact the indigenous bill, was left to die in the Senate this spring following opposition from Conservatives.
