Roger Fleury steals Indigenous identity to appropriate rights to which he is not entitled

Roger Fleury steals Indigenous identity to appropriate rights to which he is not entitled

The Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation Tribal Council vigorously denounces the words of Roger Fleury who pretends to be a First Nation member when he is not in order to appropriate aboriginal rights. Fleury, who presents himself as “Chief of Pontiac Anishinaabek Fort de Coulonge Kichesipirini”, was inviting citizens to practice a “cultural hunt” from December 4 to 8, which is nothing more than an incitement to perpetrate an illegal act since neither he nor the members of his social club are First Nations.

“Roger Fleury is not a member of any indigenous nation, and the Anishinabe community of which he claims to be the leader does not exist” said the Grand Chief of the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation Tribal Council, Verna Porson, who wanted to rectify the facts considering that this is not the first time that he has usurped Aboriginal identity.

While hunting is an intrinsic part of indigenous culture and has its own rites and traditions, a “cultural hunt” does not exist among the Anishinabe. Hunting is first and foremost an act of subsistence that allows the Anishinabe to feed their families and use all parts of an animal to make goods and clothing. “The Anishinabe do not hunt for the sake of killing,” said Ms. Polson.

The Grand Chief invites the Wildlife officers to ask Mr. Fleury and his friends to present their Aboriginal card if they were to claim that they are members of a First Nation, but reminding them to make sure that these are indeed real indian status cards.

“Mr. Fleury has no Aboriginal rights or title that allows him to claim that the lands of Pontiac or elsewhere are his. These lands are those of the Anishinabe and while it is true that they have never been ceded, sold or abandoned, Mr. Fleury is not part of this nation” concluded the Grand
Chief.