A former First Nations leader who was charged with a hate crime after making anti-Semitic comments in 2002 says he won't rejoin the senate of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations after all.
 
David Ahenakew, 74, a former head of the FSIN and Assembly of First Nations, said Thursday he's decided to decline the invitation from chiefs who voted last month to reinstate him as a senator, but he left the door open for a return at some point.

"When the non-First Nations justice system has finally completed its processes, I hope the offer of forgiveness and reinstatement that all the chiefs have made will stand," Ahenakew said in a news release.

The move by Saskatchewan chiefs to bring him back sparked harsh criticism from federal and provincial leaders.

Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl said his department wouldn't have dealings with FSIN in cases where Ahenakew was present and said funding for FSIN could be jeopardized. Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said reinstating Ahenakew would place a serious strain on the relationship between FSIN and the government and urged the chiefs to reconsider.

Ahenakew is facing trial on a charge of wilfully spreading hate after he called Jews a "disease" and expressed support for Adolf Hitler's genocidal policies.

In 2005, he was convicted of the charge, but in 2006 the conviction was overturned and a new trial was ordered.

Referring to the pressure from federal and provincial politicians, Ahenakew said it was "shameful" that government would try to hold the poorest segment of society hostage.

FSIN chief Lawrence Joseph approved of Ahenakew's decision.

"On behalf of the chiefs of Saskatchewan, I applaud, and I think this is an honourable thing that Mr. Ahenakew has done," he said.