Leader
That's the opinion of the Chief of Kitigan Zibi Band in Maniwaki, Quebec. Recall that Maniwaki is where Liberal MP David Smith, representing the riding of Pontiac, grew up.
I know because I spoke to Chief Jean-Guy Whiteduck an hour ago.
The "Polish grandmother" crack was mine, but Chief Whiteduck thought it was funny and laughed.
David Smith is embroiled in the Abotech affair, in which the computer consulting firm which he once led, now operated by his wife, and run out of their home in Gatineau, has had contracts terminated as a result of a KPMG audit of government contracts. Details are scarce right now, but there are hints as to what is going on. To me, the hints seem to point at contracts that are set-asides for aboriginal businesses. As an aboriginal, David Smith could have enjoyed preferential treatment in winning these set-asides.
First to make it clear -- no one seems to believe David Smith's claim to be an aboriginal, except the Liberal Party:
The Aboriginal Peoples’ Commission (APC) congratulate Mr. Todd Russell for his election on May 24th as the newest Liberal member of Parliament representing the riding of Labrador. Mr. Russell,who is of Inuit ancestry, will join fellow Aboriginal Liberals Hon. Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Minister of Northern Development, Ms. Nancy Karetak-Lindell, MP Nunavut, Mr. Paul Devillers, MP Simcoe North, and Mr. David Smith, MP Pontiac in caucus.
It's not just the Chief. His receptionist, another person in the band with whom I've had several email exchanges, David Smith's high school teacher (more on him later) -- all agree that David Smith's claim to be an aboriginal is bogus.
The Chief is adamant. There is no way that David Smith is a legitimate aboriginal. He is not recognized by the band as an aboriginal. So how could he be recognized as an aboriginal if aboriginals don't recognize him as such? Well, you can apply to be recognized through an organization like the Native Alliance of Quebec:
The N.A.Q.'s membership is open to all persons of aboriginal ancestry be it Metis, Status Indians (C-31), Non Status Indians living off-reserve in Quebec which meet the following criteria: - You must be of aboriginal ancestry (identity)
- You must self-identify as an aboriginal person (pride)
- You must be accepted by your community (belonging)
To become a member of the N.A.Q., you must attend a meeting of your local N.A.Q. community where you will be provided with the necessary documentation to apply. Persons residing in isolated areas may apply by mail directly to our Headquarters or to one of our Regional Offices.
You must also provide documented genealogical proof of your aboriginal ancestry. You must clearly show how you are directly related to a person who is qualified as an Aboriginal individual.
Needless to say, Chief Whiteduck is not particularly trusting of the NAQ and the vigour with which it checks these claims. In fact, the NAQ seems to have a pretty bad reputation, including allegations that the former chief of the NAQ, Guillaume Carle, sold membership cards printed by his own company, Nighthawk Technologies, to anyone for $70 each. After a legal fight, Carle was removed from his position.
A reader emailed me to tell me that at one point, 80% of the Maniwaki residents carried cards in the mistaken belief that they would gain tax benefits. When that was understood not to be true, the number of residents carrying such identification dropped to 20%. Chief Whiteduck related a similar experience.
But on what specifically could David Smith base his claim? It might have something to do with the farm he grew up on, which is part of the band lands. If you grow up on native lands, doesn't that make you a native? Perhaps, but when he grew up, the farm was not part of the band lands. It was an enclave inside the band lands but not recognized as theirs. It is actually subject to a land claim fight, but in the 90s (Chief Whiteduck could not be sure of the year), the band simply bought out the owners for expediency.
So technically his home is part of the band lands, but only recently.
He was not recognized as a member when he was a young man. That comes from Don Corkery, David Smith's high school teacher. David Smith went to high school at Cite Etudiante de la Haute-Gatineau.
Chief Whiteduck vouched for Mr Corkery's identity.
At the time, teachers knew who the native and non-native students were. It was part of the student's file, as well as occasionally discussed in staff meetings. Mr Corkery is adamant that David Smith made no such claim when he was in high school, nor in Mr Corkery's opinion, would such a claim have been justified. Based on David Smith's age, he was in high school during the 80s.
So not a native in the 80s, but a native now. Could David Smith have decided to become an aboriginal when his family farm was bought? After that, creating Abotech in his home and engaging in a scheme to land contracts from the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business with the help of Frank Brazeau seems at least to be a feasible story.
One more thing. According to Chief Whiteduck, the family name of Brazeau is common enough in Maniwaki. I haven't figured out if Frank Brazeau, who seems to play a major part as the "inside man", came from this branch of the family. If he did, one wonders just how far back Smith and Brazeau go.
Update: Sharp-eyed Paul asks if once David Smith stopped being president of Abotech, did the firm stop being "aboriginal"? Recall that his two kids are part owners. If they have been granted some sort of aboriginal recognition because of their father's status, and the ownership of the firm is structured the right way (essentially, 51% ownership by aboriginals), then Abotech might still be able to play the set-aside game.
[Many thanks to Chief Whiteduck for taking the time to talk to me. Not only did he answer my questions, but he took the time to explain many of the subtleties surrounding these issues, as well as to share with me a bit of the history of the band and of Maniwaki.]
