Elder Stephen Augustine standing behind NDP leader Tom Mulcair
Trina Roache
APTN National News
Elder Stephen Augustine says he’s not against the NDP but he doesn’t like the fact the party used his image in a brochure outlining the party’s Indigenous platform.
“My image is spread all across Canada and what impact is that going to have on indigenous people?” said Augustine. “It sends a message that I’m a big supporter.”
The first photo shows Augustine standing behind NDP leader Tom Mulcair, who is sitting talking to Mohawk Elder Billy Two Rivers.
It was taken by the publicity team for the NDP at the Assembly of First Nations AGA in July, 2014.
Augustine said he wants them removed.
“It’s a matter of the privacy of the voting privileges in Canada,” said Augustine. “Nobody is supposed to know where my vote is and here it a wide open assumption that I’m voting NDP by appearing in their platform.”
Augustine said he never posed for that picture and that he doesn’t recall meeting Mulcair. He said he was never asked by the NDP for permission to use the photo.
He only found out late Thursday when he attended an event and was asked about his support for the NDP.
Augustine is “troubled” and “embarrassed” by the use of his image during an election campaign.
“I’ve never been asked,” said Augustine. “I feel I’m being used in a sense, that I’m being displayed as a big supporter as the NDP…I still feel I have badly misrepresented here.”
He said as a hereditary Mi’kmaw Chief and elder and Dean of Unama’ki College at Cape Breton University, Augustine worries it could sway indigenous voters.
Mohawk elder Billy Two Rivers recalled sitting with Mulcair and knew his picture was taken. But he too was unaware that it was used in the NDP platform.
“I don’t go around asking to have my picture taken with them,” said Two Rivers. “Someone took a picture of us sitting down. But there was one picture taken there and someone had asked me, are you aware of it? Well, I’ve seen it. They said, do you mind if we use it? I said, I do mind. I’m Mohawk, I don’t vote.”
Two Rivers said governments come and go and assimilation policies still prevail, no matter which party is elected.
He doesn’t support any of them. And he actively encourages other indigenous people not to vote.
“I think it’s an underhanded political allurement to vote,” said Two Rivers. “People will say, hey, Billy likes the NDP. If he likes the NDP, let’s vote for them. So it’s a misrepresentation.”
Ontario Regional Chief Isadore Day is also pictured in the NDP brochure, though he doesn’t have a problem with it.
Though he did ask the Liberals to remove a photo of Trudeau shaking his hand from its website during this election campaign.
“The Liberal pic was placed up front and could have been perceived as a cameo verifying support,” wrote Day in a statement to APTN National News. “The NDP pic was incidental to a key dialogue session that is essential to this election.”
Day added, “pictures with federal leaders seeking to shape a government to government agenda doesn’t mean I will drop a ballot in the box. As the Ontario Regional Chief, I remain non-partisan and neutral with my sole purpose being to raise issues for all First Nations.”
NDP media spokesperson, Emilie Grenier said while the NDP legally have a right to use photos they’ve taken at public events, they do use consent forms when possible.
Grenier said the NDP did send out drafts of the platform to the Assembly of First Nations and before it was unveiled on October 7.
Most of the photos were taken at AFN events. Grenier said the AFN gave the draft the thumbs up, though an email to AFN has said there was no advance look or image approval.
Grenier said out of respect, the NDP will remove the photos of Stephen Augustine and in an email have offered an apology, adding “…we are sorry for any confusion.”
Augustine isn’t sure yet if he’ll accept it.
The NDP have removed it from the digital brochure and say only ten hard copies were printed. The NDP did not put the photo of Augustine on Twitter.
Though image has already been shared on Facebook, tagging Augustine in a post that celebrates what is assumed to be his support for the NDP.
“At least they should advise the people that they’re going to use the image for their platform,” said Augustine. “[The NDP] should be more responsible.”
The Liberal party did the same thing to me. they used my artwork in a smear campaign… making it look like I OK’d my artwork to smear another candidate, and posting me as a supporter… they stole from me.
Was Billy Two Rivers a wrestler one time or is he related to a wrestler from long ago, use to wrestle along side Don Eagle?
I understand why some First Nations people in Canada choose not to participate in elections. But just this once, to Stop Harper, FN vote could change the course we are on. Cons and Libs have never respected FN rights, or honoured any Treaty. The NDP has promised to begin a new era with FN. To build on a Nation to Nation relationship. To begin an inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous Women. To lift FN children out of poverty. Protect water. Defend the Earth. I think FN may be Canada’s best hope for stopping harper. Just this once, I wish they would vote.
Attending a public AFN conference. The elder accepts the rules of the AFN.
It is public domain.
In this case he is wrong.
The elder should not have attended if he or anyone has an issue with media and media releases.
The AFN is.. IS.. a lobby group.
There ARE media present.
NDP Were there at the request of the AFN.
The elder should not have attended.
The NDP are gracious to kindly.. out of respect, pulled the pictures.
Ego’s need to be in check..
AFN should remind their delegates of media and photos rules to those attending such events.
Embarrassing displays like this can be avoided.