REGINA - Saskatchewan's top court was to hear the latest arguments Thursday in the hate-crime case of one-time aboriginal leader David Ahenakew.

The former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations was originally convicted of wilfully promoting hatred for calling Jews a "disease" in a 2002 interview with a reporter.

But that conviction was overturned by a Court of Queen's Bench justice who found that the trial judge did not properly assess Ahenakew's intent when he made the comments in December 2002.

The Crown is now appealing that ruling to the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal.

While the court considers the legal arguments, there are signs the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations is welcoming its former senator back.

Ahenakew recently sat on a task force that developed treaty implementation principles approved by the federation's chiefs.