Ban of Aboriginal cultural advisor from mall causes uproar

Banning an Aboriginal cultural support advisor from Edmonton City Centre has resulted in cries of racism and racial profiling.

Cree Elder Gary Moostoos posted on Facebook that on Oct. 27 he “was eating noodles at City Center food court and a couple Security approach and stand over me as I eat… The one says that I looked (suspicious) and look like a person they banned.”

Despite Moostoos’ explanation that in his job as an outreach worker with Boyle Street Community Services he worked with people, who had been banned and had criminal records, and despite a conversation with the security guards’ supervisor, Moostoos was presented with an order banning him for six months from Oxford Properties: Edmonton City Centre east and west, all connecting pedways, Oxford Towers, Toronto Dominion Tower, the Delta Hotel and four related parkades.

“I wanna cry with all sorts of emotions running (through) me mostly NOW I feel how my inner city folks feel when they are targets,” posted Moostoos. Later, he wrote that he had cried that evening.

Julian Daly, executive director at Boyle Street, says he is “angered and outraged that such a special man like that would be treated that way.” 

But Daly is not surprised by the harassment.

“This is not a new story for us,” he said. “I hear this regularly. Hardly a week goes by that I don’t hear a story like this, either from clients or a colleague. It’s a regular experience for many Aboriginal people in this city, homeless or non-homeless.”

Daly is heartened though by the emails he has received from non-Aboriginal people, who are both “genuinely shocked” and disgusted by the treatment.

Moostoos has received support on Facebook as well with such comments as “Keep strong, keep up the good work” to “I believe you wouldn’t have been put there at that moment if Our Creator knew you couldn’t handle this.” A number of people also posted that they had been banned from Edmonton City Centre.

Mayor Don Iveson’s response has also left Daly feeling hopeful.

Iveson released a statement two days after the incident, having taken the time to both read Moostoos’ Facebook posting and talk to mall management.

“We won’t end prejudice overnight, however I do hope that mall management uses this opportunity to consider its role in the larger journey of reconciliation and its role as a gathering place in the heart of our city,” said Iveson.

This past March, when the Truth and Reconciliation Commission held its seventh and final national event in Edmonton, Iveson declared March 2014 to March 2015 as a Year of Reconciliation.

“It’s clear to me that this is a mayor who is really committed to reconciliation between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people and understands the hurt and the depths of the trauma and the injustice historically,” said Daly. “He’s realistic. It is a long journey. It is a difficult journey. It will take time. But he insists the journey take place.”

Oxford Properties Group issued two statements following the incident. The first statement said management would conduct an investigation. Upon concluding the investigation, which included talking to the security agents involved and viewing video Moostoos had taken on his cell phone during the confrontation, Oxford Properties released a statement, saying in part, “It is clear mistakes were made and we should have acted differently.”

Oxford Property added that they wished to apologize to Moostoos in person.

Iveson offered to share the city’s reconciliation workplace learning program materials with the centre’s front-line staff to “enhance their cultural sensitivity.” Mall management stated they would “gracefully accept” the offer.

In her Facebook posting, Valerie Stoney wrote, “Something good will come out of this, from the way they mistreated you.”

Daly says the incident has raised awareness with the general public.

“Finally a light is being shone on a dark story of our city, an ongoing story, which is the consistent exclusion and marginalization and discrimination of Aboriginal people (that) is often sort of like passive, not easily observable to the outside eye. But it’s happening. This allowed that to come to light,” he said. “Hopefully those who perpetuate and perpetrate this kind of discrimination will think twice in the future.”