Focusing on racism may force a change

Page 8

Racism is a reality every Aboriginal lives with, some on a daily basis, some experiencing unexpected incidents that leaves them shocked and disillusioned.

While most incidents go unreported, a few catch the public eye, leading to change in the most positive cases, while remaining unresolved in others.

Following are recent cases in which individuals and groups helped forward change in the face of racism.

Nova Scotia

The name of a man who instituted a bounty on the heads of Micmacs in 1749

has been dropped from a new office complex in Halifax. The move came after the Confederacy of Mainland Micmacs requested the city convince a developer to drop the name Cornwallis Court from the complex. Lord Edward Cornwallis is considered a war criminal Nova Scotia Micmas for his savage order in issuing the bounty.

Don Paul, then executive director of the Confederacy, called the move a clear sign of progress, and expressed the hope for increased awareness and sensitivity to Native issues among non-Native individuals and groups.

Paul, an outspoken advocate of Native rights, said sometimes shock treatments are necessary to draw attention to the extent of discrimination experienced Micmacs and that such treatments often work.

People in Nova Scotia are more open-minded now than they were before, and are willing to listen to Native concerns, he said.

The mayor of Halifax, Moira Ducharme, said she was open to discussing Cornwallis' name being dropped from city streets, public buildings and schools if requests are made.

Ontario

- The Ontario Human Rights Commissions has awarded a Native man with $2,500 after verifying his complaint against a town owner.

The man was given a substandard room at the Red Dog Inn in Red Lake, Ont. He believed the room was issued because he was Native, and the commission later verified the inn did reserve several rundown rooms for Native clients.

- The Native Anti-Racism Alliance wants libraries in Barrie and Orillia to dump five books the group calls racist.

The Barrie-based organization said the books contain racial slurs and attack Natives through stereotyping and degradation. Four of the books are W.P. Kinsella, one of which, Fence Post Chronicles, a short-story collection, won the Stephen Leacock Award for Humor.

The fifth book is a Native craft book entitled Let's Be Indian. The two library boards are studying the complaint and will respond to the group later this month.

- A new assistant deputy minister will be named in a watchdog role to monitor the effectiveness of anti-racial policies in the provinces' schools.

September 1995, all school boards must establish policies dealing with racial and echnocultural biases and barriers in the school system. The move comes as a concentrated effort to dismantle systemic inequities and barriers in the education system, from the ministry to universities.

Saskatchewan

A report on communications and relations between city police and Natives caught flack after revealing anti-Native sentiment among the ranks. Several police surveyed in the report expressed racist attitudes, raising the ire of Aboriginal groups throughout the province.

But at least one organization believes the report has resulted in increased awareness and co-operation between the forces and Natives.

Dan Bellegarde, one of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, believes the 50-page report is a positive move in overcoming racism.

"I'm an optimist and don't want to dwell on racism. We all know it's there, but I see it as only a springboard for change," said Bellelgarde, responding to the anti-Native attitudes.

The report, released in September, includes more than 40 recommendations on how to bridge the communication gap between both groups.

"Everybody talks about healing. Well, the healing must come from the police service as well. And they have accepted the report," he said.

Bellegarde expects to meet with police representatives and discuss what mechanisms an be put into place to implement the recommendations.

Manitoba

- A provincial judge was suspended following an investigation justice department officials into allegations of discrimination.

In a 1969 court hearing transcript, Judge Bruce McDonald said it would be a "joyful result" if residents of a Manitoba reserve "kill one another off."

Chief provincial Judge Kris Stefanson suspended McDonald after reading the transcript. The investigation was prompted after the Winnipeg Free Press detailed McDonald's handling of several domestic violence cases.

While Justice Minister Jim McCrae wondered why it took so long for complaints about McDonald to be reported, Longplains Chief Peter Yellowquill said band members didn't believe official complaints would be taken seriously.

- A complaint of unlawful dismissal to the Human Rights Commission has resulted in changes at a federal agency. Four years after filing a complaint, Alan Blackbird won an apology and cash settlement from Canada Employment in July.

As part of the settlement, the federal office will set up workshops for managers on dealing with employees who are being harassed clients. Blackbird was fired from the Winnipeg North Canada Employment Centre after complaining about racial harassment from clients.

He asked for help in dealing with abusive clients and suggested posting a sign saying racist behavior would not be tolerated the centre.

Blackbird's suggestions were ignored, and CEC representatives said he was dismissed for being rude and unco-operative. However, co-workers described Blackbird as helpful and polite with the public.