Hotel tosses leader

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Jim Sinclair, president of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, was ordered out of the lobby of an Ottawa hotel because he looked suspicious.

The Westin Hotel apologized for the incident, which occurred Dec. 12, but Sinclair said it was the type of thing Aboriginal people deal with on a daily basis.

Sinclair is one of the five top Aboriginal leaders in the country today, but his professional stature wasn't the issue, his race was said Sinclair.

"I've had to deal with this kind of racism for years, he said.

Sinclair was waiting in the lobby to meet with the Congress's lawyer when the leader was approached by a security guard who asked Sinclair to leave. Sinclair said he was presentably dressed and had only been in the lobby for about 10 minutes.

A hotel spokesman said Sinclair wasn't thrown out because he is Native. Security guards approach people hanging around the lobby as a matter of course. The incident was regrettable said the spokesman.

The Congress had been considering holding its annual general meeting at the Westin. This is now under review, said Sinclair.