National groups react to comic

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Furor over a racist comment in a widely-distributed comic book has spread from a boycott in Alberta to outrage in the nation's capital.

"We're appalled at the John Wayne mentality in the comic," said Ron George, head of the Native Council of Canada in Ottawa. "It certainly shows the amount of work still ahead of us to erase this racism and raise sensitivity to Native issues."

The NCC faxed the Aug. 30 Windspeaker article "Racist remarks in comic ignite boycott" to Aboriginal and human rights groups across Canada to garner support in protesting the use of the word Native the Archie Comic magazine.

In an August release of Jugheads Double Digest No. 19, comic book character Reggie said he did not want to "go Native" lest he sink "to the depths of degradation and despair. A sniveling, snarling animal. No hope. No pride. No sense of decency.". Two youths from Kehewin Reserve in Alberta Amber Dion, 13, and friend Karina Cardinal, 14, read the story and launched a written campaign to boycott Archie Comics.

An executive assistant at Archie Publications in New York said the story was only meant to be humorous, and the company offers their "sincerest apologies".

But in a later interview with CBC Radio, editor Victor Gorelick said the character Reggie was talking about going back to nature, not about Natives. Gorelick also lamented not being able to write anything these days without offending someone.

For Lorna Schwartzentruber, executive director of the Aboriginal Rights Coalition in Ottawa, such attitude is unacceptable.

"I was taken aback that a cartoon like that would even be printed. I don't understand how they could not be aware of the insult."

The coalition will definitely respond to the story, she said.

Joining the rapidly growing ranks of groups responding to the comic is the Canadian Ethno-Cultural Council. Director Anna Chiappa was disappointed that a supposed family comic was so insensitive.

"I was disappointed. It seemed to be thoughtless, with no idea of what they were doing."