Under the "R" for "Racist"?

Elections Canada uses bingo daubers to encourage Native voters

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Native groups across Canada are outraged with Elections Canada latest campaign to get Natives to vote.

Bingo card markers bearing the Elections Canada logo and the message "It's your right to vote" were distributed to various Native organizations across Canada two weeks ago.

But the dauber distribution was quickly halted after several Aboriginal groups complained the campaign was racist.

"We're offended," said Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Phil Fontaine.

"I think it's racist. To equate bingo with the electoral process is wrong. We think it's indicative of how Kim Campbell views Native issues."

Native turn-outs at polling stations are not usually high, the result of a deep frustration among Natives with non-Native government, he said.

"To suggest that our level of understanding is restricted to playing bingo is wrong," Fontaine said. "They should put in place public education that does not demean First Nations people."

If the government wants to undertake a public education program aimed at getting Natives to vote, it should do it in a way "that is dignified," he added.

Fontaine also said he would like to have an apology from the Prime Minister.

Dan Bellegarde, a vice-chief with the Saskatchewan Federation of Indian Nations, also said the promotion was "racist" and should not have gone forward in the first place.

"Good God, these are not children to be offered a piece of candy in order to get them to come out and vote," he said. "To me, this indicates racism at its highest level, where we are being viewed as children that need to be enticed with a toy, with a bingo market."

Some people may see it as being light-hearted, he said. But if Ottawa wants treaty Indians to vote, they have to be able to vote for something with much more substance towards Indian self-government.

A vice-chief with the Assembly of First Nations also said he was angry that the govenrnment thinks the best way to get to Natives is through the bingo halls.

Jerome Morin said the daubers only reinforce negative stereotypes about Native people.

In a Sept. 13 news release, Elections Canada said it was only trying to make the electoral system accessible to all electors and that the dauber promotion was halted "due to various concerns that have been expressed."

When contacted Windspeaker, Elections Canada spokesperson Carla Shore declined further comment.