Branding the Manitoba provincial government “racist,” Canadian indigenous groups have accused it of “distorting history” and spreading propaganda – and demanded it rethink its approach to First Nations issues or resign.
The government led by Premier Brian Pallister has been criticized in recent weeks for comments seen as “romanticizing colonialism” and downplaying the impact of the forced assimilation of indigenous peoples through the controversial residential school system.
Pallister had denounced protesters who pulled down statues of Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria that stood on the grounds of the province’s legislature – part of ongoing outpourings of public anger over the discovery of mass graves at former residential school sites across the country.
“Today, we are not here to topple any statues. We are here to topple a government that is racist, a government that has no place in this legislature,” said Grand Chief Garrison Settee of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO), which represents 26 northern First Nations in the province.
Standing on the steps of the legislature building on Monday, Settee and other indigenous representatives called out the province’s Progressive Conservative government, accusing them of making a “deliberate attempt to distort the history of Indigenous peoples regarding the policy of genocide at residential schools.”
Grand Chief Arlen Dumas of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs said he was “tired of talking” to Pallister and slammed him as “ill-informed” and “ignorant.”
“I give him every opportunity to have meaningful dialogue. We bring forward meaningful solutions to work together, hand in hand, to move forward. But he’d rather talk at me,” Dumas said.
Among Pallister’s contentious remarks was that settlers who came to Canada didn’t come to “destroy anything” but to “rebuild” and “build better.” He also said toppled statues would be repaired and reinstalled, likely at different locations.
In a statement, the indigenous groups slammed Pallister’s comments as “racist political propaganda distorting and romanticizing colonialism.”
Pallister’s comments sparked such outrage that his own indigenous relations minister, Eileen Clarke, resigned from her position. Minutes after being sworn in to replace her, Alan Lagimodiere said those who ran residential schools “really thought that they were doing the right thing” at the time.
After a barrage of criticism, Lagimodiere issued an apology and said he “misspoke” but fallout continued as two indigenous government officials quit their positions on the province’s economic development boards.
“We found 1,505 children murdered in these schools, hidden and buried in the ground, and in the same breath, [you]say ‘but residential schools were a good thing. Assimilation was a good thing.’ Who can say that in their right mind?” Dumas asked on Monday.
Grand Chief Jerry Daniels of the Southern Chiefs Organization, which represents 34 First Nations communities, said at Monday’s gathering that the Pallister government had failed to tackle key indigenous concerns like low graduation rates, shorter lifespans, lack of recognition of treaty rights and distrust of the child welfare system.
Stating that the government had to allow indigenous people to take more control over their lives, Daniels said, “If Pallister can’t lead, and his cabinet can’t lead, they do need to resign.”
The groups also released an “action plan” to tackle hate crime and discrimination. Lagimodiere’s office released a one-sentence statement saying he looked forward to reviewing the plan and working collaboratively with indigenous communities.
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