Recently, there’s been a lot of talk about racism, decorum in politics, and what constitutes respect by politicians.
I’ve never shied away from naming and confronting racism, even before I started working in media. See me here in 2013, trying to meet with the editor of the Morris Mirror newspaper over comments he made about the Idle No More movement.
These days, I could choose any number of racist incidents used by politicians across North America — see, for example, U.S. President Donald Trump commenting on Chinese president Xi Jinping’s “physical features” and how Chinese citizens in the U.S. don’t match up to him (starts at 6:00) but Manitoba’s got its own special brand of divisive, harmful statements and actions based in racial stereotypes.
The most recent winner of the most xenophobic statement in Manitoba politics goes to Lac du Bonnet PC MLA Wayne Ewasko, who, on April 15 in the legislature, yelled at Premier Wab Kinew while he was speaking: “You’re drunk, you’re drunk. I thought you quit drinking” (see the official account of the Speaker of the Manitoba Legislature on page 1661 here).
Kinew has a well-documented history with alcohol, but hasn’t drank for years and, like other Canadian politicians, alcohol does not influence him or his decision-making.
The level of stupidity in this comment! It’s like defining a 50-year-old by their 20-year-old decisions; in other circumstances it could be called harassment. It’s certainly not a barometer for running a Canadian province.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, for example, has a well-documented toxic relationship with alcohol, but it apparently hasn’t negated his career. Moe’s alcohol use has resulted in a 1992 conviction for impaired driving, a 1994 charge of impaired driving (which was stayed/withdrawn), and most notably, a fatal car crash in 1997, for which he was fined for driving without due care.
Yet, Kinew is apparently the one who has to answer questions about alcohol.
“It is a discriminatory comment that plays on an ugly stereotype about Anishinaabe people,” Kinew told reporters afterwards.
“I don’t drink. But ask yourself why, as a native guy, do I have to come out today and say I don’t drink. (Ontario Premier) Doug Ford doesn’t drink. (U.S. President) Donald Trump doesn’t drink. I don’t drink. That’s something that a lot of successful people don’t do.”
Kinew later got into a heated — but very interesting — debate with CBC Manitoba morning host Marcy Markusa during his monthly visit to her show over the duty of those in the media to call something racist when they hear/see it and not treat it as “the other side” of arguments (that part begins at 9:00).
I cannot tell you how many times I have had similar situations, with blatant racism, hate and falsehoods about Indigenous peoples constituting the arguments of those who want to argue residential schools “intended well,” First Nations chiefs are all corrupt, or Indigenous peoples are welfare bums, addicts, and are only motivated by taking money and services from the government.
In any other place of employment, this would be called bullying and harassment, and would be handled through individual discipline, reparations and some sort of workplace-safety training.
No one is perfect, of course, and mistakes can be made in heated moments, but racism does nothing but cause division and harm, and is not an acceptable way to communicate in a civil society.
I wonder if citizens in Lac du Bonnet talk like that.
I wonder what they think of a person representing them who uses such racist language and won’t take responsibility for it.
I wonder what the majority of Manitobans think — and expect — of those who debate their issues, serve and represent them.
Niigaan Sinclair, Columnist
FIVE STORIES ON TURTLE ISLAND
1. In the wake of the Court of King’s Bench judge finding Alberta’s chief electoral officer erred in approving a citizen-led initiative to hold a referendum on the province’s independence because it ignored Indigenous treaty rights, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith seems to be doubling down on creating more fights with First Nations.
2. Speaking of controversial resource projects, a new 234-mile gas pipeline was slated to begin construction across Navajo territory in New Mexico and Arizona this week.
The pipeline has been approved by Navajo lawmakers, but Navajo citizens and activists are suspicious of the frequent changes to the project as a whole and the discreet nature in which approval occurred.
The project is now mired in state regulatory approvals — a process that will take years — leading many to ask why construction on small segments of the proposed route are beginning now.
A huge kudos to longtime sexual health advocate Albert McLeod, who this week called for a “national inquiry” into the reasons Indigenous communities are being disproportionally impacted by HIV.
4. The Southern Chiefs Organization (SCO) — the group which lobbies for, represents and oversees projects in the interests of over two dozen First Nations in southern Manitoba — has announced that one-third of the construction has been completed of Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn (meaning “it is visible”), the revitalization and re-envisioning of the former Hudson Bay Building in Winnipeg’s downtown.
Speaking of the HBC, I am hearing rumours there will soon be a ceremony to welcome back to Treaty One the original 1670 Hudson’s Bay Company Royal Charter, which was recently purchased for $18 million and is now overseen by a consortium of four public institutions: the Manitoba Museum, the Archives of Manitoba, the Canadian Museum of History, and the Royal Ontario Museum.
5. Team selections are taking place right now for the much-anticipated return of the Manitoba Indigenous Summer Games— an event across two communities in July and August that will feature over 3,000 First Nations, Métis and Inuit athletes competing in archery, 3-on-3 basketball, volleyball, canoeing, softball, track, soccer, athletics (track and field), ball hockey and golf.
Competitions will take place in two communities over two separate weeks, with Norway House Cree Nation hosting events from July 8-12 and Sagkeeng Anicinabe First Nation hosting competitions from August 10-15 – the schedule is available here.
This is also a good time to revisit the widely successful 2002 North American Indigenous Games that were hosted on Treaty One here in Winnipeg and brought our entire community together to host Turtle Island.
IN PICTURES
RECONCILI-ACTION OF THE WEEK
Every week I highlight an action, moment, or milestone forwarding reconciliation, illustrating how far Canada has come — and how far the country has yet to go.
The day served as an opportunity to demand better systemic support for suffering and grieving families and those still searching for missing loved ones.
Murdered and missing Indigenous men and boys are an issue infrequently addressed, but, as a report from the Ontario Provincial Police shows, they are more likely to go missing or be murdered than anyone else in the country.
