Tansi Nîtôtemtik,

Image of Chief Grizzly Mamma. Retrieved from <www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/cornwallis-protest-chief-grizzly-mama-canada-day-1.4187445>.
Today’s post examines the relationship between hate groups and racist violence; as well, we look at solutions on how to combat anti-Indigenous racism.
During a Canada Day celebration in 2017, protestors gathered in downtown Halifax to condemn the statue of Edward Cornwallis, a British military officer and founder of the city. Chief Grizzly Mamma, an Indigenous woman, shaved her braids as a symbolic act to bring attention to the scalping proclamations issued by Cornwallis during his 3-year term as governor of the province.[1] Cornwallis declared bounties of “[t]en guineas for every Indian taken or destroyed.”[2] Mi’kmaq women and children were also subject to the bounty and it is noted that scalping was not used against the hostile French during this period.[3] According to Daniel Paul, a Mi’kmaq Elder, Cornwallis’ actions were part of a genocidal campaign against the Mi’kmaq peoples.[4] Chief Grizzly Mamma views the statue as a symbol of colonial violence against Indigenous peoples, a violence that persists even today.[5] Note: the statue has now been removed by order of a regional city council vote.[6]
In response to the demonstration, counter-protestors arrived wearing matching polo shirts along with the Canadian Red Ensign flag, a colonial symbol, claiming that the Indigenous ceremony was “disrespecting General Cornwallis.”[7] These counter-protestors were members of the Proud Boys, a far-right fraternal organization who self-describe as “western chauvinists who refuse to apologize for creating the modern world.”[8] Opposed to political correctness, their mantra is “West is best.”[9] The Southern Poverty Law Center has documented their transphobic, sexist, misogynistic, and racist beliefs.[10] The founder of the Proud Boys, Gavin McInnes, who considers himself an Islamophobe[11] and anti-Semite,[12] believes that criticisms of colonialism should be met with white people proudly responding, “You’re welcome.”[13] McInnes also defended Cornwallis’ bounty.[14]
Katherine Hensel, a Secwepemc lawyer and adjunct professor of law at the University of Toronto, argues that the rhetoric espoused by the Proud Boys contributes to violence faced by Indigenous peoples today. Hensel explains, “For [Gavin McInnes] to suggest that [violence against Indigenous peoples was] justified then, really reframes the discourse ... and the concern is [it justifies violence today].”[15] She goes on to state, “Indigenous people in Canada do not enjoy security of the person and liberty in the same manner that non-Indigenous people in Canada do. And that’s been continuous since Cornwallis’ time.”[16]
Hensel’s description of the Proud Boys as “disruptive and potentially threatening”[17] is far from hyperbolic. McInnes himself stated in 2017, “I cannot recommend violence enough. It’s a really effective way to solve problems.”[18] As part of a fourth-tier initiation, Proud Boys members must engage in a major fight for the cause. Members have also attended the deadly Charlottesville Unite the Right rally.[19] Furthermore, individuals subscribing to alt-right ideologies similar to the Proud Boys’ own have been killing prolifically in the United States.[20] Note: the Proud Boys members at the Cornwallis event did face disciplinary action.[21]
Hensel warns, “Indigenous people in Canada are number one on the target list for this type of far right rhetoric and activity and potential violence and actual violence.”[22] As an example of the ongoing violence, Hensel cites the case of Barbara Kentner, a First Nations woman who was hit with a trailer hitch by a passing truck in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The passenger, Brayden Bushby, a non-Indigenous man, yelled, “Oh, I got one” after striking Kentner, who later died of internal injuries.[23] Furthermore, data shows that Indigenous people face higher levels of violent crime[24] and, in particular, violence against Indigenous women and girls is disproportionately high.[25] Hensel believes a lack of education on these issues is partly to blame.[26]
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action specifically mandate that medical and nursing schools, law societies, public servant groups, sports organizations, and corporate sector actors must receive education in anti-racism training.[27] Education is a vital step in dispelling anti-Indigenous myths and stereotypes that feed into racist narratives; in educating ourselves, we bolster our “moral and legal and constitutional integrity.”[28] TRC Chair, Senator Murray Sinclair, speaking on the lack of education on Residential schools and Indigenous history, wisely said, “Education, or what passed for it, got us into this situation, and education is what will lead us out.”[29]
Alberta is far from immune to racism, our own provincial history being replete with instances of extreme prejudice and discrimination. The history of the Ku Klux Klan’s strong base in Alberta is particularly troubling.[30] However, recent controversies surrounding the Soldiers of Odin, an anti-immigrant far-right group, occurring right here in Edmonton remind us that we do not currently live in a racism-free society.[31] Individually, we can engage in acts of solidarity for marginalized folks, like the Stand Up Against Racism rally in response to the racist letter sent to the Anderson family.[32]
Until next time,
Team ReconciliAction YEG
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[1] Anjuli Patil, “Cornwallis Protest Held Amid Canada Day Celebrations”, CBC News (1 July 2017), online: <www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/cornwallis-protest-chief-grizzly-mama-canada-day-1.4187445> [Patil, Cornwallis Protest].
[2] Trina Roache, “‘It’s Not Forgotten’: Mi’kmaq Bounty Never Rescinded”, ATPN National News (21 February 2018), online: <aptnnews.ca/2018/02/21/not-forgotten-mikmaq-bounty-never-rescinded/>.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Brett Bundale, “Edward Cornwallis Considered: The Man Behind Halifax’s Divisive Debate”, Global News (last updated 20 August 2017), online: <globalnews.ca/news/3401361/edward-cornwallis-considered-the-man-behind-halifaxs-divisive-debate/>.
[5] Patil, Cornwallis Protest, supra note 1.
[6] Cassie Williams, “Controversial Cornwallis Statue Removed From Halifax Park”, CBC News (31 January 2018), online: <www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/cornwallis-statue-removal-1.4511858>.
[7] Patil, Cornwallis Protest, supra note 1.
[8] Proud Boys, “Welcome to the Greatest Fraternal Organization in the World” (no date), online: Proud Boys USA <proudboysusa.com/>.
[9] Ibid.
[10] Southern Poverty Law Center, “Proud Boys” (no date), online: SPLC <www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/proud-boys> [SPLC Proud Boys].
[11] Ibid.
[12] “Who are the Proud Boys Who Disrupted an Indigenous Event on Canada Day?”, CBC Radio (7 July 2017), online: <www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-tuesday-edition-1.4189447/who-are-the-proud-boys-who-disrupted-an-indigenous-event-on-canada-day-1.4189450>.
[13] SPLC Proud Boys, supra note 10.
[14] Peter Zimonjic, “Claim Scalping of Mi’kmaq Was Justified Risks Further Violence Against Indigenous People, Lawyer Says”, CBC News (6 July 2017), online: <www.cbc.ca/news/politics/proud-boys-claim-refuted-1.4193974>.
[15] “Responding to Power and Politics Interview with Gavin McInnes” (last updated 4 October 2017) at 00h:03m:15s, online (video): CBC News <www.cbc.ca/news/politics/responding-to-power-politics-interview-with-gavin-mcinnes-1.4193760> [Hensel Interview].
[16] Ibid at 00h:03m:00s.
[17] Ibid at 00h:04m:51s.
[18] SPLC Proud Boys, supra note 10.
[19] Ibid.
[20] Keegan Hankes & Alex Amend, “The Alt-Right is Killing People”, Southern Poverty Law Center (5 February 2018), online: <www.splcenter.org/20180205/alt-right-killing-people?fbclid=IwAR36Zaqq3Jxr8lrrC2AELbuofU2YY6IYR8jzv6eTCGuEPW29X42KXHNt-yM>.
[21] Elizabeth McMillan & Anjuli Patil, “Forces Members Who Disrupted Indigenous Rally Face ‘Severe Consequence’”, CBC News (4 July 2017), online: <www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/proud-boys-canadian-military-indigenous-protest-disrupted-1.4189615>.
[22] Hensel Interview, supra note 15 at 00h:06m:34s.
[23] Jody Porter, “First Nations Woman Dies After Being Hit By Trailer Hitch Thrown From Passing Car in Thunder Bay, Ont.”, CBC News (4 July 2017), online: <www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/trailer-hitch-death-1.4189426>.
[24] Canada, Department of Justice, Aboriginal Victimization in Canada: A Summary of the Literature, by Katie Scrim, Report (Ottawa: Department of Justice, 27 July 2017), online: <www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/cj-jp/victim/rd3-rr3/p3.html>.
[25] “Fact Sheet: Violence Against Aboriginal Women” (no date), online (pdf): Native Women’s Association of Canada <www.nwac.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Fact_Sheet_Violence_Against_Aboriginal_Women.pdf>.
[26] Hensel Interview, supra note 15 at 00h:06m:50s.
[27] Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action (Winnipeg: TRC, 2015) at 3, 7, 10.
[28] Hensel Interview, supra note 15 at 00h:07m:19s.
[29] JDM Stewart, “Education is the Best Path to Reconciliation on Residential Schools”, The Globe and Mail (last updated 30 November 2017), online: <www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/education-is-the-best-path-to-reconciliation-on-residential-schools/article17735219/>.
[30] Wallis Snowdon, “A Dark Chapter: Should Edmonton’s KKK History be Acknowledged?”, CBC News (last updated 30 November 2016), online: <www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/a-dark-chapter-should-edmonton-s-kkk-history-be-acknowledged-1.3872961>; Jonny Wakefield, “After Charlottesville, Police and Activists Look to Counter Alberta’s Extreme Right”, Edmonton Journal (last updated 21 August 2017), online: <edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/after-charlottesville-police-and-activists-look-to-counter-albertas-extreme-right>.
[31] Phil Heidenreich, “Edmonton Protestors Confront Far-Right Group that CBSA Report Suggests is ‘Not Afraid to Use Violence’”, Global News (last updated 4 September 2018), online: <globalnews.ca/news/4425310/soldiers-of-odin-edmonton-mccauley-protest/>; Jonny Wakefield, “Edmonton Chapter of Far-Right Soldiers of Odin Group Disbands”, Edmonton Journal (last updated 15 October 2018), online: <edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/edmonton-chapter-of-far-right-soldiers-of-odin-group-claims-it-is-dissolving>.
[32] Anna McMillan, “Hundreds Stand Behind St. Albert Family Who Received Racist, Threatening Letter”, CBC News (28 October 2018), online: <www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/st-albert-racist-letter-block-party-community-support-1.4881950>.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Join the conversation by following us on Twitter: @ReconciliYEG; Facebook: www.facebook.com/reconciliActionYEG/; and Instagram: @reconciliactionyeg.
To receive daily alerts to our blog, email the words "add me" to reconciliactionyeg@gmail.com.
Recent Comments