AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde on what the Colten Boushie case says about us
This story originally aired on January 8, 2017
Perry Bellegarde sees a cultural fear that if Indigenous people advance, everybody else will lose. And he thinks that fear is at play among the reactions to the Colten Boushie case.
"I think really at issue is the deep-seated attitude against Indigenous peoples that we are somehow going to take things away from non-Indigenous peoples," said the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations. "People have to stop stereotyping Indigenous peoples in that negative way and move away from the racial profiling that exists."
Bellegarde advises people to observe the positive contributions Indigenous people have made to society, and confront racism when they see it.
"I would encourage Canadians...when they hear a racist story or joke or something that comes up, is to challenge it, and to not accept it. That's how you're going to put an end to racism and discrimination in Canada."
He also believes the Colten Boushie case and the reactions to it have implications across the country.
"It's a stark reminder of how much work we have to do to eliminate racism and discrimination in this country and the province of Saskatchewan. And every Canadian shares that responsibility."
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