Racism - it's not just an American thing

While many of us are watching what is happening in the United States with the protests over the police murder of George Floyd and with the President considering the protesters as enemies, it’s easy to caught up in it. But yesterday, TJ Burke, the first person of Aboriginal heritage elected to the provincial legislature, posted an essay on Facebook that is timely and important. I am posting it here as a guest blog.

*Warning* This post may cause you some anger or possibly an appreciation about how many Indigenous people feel while watching the growing support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

The following post reflects my own experiences and opinions.

Dirty Indian. Wagon Burner. Chief. Squaw. Injun. Prairie Ni**er.

TJ Burke, QC lawyer, former New Brunswick Attorney General, Justice Minister

These are just some of the filthy names I remember begin called by kids growing up, and unfortunately, by some adults including my school teachers. They were hurtful words and caused me a lot of pain. The memories never go away but over time the painful experience heals.
Unfortunately, before me, my mother, uncles and aunts heard them too. It was even worse for my grandparents.

Let me simply say this: I understand racism. Likely better than most of my friends because of my first hand experiences as a poor Indian kid growing up during the 1980’s allowed me to become a target of prejudicial stereotypes. There were few black people living in this city at that time, but I recall the harsh words often hurled at them ‘on the daily’ as well. Many cultures have been marginalized by governments, but in Canada, indigenous people have historically been overtly and systemically oppressed the longest.

Substandard housing is an issue on First Nations reserves right across the country.

Despite it being 2020, and all of the accomplishments I’ve achieved in my personal life, to this day, people still secretly refer to me behind by back as “the Indian lawyer.” It’s all good. I’ve heard a-lot worse. Sometimes I choose to ignore them, but most times I quickly address the remark with that person.

Watching the protests in the United States has given me time for a deep pause of reflection about racism in this country; particularly against Indigenous people.

And this is where I wish to share my opinions with you.

First, let me be unequivocal. I am a firm believer in freedom of speech and freedom of expression. I am not against the black lives matter movement, but I do believe in the rule of law which allows for peace, order and good government. Peaceful protests are constitutional rights in this Country. Burning and looting small businesses is against the law and unacceptable.

Today, I stood more than six feet back and listened to the Black Lives Matter protest in Fredericton. It was empowering and encouraging to see so many people come together to voice their support for this movement.

Pipeline protest, Saskatchewan

However, I can’t help but remember that only months ago when indigenous people were protesting a pipeline development in Canada, they were accused of ruining the economy or called welfare bums with no political voice because they don’t pay taxes. That protest, like many other protests conducted by indigenous people are peaceful. I don’t recall a protest or rally by members of our Indigenous communities that have led to the chaos and destruction of public and private property that I am witnessing in the United States.

Most Canadians, not all, are quick to sympathize with police brutality and racism in the United States - as they should be - but continue to remain silent about the injustices many indigenous people in their own country continue to suffer at the hands of law enforcement and the justice system.

Here are just a few examples that come to mind:

I recall very vividly when police Saskatchewan police officers were arresting native men and women in downtown Saskatoon for being drunk or for simple offenses such as jaywalking and would drive them miles outside of the city limits and make them walk home without their jackets. Many of them would be found the following day along the highway because they froze to death.

I recall when hundreds of people gathered at the Mercier Bridge in Montreal and threw rocks at cars filled with native elders, women and children because they opposed the development of a golf course on their traditional burial grounds. This just shortly before the Canadian government called in the military to remove the so-called anarchists (Mowhawk men) from the nearby reserve.

Burnt Church 2000. A federal fisheries patrol vessel rams a native fishing boat

In New Brunswick alone, I remember Federal Fisheries officers in large boats ramming native fishermen from Burnt Church First Nation in smaller boats over the lobster fishery. Only a few years ago, many people in this province will recall the RCMP arresting hundreds of our people from Elsipogtog while protecting their traditional land from being explored for shale gas by an American energy company.

While walking back from the protest, I shared some of these stories with a few young university protestors (safely and socially distanced) who were carrying their signs in support of racism. It was amusing to hear their replies. They thought I was lying. They couldn’t believe these things actually happened despite being from New Brunswick but were able to rattle off several examples of injustices in the United States. I told them to “google it” and walked away shaking my head.

Where was (and are) the support from other opponents of racism when Indigenous people are in a time of need? Where are the thousands of people protesting against the violent arrests of hundreds of aboriginal people by Canadian authorities that happen each year in our Country? Moreover, where will you stand and show support the next time indigenous people call on their white brothers and sisters for support against racism?

This post is NOT about giving me sympathy for what I’ve experienced. Those days are over. I’ve been able to overcome the ignorance that I grew up around. Instead, this post is an opportunity for me to let many of you know that if you want to fight against deep ceded racism, you don’t need to go to Washington, Minnesota or California. It’s right here and in your own back yard!

- TJ Burke

Cover photo credit: Ksenia Makagonova via Unsplash