To the editor,
Re: Snuneymuxw councillor wants flag taken down from Nanaimo City Hall, Aug. 15.
The fact that Mayor McKay does not see a connection between workplace violence and the CAO’s indigenous racial identity leads me to believe that McKay operates under an ideology of colour-blindness. Colour-blindness believes the best way to deal with racial discrimination is to treat individuals equally without regards to race, ethnicity or culture.
Unfortunately, McKay’s expressed view only serves to ignore the negative racial experiences, the violence, and the hatred waged on indigenous women for decades. I think this moment offers McKay a chance for self-reflection and re-education on the issue of race. Colour-blind messages like the one McKay chose to adopt in his statement causes stress in the indigenous community as well as with individuals like myself who work everyday at repairing the broken relationship between settlers and indigenous peoples. As an educator, political scientist and anti-discrimination activist I can only suggest that he take time to read through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s calls to action.
Caitlin Johnston, Nanaimo