Minister defends province against chief’s racism claim

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This article was published 12/04/2017 (3129 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Manitoba cabinet minister says the Progressive Conservative government has been working with indigenous people in a collaborative and respectful manner and will continue to do so.

Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen was responding to a report that quoted a Manitoba grand chief as saying the Pallister government is the most racist in Canada.

“I think that our government has demonstrated now and will in the future great respect for our aboriginal and indigenous people and will continue to work with them in a collaborative way,” Goertzen said Wednesday.

Sheila North Wilson, grand chief of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, levelled the accusation at a First Nations health conference in Saskatoon, the Canadian Press reported.

She said she was offended that Premier Brian Pallister had said Manitoba indigenous people have the most chronic diseases and mental-health issues.

North Wilson also accused the province of refusing to sit down with First Nations groups on health issues.

Pallister “claimed in the national media that we have the most chronic diseases and mental-health issues,” North Wilson was quoted as saying on Tuesday. “Well, thank you for calling us crazy and sick. I took offence to that.”

North Wilson later clarified her remarks on CBC radio, saying they referred to the flawed track record of provincial policy in general toward indigenous people, regardless of the party in power.

She said her comments would apply equally to the former NDP government under Greg Selinger.

Goertzen acknowledged that clarification on Wednesday and noted cabinet ministers in his government have travelled across the north to meet with indigenous leaders.

He said he met with North Wilson a few weeks ago. “My meeting with the grand chief, I think, was both productive and respectful. I look forward to further meetings,” he said.

Goertzen said the Pallister government helped lobby Ottawa for more federal funding for indigenous health.

“I expect that we’ll have good, respectful working relationships. Does that mean we’ll agree on everything? Of course, not. But that’s true for Manitobans generally.”

Goertzen said Pallister has a “long history and track record in advocating for First Nations and indigenous people in Canada,” particularly in his former role as a member of Parliament from Manitoba.

In January, Pallister came under fire from indigenous leaders and Opposition politicians for saying tensions around night hunting were leading to a race war.

He later said he chose his words poorly, but never apologized for saying it.

Tracked down at a Winnipeg vigil for slaying victim Christine Wood Wednesday, North Wilson declined to comment on her racism remarks. “Today’s about Christine,” she said. “I’m not going to talk about that.”

— with files from Alexandra Paul and The Canadian Press

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca