"Racist confession" (letter, Feb. 27) reminds me of a Seinfeld episode - a letter about nothing.
Mr. Receveur begins by announcing his racism, carries onward attempting to highlight his understanding of Indigenous issues at work, while making clear that he still didn’t quite “get it” since he notes he was often “raked over the coals” for provocations and protocol violations. He talks about his experience with residential school kids, anecdotally dismissing the well-recorded history of abuses that happened in these schools, because he once "knew some kids." There’s a limp-wristed “not that I think this is okay” statement tucked neatly into the middle, to ensure we all know this racist is still reasonable. In conclusion, yes, still a racist, proudly, but feigning socially acceptable sadness.
Spectacularly showing of his flair for melodramatics, Mr. Receveur talks about Indigenous people “destroying the fabric of society” with what I imagine was a completely straight face. And the straw that broke this camel’s back? What horrors has he endured, what trauma, what hardship? The answer is that the school board agreed to consider a name change for a local high school that’s being rebuilt and, to add insult to injury, they’re considering an Indigenous name. This was just too much, and clearly all of society is now disintegrating.
History is written by the victors and the curriculum that most of us were taught is evidence of that. Many Canadians don’t know how much they don’t know about our country’s Indigenous history and assume that what they do know is gospel. What most of us think we know doesn’t pay any sort of justice to what has actually gone on in this country, not just for decades, but for centuries.
The truth is far uglier than most of us are aware of. One only needs to read the Indian Act to have a glimpse into exactly how poorly Indigenous people have been treated by our government and our society.
Society is hardier than Mr. Receveur gives it credit for. Were it fragile enough to come apart over protests, blockades and school name changes, we wouldn’t have lasted nearly this long. As a white individual, I don’t feel blamed, scorned or shamed by Indigenous folks and I wonder why some seem to feel so stereotyped. I suspect it has more to do with their own fragile egos than anything of substance.
Spun justifications don’t cut it. Racism shouldn’t be acceptable.
Heather Hillier
Prince George
