Kainai Board of Education demanding action after racial slur
KBE CLAIMS RACIAL SLUR ACCIDENTALLY SENT IN TEXT BY AHS EMPLOYEE
Members of the Kainai Board of Education have filed a formal letter of protest against an Alberta Health Services employee they claim used a racial slur against a KBE middle school principal earlier this week.
On Thursday the KBE, with the support of the Blood Tribe Chief and Council, held a media event to announce the letter, and to condemn the alleged action.
KBE deputy superintendent Annette Bruised Head described the slur, which arrived via text message the KBE believes may have been sent in error, as a “severe act of discrimination and racism.”
The issue arose from a twoday evaluation training session planned for Monday and Tuesday.
Following the first day of training, Bruised Head said Ramona Big Head, principal of Tatsikiisaapo’p Middle School, received a text from one of the AHS employees shortly after they left for the day, expressing concerns over how the day was spent “being yelled at, holding hands, burning rubber and that, over all, the day was uneventful.”
Big Head texted back, asking for information about who was involved. Bruised Head said the employee responded by texting “by a rabid s---w,” and identifying Big Head.
“It became evident that it was accidentally sent to our KBE employee, not realizing the mistake,” said Bruised Head.
Big Head and the AHS employee later spoke on the phone, at which time Bruised Head said the AHS employee apologized and was asked not to return for the second day of training.
“We stand strong, and united, as this severe act of discrimination and racism will not be tolerated by the (KBE) and from the chief and council,” Bruised Head said.
“BT chief and council and KBE feel very strong about protecting its employees, its nation, and the greater First Nations communities within Canada, and will not tolerate this behaviour.”
In particular, Bruised Head cited the 94 calls to action which resulted from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Recommendation number 57, a call for governments to provide education to public servants on the history of First Nations people in Canada, and requiring skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights and anti-racism.
BT chief and council and KBE listed five expectations to result from this issue, including:
• No payment to the AHS representatives for the two-day training session;
• A formal apology from the AHS representatives and AHS itself, via media and all other methods of communication, and to be made to all members of KBE, Blood Tribe and all First Nations reserves in Canada;
• That the AHS employee be dealt with to the fullest extent of AHS policies, and that all actions be reported to chief and council;
• In the future, should the opportunity arise for a similar engagement, all representatives have a high level of cultural awareness as determined by Kainai; and
• That AHS fund a cultural centre on the Blood Tribe reserve in order to properly educate public servants and communities on cultural awareness and related issues.
“We would also like to see in the future, that there is a concerted effort of education and employment of First Nations people in the area of health services, and specific scholarships to support our young people who will become leaders in health care,” said Bruised Head.
Big Head said if the employee who allegedly made the statement and those who share similar views had taken time to get to know her, they might have reconsidered their words.
“Maybe, just maybe, (the AHS employee) would have thought twice before (they) referred to me as a rabid s---w,” she said. “Think of that image for a second. This description brings to mind an animal such as a dog frothing at the mouth, dangerous, vicious, and mad, who ultimately needs to be put down.”
Due to the timing of the media event, it was not possible to contact AHS for comment before press time.
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