Show your support for First Nations

I’m deeply saddened by attitudes and behaviours that have been expressed against Indigenous people, particularly in the past months. There has been an outpouring of racism in this province — through posts on social media, emails, the spoken word, deliberate acts.

These actions have a longterm impact. I’ve listened to podcasts, read news reports, and heard directly from friends who say that, as Indigenous people, they don’t feel as safe as they used to. There are fears about stopping along the highway to get gas or use public restrooms. Streets that have been walked down safely for a lifetime now pose potential threats. This isn’t right, and it needs to change. We need to fix it.

All around me, I see non-Indigenous people like myself who believe we all deserve to be treated with dignity, who want to show our support for Indigenous people. I believe with all my heart that we’re the silent majority.

There’s a call for all of us as non-Indigenous people to show our support and do our part to stamp out racism and move our country toward reconciliation. We can’t change the attitudes of people who express racism; we can raise up our voices together and drown them out with a different message.

Thank you to the many Indigenous leaders, activists, and everyday people who are showing your courage by protesting with peace.

I’m asking you, as a non-Indigenous resident of Saskatchewan, to show your support for human dignity and respect for all, for the right of Indigenous people to walk down any street without fear of harm or even the slightest hint of racism. That’s what our province and our country are all about. Show your support at Facebook Group: I Respect First Nations.

Laura Bennett, Richardson