Racism against Indigenous people based on skin colour, language, chiefs tell Quebec inquiry

Algonquin leaders who testified Tuesdayat the Quebec inquiry into the treatment of Indigenous people say they face discrimination because of the colour of their skin or because French is their second or third language.

"I was raised on a reserve all my life.I went to a French school, so I know what it's like to face discrimination because of the different colour of the skin," said Verna Polson, Grand Chief of the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation Tribal Council.

"It's something that sticks with you for a long time."

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The Algonquin people'straditional territory includes Val-d'Or, the community 500 kilometres northwest of Montreal where the Quebec inquiry, presided over by retired Superior Court Justice Jacques Viens,began holding hearings this week.

Polson, who comes from the KebaowekFirst Nation (Eagle Village), near the Ontario border,said she's trying to teach her children the opposite of what she experienced: to never judge someone by how they look.

She told the inquiry how friends and family who were "blond and blue-eyed" are treated differentlyand better than her when they venture from Kebaowekto thetown of Temiscaming, 10 kilometres away.

"Still today, the 21st century, we're still dealing with discrimination, and this needs to stop," said Polson. "We're human just like the next person. We have to learn to work together, communicate, even though we speak different languages."

Language barrier

The Viens inquiry is charged with finding out if and where there is systemic discrimination in public services provided by the province of Quebec to Indigenous people.

People in Kebaowek speak Algonquin and English, and Polson said obtaining governmentservices in English is frequently a problem.

Language was also an issue inGhislainPicard'spresentation to the inquiry earlier Tuesday.

The chief of the Assembly of First Nations for Quebec and Labrador said in many First Nations communities in Quebec, English is the second language after their native tongue, and he's troubled by the number of people who have told him they are treated like second-class citizens at the hospital because of their poor command of French.

He gavethe example of a woman who recently took her young daughter to anemergency room because the child's face was partially paralyzed.

Picard said she was yelled at as if she didn't speak French, because it's the woman's second language.

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"Many members of our communities, without exaggerating, would consider that type of situation normal, even acceptable," Picard toldViens.

Racism sets in early

People in Abitibiwinni (Pikogan) another of theAlgonquin AnishinabegNation Tribal Council communities speak Algonquin and French.

However, AbitibiwinniChief David Kistabashsaid his people still encounter prejudice.

It's not normal for a six- or seven-year-old from the city to have racist views. He's learning it somewhere.- Abitiwinni Chief David Kistabish

"We don't know where it comes from," said Kistabish."It's not normal for a six- or seven-year-old from the city to have racist views. He's learning it somewhere."

He said Abitiwinni's open "culture" days have been successful in breaking down stereotypes.

Kistabish said the community invites schoolchildren to share a meal of wild goose, beaver and bannock once a year.

He told the inquiryhe would be curious to hear the conversations around the dinner table when the children get back home and tell their parents about their day.

"We work on the childrenbecause, unfortunately, sometimes people are already biased," he said.

The chiefstold the inquiry about other pressing issues they face: lack of electricity and water for some, a justice system blind to cultural differences, mental health services available only in French.

Policing: more resources needed

Both Polson and Kistabish highlighted the chronic underfunding of local police forces as an issue which has to be addressed.

The chief of Lac Simon, the Algonquin community closest to Val-d'Or, is expected to testify today. Policing has been a major issue there, especially afterdeadly shootings involving policeshook the community last year.

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The tripartite policing agreements between bands, the federal and provincial governments have to be renewed every three years complicating urgent calls for more resources.

First Nations communities struggle to attract trained police officers, in part because salariesare nowhere close to those paid to officers in the Sret du Qubec.