Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler addressed an elephant in the room this morning on day two of the Chief’s conference in Thunder Bay.
Fiddler says he’s upset that a local activist approached people at the conference saying it was wrong to use Chanie Wenjack as a symbol for the residential school system.
“We will not tolerate this type of behaviour, anywhere, especially at our gatherings like this, and so I apologize to Pearl and the family, to Mike Downie who joined us here yesterday. To anyone who may have witnessed that event yesterday that happened.”
Deputy Grand Chief Anna Betty Achneepineskum thanked Fiddler for addressing the issue that happened yesterday.
She said “It’s very true that racism happens in our lives and the only way we can address it is by speaking out on it and supporting each other to ensure that it’s addressed.”
Wenjack was remembered yesterday in the formal renaming of an Indigenous Education Institute with members of his family present for the dedication.
