This poster was seen recently on a North Battleford street. (Submitted photo/Battlefords Regional Community Coalition)

By Angela Brown

Decrying racism

Area leaders disturbed to see posters promoting racism in North Battleford community

Mar 23, 2021 | 4:07 PM

Local area leaders are concerned about White Lives Matter posters appearing on streets in the North Battleford community recently.

Little Pine First Nation Chief Wayne Semaganis was alarmed when he saw one of the posters on Railway Avenue West.

“When you look at the history of North Battleford and Battleford, we cannot go back to that dark history again,” he said. “We have to find ways to move ahead and address the issues that exist between the many communities of North Battleford.”

Semaganis said the Battlefords represent a diverse community of many cultures today.

“We all have to learn to live together,” he said. “Anytime anything comes up that gets in the way of that true shared relationship it should be an issue that has to be addressed by all the leadership of the community on behalf of all the people that live here.”

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Semaganis is aware the posters started appearing in the community just as the issues came out from the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission’s report this week related to the probe of the RCMP’s conduct during the investigation of Colten Boushie’s death. Boushie, 22, died from a gunshot wound to the head after he and four other individuals drove onto Gerald Stanley’s farm near Biggar in August of 2016. A jury found Stanley, 56, not guilty of second-degree murder.

“They are related. There is no doubt about it. One pushes the other,” Semaganis said.

He said the responsibility remains with community leaders to work together to make the community better and overcome its challenges.

The Battlefords Regional Community Coalition (BRCC) advised the RCMP of the posters during its recent meeting.

“I would like to see a plan for the RCMP and a plan from leadership on what is it we are going to do to make sure this does not get worse and it does not affect innocent people,” Semaganis said. “A lot of the time, it’s innocent people who feel the most negative effects of racism. We are going to have to come up with some sort of a community plan to change things around so that we truly all exist in this community as friends and neighbours with shared responsibilities. We can’t exclude any group from being part of the solution.”

North Battleford Mayor David Gillan also expressed his concern about the posters.

The City of North Battleford released a statement Tuesday saying that this is an inclusive community where its shared history is celebrated.

“On behalf of mayor and council, we wish to declare unequivocally that racism is unacceptable under any circumstances and that we as a city cannot allow racism in any form to be a part of our community,” the city said. “Unfortunately, there have been too many examples of people who do not share this value for reasons we cannot begin to understand. In response, we are asking residents and the community to stand with us in stopping this scourge on our society.”

On the CRCC report findings that identified issues requiring improvement within the RCMP, city council said in the statement it is “heartened to see the contracted police service is committed to implementing the required internal changes and espousing an inclusive and culturally accepting approach in their service delivery.”

The Battlefords Regional Community Coalition (BRCC) issued a release endorsed by Chief Crystal Okemow (Lucky Man Cree Nation), Chief Lori Whitecalf (Sweetgrass First Nation), Chief Wayne Semaganis (Little Pine First Nation), Chief Brad Swiftwolfe (Moosomin First Nation), Chief Kenny Moccasin (Saulteaux First Nation), Mayor Ames Leslie (Battleford), and Mayor David Gillan (North Battleford).

The BRCC said it wanted to speak out against racism “in all forms, and specifically against a slogan that has well-documented ties to white supremacist and neo-Nazi organizations.”

“The BRCC stands united and opposes all expressions of racism,” the organization said. “Our region’s history contains many dark chapters characterized by racial injustice. Reactionary sentiments such as ‘White Lives Matter’ undermine our ability to heal these wounds and build a more inclusive and prosperous future for all. It is a slogan that has no place in our society, and we collectively condemn it. Rooting out racism is a responsibility we all share.”

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW